What's a good toy for a baby?

E-MAIL | LINK | ADD A COMMENT (3) Posted by Barbara F. Meltz June 19, 2009 06:00 AM

Her toes. No joke.

Question:
Hi Barbara,

I have a 6 month old and am struggling to identify toys for her to play with; ie. toys that will stimulate her mind, but not over stimulate, things that are safe for her to play with, and help her develop her motor skills. Do you have any suggestions? Also, any games that we can play - such as peek a boo - other suggestions?

Thank you!From: Rebecca, Charlestown

Truthfully, Rebecca, almost everything in her world is stimulating to a baby this age. Buying toys? Not necessary. But since you asked, here are some thoughts from some experts:

* Less is more. Psychologist and brain researcher Jane Healy says what's important is not not so much what a child plays with as how we encourage the play to develop. For instance, babies need only one or two toys at a time . "While the brain at all ages responds to novelty, children are more likely to investigate new challenges [of an existing toy] if they are surrounded by familiar things." (From her book, "Your child's Growing Mind, Brain development from birth to adolescence.")

* Avoid toys with sound or video options for babies. Banging on kitchen pots and pans and wooden and plastic objects is far better for brain development, Healy says, than any electronic toy. She'd choose an old-fashioned Jack-in-the-box, where a toddler can see cause and effect -- I turn the crank, the head pops up -- over an electronic toy.

* David Elkind has written an entire book ("The power of play") in an effort to convince parents that children do not need flash cards at 8-months or computers at a year.

* Don't try to teach your baby, rather help her create an experience that is her own. Does she like to play with wadded up wrapping paper? Put a bunch of wads just out of her reach so she has to stretch her fingers and limbs to get them.

* Infants thrive on stimulation, but not all at once.

* Give her plenty of time at this age to play on her tummy on a blanket on the floor.

* The typical 6-month-old likes peek-a-boo, as you said; also pat-a-cake and bye-bye games. Babies love games that involve rhythms (if you break the rhythm, they'll grin and wait for you to laugh. Babies learn mastery through repetition. Any game that involves a person is exciting to a baby.

* Try: over-sized balls, plush toys, soft blocks, thick baby books.

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3 comments so far...

Thank you for emphasizing toys with NO BATTERIES! Not only do I find the beeps and boops really grating, I don't see the "fun," nor certainly any "educational" advantage, in learning to press a button for entertainment. In my experience, babies like faces, balls, wooden spoons and watching the cat just as well. Long live open-ended play!

Posted by serafina June 19, 09 09:42 AM

Good old fashioned tupperware and a wooden spoon could do the trick. We had some holiday ones with little penguins on it that my son just loved to play with and look at.

I also go this toy as a gift and it has turned out to be one of the best toys I received. My son started playing with this when he could sit up which was around 5 months. Mostly just looked at himself in the mirror at first then figured out as he touched stuff the music played and soon he stared to bounce to the music. He's 14 months now and still likes to play with it on occasion. For the amount of use it's gotten it's totally worth the price.
The microphone is detachable and actually ended up being his favorite rattle.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2678317

Posted by m'smom June 19, 09 10:38 AM

When our daughter was approaching her first birthday, people kept asking, "What does she want??" To which I would reply, "Well, she probably would like very much to stick her fingers in the electrical outlets, play in the glassware and juggle knives. That seems to be what she most WANTS to do. We ask that you don't give her such opportunities."

Yes, that was seriously my response. But I also added this: Please don't get her any more toys. For one thing, she has too many (a friend has a daughter two years older and we've gotten so many new/never used hand-me-downs, all of which make noise - GAH! that we don't need anymore). For another, she's more interested in boxes and wrapping paper. In fact, the ideal gift would have been a box full of wrapping paper.

Singing, dancing, silly rhymes, spur of the moment songs, hide and go sneak, peek-a-boo...these are still favorites. And yes, even at almost 15 months, playing with feet is number one. Now, we play a feet clapping game that she thinks is hilarious.

Posted by phe June 25, 09 09:05 AM

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about the authors

Lylah M. Alphonse is a member of the Globe Magazine staff and mom and stepmom to five kids. She writes about juggling a full-time career and parenthood at The 36-Hour Day, and about everything else at Write. Edit. Repeat. When she's not glued to the computer or solving a kid-related crisis, she's in the kitchen or, occasionally, asleep.

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Barbara F. Meltz is a freelance writer, parenting consultant, and author of "Put Yourself in Their Shoes; Understanding How Your Children See the World." She won several awards for her weekly "Child Caring" column in the Globe, including the 2008 American Psychological Association Print Excellence award. Barbara is available as a speaker for parent groups.