Lanna Toys

For babies, toy is not only a piece of entertainment but also a tool to enhance the physical and mental development. It helps the babies to realize their place in the world, and help them to slowly adjust to the social environment. Toys give excitement to the babies and help them to develop basic skills and motivation to mingle with others.

The first year of the babies is of utmost importance in their growth and development. So choosing appropriate toys for babies of that age is an important job, involving care and imagination. The following are a few suggestions in this context.

FIRST 3 MONTHS: The babies in this period sleep for nearly 20 hours a day! As soon as the babies are awake, the first requirement is to feed them. Once free from hunger, the babies become active and it is the right time to entertain them with appropriate toys. At this age they can see objects at a distance of 8 inches. So hold the toys in a proper distance to enable them to see.

Introducing an appropriate toy at this stage will provide stimulating environment for sustained developmental advantages. Even though the babies may not be able to focus on specific shapes, hangings from the mobile will entertain them. Also it will help them to develop skills for pattern recognition and eye / hand coordination. Choose one with music which will be more attractive.

Music has a soothing effect on babies, according to studies, playing music to babies in the womb and in the early years, boosts the IQ, improve health and stimulate the brain’s Alpha Waves creating a calm feeling to the child. This theory is known as Mozart effect.

The most fascinating toy to the babies at this age is those that make noise and are colourful.

3 to 6 MONTHS: At this period the babies discover their hands and mouth. They start holding things and lifting them to the mouth for sucking. Now introduce more interactive toys as babies respond to tickling and fondling.

The nursing necklace will prevent the babies from pinching and hurting moms during feeding and provide them with visual and tactile stimulation.

Picture books will help them to associate words with songs when you read it for them. Handheld toys of different textures and sizes will help the babies to improve and hand – eye coordination at this age, when they hold and wave the toys around.

It is a time for gentle music and lullaby and therefore introduces a range of music with different instruments and tunes.

6 to 9 MONTHS: It is a time when the baby start to sit by themselves and to crawl. They also learn to pinch and grasp objects with just two fingers. Provide them with toys of all shapes and sizes to satisfy their growing curiosity and urge to explore. The babies at this stage develop some reasoning skills. Give toys that make them think, toys which enable them to move and stretch, so as to encourage physical development. For example balls and toys on wheels which make them chase and catch.

The babies will be more active during bath. This is the time to introduce water toys, squeaky ducks and cups to fill water and empty again. The toys which are water safe and easy to hold can be given to entertain them.

9 to 12 MONTHS: In this stage babies like to make things happen. They enjoy pressing a button to hear songs or to see something bright. They will start interacting with surroundings and will be repeating the same acts which they liked.

It is time to introduce interactive toys, which they were not able to play with before. These toys respond in some way to their actions by making noise and will teach the baby about cause and effect.

Babies at this stage are very mobile and enjoy pushing and pulling things. They like to play with toys which help them to walk. Stacking items which can be knocked down and filling items which can empty are their favourite games.

As the babies are able to say simple words, language development toys are useful. Great options are toys that say words and videos that focus on language development. Fabric or board book will tempt them to read it back to you, much to your amusement.

Again, toys like play telephones, brooms, shopping carts and steering wheels will enable them to explore the world of make believe as they try to imitate you.

It is therefore important to choose the appropriate toys at every stage of development to enhance their mental or personal growth.