Fifty years ago, a new mother was happy with a smiling and healthy baby. However, as times change, and competition increases in both education and industry, the intelligence of your baby seems to be on display. Almost every baby product claims to increase your baby s intelligence in one way or another, from their food to what they are playing with. Do educational toys really make your baby smart? Can purchasing the right toys give them a leg up on the competition as they enter their school years?
There is no question that babies have the most active brain activity than any other age group. They grow at an astronomical rate and are constantly developing and changing. Babies take in information through all their senses. Activities that stimulate their senses of sight, touch, smell and hearing can help them to develop the connections that they need for proper growth and development.
An easy to way to ensure that you are taking care of all these needs, and meeting development milestones, is to use educational toys. Because babies are designed to learn through play, the process becomes a fun experience for you both.
In children, intelligence is measured in more than just their ability to recite facts or grasp abstract concepts. A big part of infant intelligence is measured in the way that they relate to their parents, family and peers. These skills are often learned by modeling. Babies try to recreate what they see others doing. They want to learn and experience the things that you show them.
This is one of the reasons that play is such a valuable learning tool for young children. As a parent, you can select toys that facilitate interaction and social development. Consider options like books, games and mobiles. Even something as simple as a mirror can help a baby discover a sense of self and relate to the world around them.
The type of educational toy that you select for your baby will depend upon their age and developmental stage. A very young baby should be taught to reach milestones such as tracking and grabbing. Toys with contrasting colors and engaging textures can help with that task. Older children will need more tasks in order to stimulate brain development. When babies become mobile, you can begin to explore classic toys, such as balls and blocks. Also, don t neglect to include music and reading in the play schedule. These both encourage brain connections that increase intelligence.
Baby toys with an educational bent have vastly increased in the past several decades. There are dozens of choices that can possibly increase your baby s intelligence. The biggest thing to remember, as a parent, is that every interaction you have with your baby is also a learning experience. Your baby s toys are your tools, and they can certainly play a part in helping you assist your baby in reaching those important milestones. However, the most important part of playing with your baby will be what they learn from their developing relationship with you, the parent.
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