Tips for choosing toys for your toddler

The great Albert Einstein once said that “Play is the highest form of research.”  This is true most especially for children because it is through play where they learn to interact with others and know more about the world.  Play is important for children as it gives them the opportunity to learn and develop new skills.  One component of play among children is the use of toys.  According to Shelley Frost (2014), the toys you choose for your child affects his development.

As an Early Childhood Educator, I believe that it is important to incorporate the three developmental learning domains in your child’s play.  These three learning domains are the psychomotor, affective and cognitive domains.  For a child to grow beautifully, he has to develop in the physical, emotional and mental aspects. Since play is the work of children, it is important that parents and teachers intentionally select toys that support their learning (Guyton, 2011).

Here are tips in choosing the right toy for your toddler as suggested by Zero to Three, The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families.

1. Choose “open-ended” toys.

These are toys that young children can manipulate in a variety of ways.  These toys are those that ignite your child’s imagination and help him develop problem-solving and thinking skills.  Examples of these are blocks, interlocking blocks, nesting blocks or cups, and toys for sand and water play.

2. Choose toys that enable your child to explore and solve problems.

These toys allow your child to figure out things on his own, thus helping him develop logical thinking.  Examples of these toys are  puzzles, shape-sorters, blocks, nesting blocks or cups, art materials like clay, paint, crayons or play-dough. These toys also help your toddler develop patience, fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination.

3. Choose toys that encourage your child to use his imagination.

Pretend play is important for your child as it builds language and literacy skills, promotes awareness in self and in others, and enhances social relations as well.  Let your child use materials that would allow him to create stories and act them out.  Examples of these toys are dress-up clothing, blocks, toy food and plastic plates, action figures, stuffed animals and dolls, trains and trucks, toddler-friendly dollhouses, toy tools.

4. Choose toys or materials that show real-life situations.

At this stage, your child is figuring out how things work so let him play with objects that are like the real thing.  Through this, you can see how your child picks up on what he sees and how much he understands about the things around him.  Examples of these toys are plastic dishes and food, toy keys, toy phone, dress-up clothes, musical instruments, child-size brooms, mops, brushes and dustpans.

4. Choose toys that develop love for writing and reading.

Introduce your child to toys that help him develop early writing and reading skills. Examples of these are books, wooden or magnetic alphabet letters, and art supplies like markers, crayons, and fingerpaints.  

5. Choose toys that encourage your child to be active.

Being active helps your child have a healthy growth and development and gives him the opportunity to make friends.  Providing him toys that promote an active lifestyle will help him improve his balance and develop his gross-motor skills. Examples of these toys are balls of different shapes and sizes, tricycles or three-wheeled scooters (with appropriate protective gear), plastic bowling sets, child-size basketball hoop, pull-toys (e.g., toys that your child can pull on a string), wagon to fill and pull, gardening tools to dig and rake with, moving boxes (open at both ends) to make tunnels to crawl through

Choosing the right toys for children is important because it helps parents and teachers guide their children’s development.  This is not to say that you must put pressure in your child to learn this and that.  We acknowledge the fact that children develop differently and learning at their own pace is necessary.  However, it is your responsibility as a parent or teacher to be conscious of providing a developmentally appropriate environment for your child.

References:

Frost, Shelley (2014). Guideline for Choosing Developmentally Appropriate Toys for Young Children. Retrieved on December 1, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/526308-guidelines-when-choosing-developmentally-appropriate-toys-for-young-children/

Guyton, Gabriel (2011). Using Toys to Support Infant-Toddler Learning and Development. NAEYC. Retrieved on December 1, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/201109/Using%20Toys_Guyton_Online_0911.pdf

Tips for Choosing Toys for Toddlers. Zero To Three, The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. Retrieved on December 1, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/tips-for-choosing-toys-for.html

How to PREVENT tantrums from happening again and again

This “classic tantrum scene” has probably happened to you at the mall.  You pass by a toy store and there goes Spider Man staring at your 3-year-old in the face.  “Mom, I want Spider Man.” And like any loving mom who wants to impose discipline on her child you say, “Sorry, not today.” Then your son does a monologue consisting of  the “I said I want Spider Man!” line.  You said “NO” again and again and then your toddler started crying loudly and rolling on the floor in front of an audience. Because you didn’t want to get embarrassed, you gave in and took Spider Man home with you.  Maybe your child’s tantrum scene didn’t exactly happen this way, but surely, your child has thrown a tantrum in front of you and others.

To understand why your toddler throws a tantrum, let us first understand what tantrums are.  According to Emily DeJeu (2013) there are three kinds of tantrums – frustration tantrum, exhaustion tantrum and temper tantrum.  Understanding these three kinds of tantrums will help you prevent them from happening.

A Frustration Tantrum is the kind of tantrum your child throws when he is learning a new skill and struggles so hard while he is at it. He gets frustrated because he was trying to form a tower and yet the blocks toppled over.  Also, according to DeJeu, a frustration tantrum happens when you say “NO” to your child. When he wants something and you say “NO”, he gets frustrated and throws a tantrum.

To prevent a frustration tantrum from happening again, here are two things you can do:

1. While your child is at play, he is learning skills, so give him words of encouragement when you see he is trying to work at something.  You can say “You are doing a good job putting those shapes inside the sorter.” When he is having a hard time, assist him.

2. Enforce rules and stay firm with them.  A “NO” is a “NO” and if your child understands that you mean what you say, frustration tantrums can be avoided.

An Exhaustion Tantrum is one that happens when your child is very tired.  According to Laura Markham (2014), most tantrums happen when kids are hungry and tired.  Thus, this type of tantrum happens at naptime or bedtime.

To prevent an exhaustion tantrum from happening again, let your toddler have the naps he needs during the day, and follow a bedtime routine and stick to it.  When your toddler understands the naptime and bedtime routine, he would most likely feel sleepy at a particular time of the day.  There has to be a good balance between playtime and rest time to prevent an exhaustion tantrum from happening.

A temper tantrum is also referred to by DeJeu as the “bad mood” tantrum and according to her, the kind that makes parents lose their minds because there is no real cause for such a tantrum. In my experience handling infants and toddlers, this, in my opinion is one that is done by a child just to get attention. You have to decide whether to act on it or just ignore it.  As baffling as it may seem, this type of tantrum can be prevented from recurring.

To prevent a temper tantrum from happening again, Infant and Toddler Health (2012) suggested that you let your child make choices.  You can ask “Would you like to play with blocks or would you rather paint today?” This allows your child to express what he wants instead of you insisting on what you want him to do. However, when you notice your child is throwing a tantrum just so he can get what he wants, be firm when you said “NO” and have the strength to ignore him.  What I do when someone throws a temper tantrum in class and is being difficult is say “I will attend to you when you are not crying anymore,” and ignore the child completely until he has met my condition.  It works.

Dealing with tantrums and preventing them from recurring are daunting tasks for parents. The key is to be the person of authority. Remember that you are the adult, you control your child and not the other way around.

References:

DeJeu, Emily (2013). 5 Tips for How to Handle Your Toddler’s Temper Tantrums (Especially Sleep-Time Tantrums). The Baby Sleep Site. Retrieved on November 18, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.babysleepsite.com/toddlers/how-to-handle-your-toddlers-temper-tantrums/#.VGoNL2fCXEk

Markham, Laura (2014). Managing Your Toddler:TANTRUMS. Aha! Parenting. Retrieved on November 18, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.ahaparenting.com/ages-stages/toddlers/toddler-tantrums

Temper Tantrums in Toddlers: How to keep the peace. Infant and Toddler Health. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on November 18, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/tantrum/art-20047845?pg=1

A simple art activity for 1 and 2-year-olds

In my previous post, I wrote about why your toddler should not watch TV or play with handheld devices.  Here is a “no TV, no gadget” activity that you can do together with your child. This simple activity can help develop your child’s focus and skills particularly listening, responding and fine-motor skills.

Your toddler is ready to start learning about colors and the best way to do it is to let him use a material that highlights the specific color you want to teach.  For this activity, I was teaching my 1-year-old nephew the color RED.

Here are the materials we used.  My nephew is using these for the first time so I chose to keep it simple.

1. Have your toddler paint the paper plate red.

2. Make cut-out leaves from the green construction paper and a stem from the brown one.  Assist your toddler in pasting the leaves and stem on  the paper plate.  Cut out the sides of the paper plate to form an apple. This is how the finished art work looks like.

This is my nephew’s first art work. Not bad for a first-timer right? You can do this at home with your child too! It’s easy, simple, yet a good way to spend quality time together.

Reasons why your toddler shouldn’t watch TV or play with modern gadgets

Children these days are exposed to TV and other media screens.  People find it delightful that young children are able to sing and dance to songs from a kiddie channel and operate hand-held devices efficiently even if they are not yet able to read. However, experts say that exposure to television and modern gadgets are detrimental to a child’s development.  Cris Rowan, a pediatric occupational therapist, stated that children ages 0-2 should have NO exposure to technology, kids 3-5 years can have at most one hour of TV a day, while those who are 6-18 years of age should be restricted to two hours of TV and gadget exposure per day.  But what do we notice with kids these days? They spend more time watching TV and playing with hand-held devices than interacting with other kids through play.  Rowan (2014) says that too much exposure of young children to technology is life threatening.

Here are 4 reasons why your toddler shouldn’t watch TV or play with modern gadgets:

1. Exposure to TV and modern gadgets causes developmental delays.

Infants and toddlers are balls of energy and they need to make use of that energy to reach developmental milestones.  What happens when they are watching TV and playing with gadgets is that they are just sitting and if you look at them, they are practically not doing anything.  There is no interaction with a playmate or an adult, thus development for language and communication is hampered.  Also, movement is restricted when watching TV and playing with hand-held devices which means that your child’s motor skills are not enhanced.  Studies show that movement enhances attention and learning ability, thus the lack of movement among young children can affect his development and could cause delays.

2. Exposure to TV and modern gadgets hampers your child’s brain development.

Catharine Paddock (2011) stated that the best way for your baby and toddler to develop healthy brains is to unplug the TV and other forms of media screens.  Paddock further stated that those TV shows that claim to be educational do not really prove to be educational because among young children, there is no better substitute to learning than having an unstructured play with other children.  Also, during the first three years of a child’s life, the brain is developing connections. If the right connections are not nurtured, the potential to develop those connections is lost (Jackman, 2005).  Such connections will only be nurtured if young children interact with people because it gives them the opportunity to think creatively, communicate and interact well, solve problems and develop motor skills.

3. Exposure to TV and modern gadgets makes your child impatient.

Do you find it amusing when a toddler is able to answer a puzzle from an app in a hand-held device? It could be amusing to see a child answer an electronic puzzle with a breeze.  But experts say that modern technology are teaching children to be impatient.  Instead of solving actual puzzles that need more focus and concentration, they turn to gadgets wherein puzzles can be solved within a flash by pressing a button.  Deirdre Wilson of Parenthood.com stated that the more children become dependent to computer, television, and electronic toys, the harder it is for them to focus on solving real-life problems that require patience.  Children who are exposed to TV and modern gadgets become accustomed to just pressing a button or clicking an icon and the gadget does everything for them while in real life, you have to work on something you want.

4. Exposure to TV and modern gadgets exposes your child to radiation.

Child Alert says that children who use modern gadgets are exposed to radiation and this is dangerous for them because at their age, their bodies are more sensitive to radiation effects compared to adults.  This is because their body is still rapidly developing.  Also, Devra Davis that radiation exposure is more harmful to young children because their skulls are thinner than those of adults thus, the bone marrow of a child’s head absorbs 10 times more radiation than an adult.  If a child’s brain rapidly develops from age 0 to 3, exposure to radiation could have a big impact on your child’s brain development.

What should you do as a parent? It is best to remember that your child would learn more and develop fully when he interacts positively with the people and events around him.  Cris Rowan (2014) is calling all parents and teachers to ban the use of handheld devices for children under age 12.  So unplug the TV and keep all those modern gadgets away from your child’s reach.

References:

Davis, Devra (2013). Cellphones, Radiation and Your Child’s Health. Healthy Child, Healthy World. Retrieved on November 13, 2014.  Retrieved from http://healthychild.org/cell-phones-radiation-your-childs-health/

Jackman, H. (2005). Early education curriculum, a child’s connection to the world. Thomson Delamar Learning

Paddock, Catharine (2011). Babies and Toddlers Should Not Watch TV, Media Screens, Say US Doctors. Medical News Today.  Retrieved on November 13, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/236211.php

Rowan, Cris (2014). 10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12. HuffingtonPost.com.  Retrieved on November 13, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html

Wilson, Deirdre (2014). Nurturing Patience. Parenthood.com.  Retrieved on November 13, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.parenthood.com/article/nurturing_patience.html#.VGQ9UjSUeZE

The Messier, The Better: 5 reasons why it’s ok for your toddler to get messy.

These days, technology has taken over the fun that a good-old fashioned outdoor play brings.  Children are so into gadgets and the internet that they have become passive instead of active learners.  The funny thing is some parents would rather give their children their iPad or their tablets for their kids to play with because they don’t get messy while playing with these.  But is getting messy a bad thing for children? The answer is a big NO.

Here are 5 reasons why it is DEFINITELY ok for your child to get messy:

1. Getting messy sparks his 5 senses

Before you start yelling “Do not touch that! It’s dirty!” to your toddler, know that exploring the things around him is his way of understanding the world.  When he sees sand, he doesn’t know what that is unless he feels the sand with his bare hands.  Letting your child use his senses through exploration stimulates his brain.  So let him go out and feel the mud in his toes, let him touch the dried leaves and listen to the crisp sound they bring, or let him catch a frog!

2. Getting messy builds independence.

What is the best way to teach a toddler to eat on his own? Yes, you got it right, let him eat by himself. It will be M-E-S-S-Y, and would take time for him to master the skills involved in eating on his own but in the end, you will be proud of having raised a self-sufficient and independent child.

3. Getting messy encourages creativity.

Give your child art materials such as paint, paper, clay, paste, or crayons and see all the MESS he could come up with.  But at the same time, his creativity shows on how he uses all these materials to come up with a piece of art.  His “work of art” might be something that you cannot recognize, but the effort he put into it is a product of his imagination.  Also, by using different art materials, he is strengthening his hand and finger muscles.

4. Getting Messy, to a certain extent, can make your child healthy.

Thom McDade, a professor and director the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University stated that the immune system of a child is strengthened by  exposure to everyday germs.  With this, the child’s immune system can adapt and regulate itself.  Also, in the article “Is Dirt Good for Kids?”, author Lisa Zamosky mentioned that several researches suggested that exposing infants to germs may offer them greater protection from illnesses such as allergies and asthma later on in life.  So do not be afraid to let your child play outdoors and experience getting “dirty”.

5. Getting dirty is FUN!

Children who play outside have more fun than those who are stuck in their own rooms watching television.  They explore, laugh and learn more! Katie Fox (2010) stated that children who  play outside grow in their character development as they become more adventurous, more self-motivated, and they are better able to understand and assess risk.  They are good problem-solvers too!

So the next time you see your child all covered in paint, sand or mud, don’t freak out.  Your child is reaching milestones by getting messy.

References:

Fox, Katie (2010). Let Your Kids Get Dirty. Retrieved on November 12, 2014.  Retrieved from http://theartofsimple.net/let-your-kids-get-dirty/

Zamosky, Lisa (2014). Is Dirt Good for Kids?. WebMD. Retrieved on November 12, 2014.  Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/d2n-stopping-germs-12/kids-and-dirt-germs

Little Hands, Big Hearts

As I was looking for words that would best describe children, I came upon this line that speaks to me as a teacher.

“Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.” – Henry Ward Beecher

In my years of teaching infants and toddlers, I have seen that children can do more than just playing, singing, dancing, and all the other stuff that we adore them for. As young as they are, they too can be teachers.  How? By teaching us values.

What I learned the most about being with children is that they are people with little hands but big hearts.  Those little hands have not been tainted by selfishness and greed, so when they give, they give freely.  Those little mouths do not understand what a lie is, so they speak only the truth. Those little feet run, but never away from someone they trust and love. Those little eyes do not judge, so they appreciate. Their hearts do not hate, so they love unconditionally.  To me, a day in the classroom with little children is a touch of heaven, because I am with little angels who love me for me.

This blog is dedicated to parents and teachers who have young children under their care.  Like me, may you enjoy nourishing these “little hands and big hearts” as you walk with them every single day.