1. Appropriate toys that are safe and help in their development

2. Supervise children when playing Check battery covers Choke prevention Smooth surfaces for infants, watch edges Chew proof Strings no more than 7 inches

3. If part does not fit in cylinder then it is not a small part. NOTE: Even if part does not fit in the cylinder at first remember these concepts: - Teething can weaken fabric, allowing parts such as buttons to come off - Repeated washing weakens fabric - Thin plastics can break

4. Sense of Touch- one of the first senses to be development Quickly recognize voices and sounds in general Recognizes faces Soft, rhythmic sounds calm and comfort Newborns can only see objects clearly between 8-10 inches away

5. Full- color vision is not achieved until 4 months – Try for high contrast toys and patterns How do you tell a baby is interested in toy?

6. High contrast color Shape patterns (like stripes) Toys with faces Mirrored toys Rattles, noise producing toys Rings, toys that promote grasping Toys with comforting motion or sounds

7. Century old and still popular Made from fabrics, woods, and plastics Encourages exploring Source of simulation – They follow noise with eyes, finely honing sensory skills

8. 0-3 months Eyes: Mobiles Hearing: Rattles Physical: Activity Mats Senses: Textured, cuddly toys

9. Baby will move to response to noise developing hand/eye coordination Vision nearly perfect More social interaction, audible responses (cooing and laughing) Teething possible

10. Talking or musical toys Lights Peek-a-boo toys Toys to shake and make sounds Colorful toys Big picture books Soft, huggable toys Teethers Textured toys (make sure they are safe) Bath toys

13. I’m not an expert, but I’m right!

14. 3-6 months Eyes: mobiles, books Hearing: music, chime toys Hands: rattles, squeeze toys Senses: rattles, textures

15. Major developments: fine and gross motor Increase strength and coordination Sit for 30 min intervals Move by bouncing, rolling Larger attention span Repeating actions ( memory, cause and effect) Examine, explore more

16. Peek-a-boo toys Toys with sound or music Activity centers Stacking tools Shape sorters Musical toys Balls DVDs/ CDs Books

17. Great for motor control and grasping Usually cheap, and safe Many textures and sizes to choose Rolling, fetching, throwing

18. Bath toys promote play – Squeeze, squeak, and bob- it’s all cause and effect – Promotes motor skills – Talking to baby adds language skills

19. 6-9 months Learning: activity centers, rattles, music toys, books Hands and Fingers: texture toys, rattles, building blocks, nesting cups, blocks, bath toys Mobility (crawling): activity centers, push toys, pull toys

20. Crawling coordinated Dislikes laying on back, will roll to sitting position or crawl easily Can stand for short periods on own Starts to learn words, and toward month 12 starts to use simple words Fine motor skills improve

21. Balls Push toys Blocks Books Activity centers Music CDs Stacking toys

22. Builds motor skills and hand-eye coordination Creative problem-solving skills Social and language skills – Recent study by Seattle Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dimitri Christakis, M.D. states: Parents who played blocks with children for 20 minutes a day scored 15% higher on language development tests

23. Parents help language skills by talking and playing with them. Here are some games to play with baby – Sort blocks by color, size, or theme. – Build tunnels for toy cars and trains to travel through. – Construct houses for dolls or barns for animals. – Line up blocks and pretend they are piano keys; use spoons to "play" them. – And the all-time favorite block activity: Create the tallest tower you can, then knock it down!

24. Lots to grab, and handle Involves different activities to keep babies exploring Some make noise Some allow babies to jump

25. Stands and begins walking Fine and gross motor skills developing well – Can drink from cup – Stand and/or walk – Climbs Language skills: speak simple words and follow commands

26. Ride-on toys Pull/push toys Puzzles Toy telephones (cell phones) Dolls Trucks Just like momma, daddy toys

27. Enhances gross motor skills- pushing Fine motor skills by steering, opening door, using buttons Motivation and self-esteem improve as they do things for themselves

28. 12-24 months For learning: puzzles, activity centers or cubes Fingers and hands: stacking cups and cones, puzzles, bath toys Mobility: Ride- on and push toys, balls

29. Babies R Us. (n.d.). Toys for Infants Buyin Guide. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from Babies R Us: http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=2964407 Baby Development News. (n.d.). Developmental Baby Toys: A 5 Minute Guide to the Best Developmental Toys. Retrieved Ocotber 14, 2011, from Baby Development News: http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/developmentalbabytoys.html Lauer, M. (n.d.). Is reading kit for tots just a marketing ploy? Retrieved October 14, 2011, from TODAY investigatess: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/39964945#39964945 Ryan, K. (n.d.). Choosing Age Appropriate Toys- Toys By Age. Retrieved October 15, 2011, from About.com Toys: http://toys.about.com/od/toysbyage/u/toysbyage.htm#s3 What to Expect.com. (n.d.). Best Toys for Babies. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from What to Expect: http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/photo-gallery/best-toys- for-babies.aspx#/slide-11 Wood, S. (n.d.). The Benefits of Block Play. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from Parenting.com: http://www.parenting.com/article/the-benefits-of-block-play