The Importance of Toddler Toys in Brain Development

Kyles_Mom · February 21, 2009, 6:46am

The first three years of a child are crucial to brain development. During this period, the brain triples in weight and establishes billions of nerve connections. At the age of three, kids have twice as many nerve connections than a lot of adults. This is the reason why toddlers are very curious and inquisitive.

Their brains absorb thousands of information all at once, constructing new connections and associations, and making sense out of all the new and unfamiliar sights and sounds that bombard their senses. This is also the reason why toddler toys are designed the way that they are: colorful, bright, loud, with many different textures, shapes, sizes, and are made of different materials. These are all designed to stimulate and develop a child’s mind.

Differentiation and classification

In the early phase of development, one of the crucial things that a child learns is differentiation and classification. Toddler toys such as building blocks, stuffed animals, padded play gyms, rubber balls, and spiky mats, help a child recognize the different textures and shapes of different objects. Having toddler toys in different colors and in different hues and shades, also allows a child to perceive the nuances and basic principles of color, developing their creativity and imagination. Exposing the child to as many colors, shapes, and textures as possible can help expand their perceptions and sensory experience, and help them have a wider picture of the world.

Emotional intelligence and imagination

There are also toys for toddlers that nurture emotional intelligence and imagination. The popular ones are musical toys for toddlers. Musical toys help kids learn balance and harmony, and stimulate their creative minds with interesting melodies and artistic rhythms. Classical music, particularly Mozart’s Violin Concertos, is also a big help in developing a child’s brain and imagination.

Logic and reasoning

While infants already have most of the neurons they need for their lifetime, their neurons are not yet wired together to form the compound networks required for complex thought processes. In the early years of a child, the neurons rapidly link together and form connections or synapses. Toys such as puzzles, mind games, mixing and matching, play cards, and mind maps can help toddlers make complex associations and rapidly develop their logic and reasoning.

Memory and concentration

These days, with numerous technological advances and a bombardment of media messages and information, from home theaters to 3D video games, all-day cartoon channels to internet access and online entertainment, and from billboards to interactive LCD screens, ubiquitous advertisements, and sophisticated gadgets, kids and toddlers have shorter attention span and concentration. They are easily distracted and bored. Traditional toys for kids can help them be more patient, increase focus and concentration, improve their listening skills, filter out distractions, and enhance their memory.

Traditional toys that require kids to sit down, think, and tinker for a couple of minutes or even an hour will help a child form good habits and acquire discipline-two important traits for excelling in school and the adult world.

mother_of_faith · February 27, 2009, 4:13am

I agree with having toys for specific reasons. I love the rings that have different textures to them. I am a homeschool mom and I have made my own musical instruments out of recycled containers, like pringles cans, baby formula cans by putting rice, or other objects that are secured to shake, rattle, and roll. My child loves those toys. He has even helped me with making the toys. I also like to make sensory mats or felt toys for him that corresponds with the faith based curriculum that I have created. He loves sorting yarn and ribbons too. I don’t ever want to give my child a video game that causes him to stress. I have seen children who become addicted to vidoe games that leads to, to many unhealthy things. Some video games however are okay those that teach corrdination, and of course the new interactive games. But i prefer the old fashioned bright colored, noise making toys. A lot of people put down homeschooling kids to early but playing with toys is learning. I always include play school with my child, this is when he plays with his favorite toy, and if I can I incorprate his fav toy into the curriculum.
I can tell when my son has had enough of TV time, he gets to yelling at me, then I know he has became bored. He repeats momma, momma over and over. TV time is usually in the mornnings to allow him to get woke up for he is not a morning person.

Mandi_Quiring · February 27, 2009, 7:21am

I completely agree that it is very important for stimulation fo toodlers and preschoolers to have access to many different kids of activity, book on different subjects and physical activity.

I think a lot of parents should take a look at second hand stores… I get tons of books there for .10 - .50 cents canadian a piece… you cant beat that!!! Plus many of the books were not even used and in perfect condition… its also a great place for puzzles, and childrens games like memory, mechanical toys, and wooden toys!!
PLus many times once your done with the toy you can post it on line and sell it for more then what you paid for it!! lol even with books!!

nhockaday · February 27, 2009, 10:16pm

Here is some additional info that may be helpful. I found it at http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/toys.p.t.2.html

[i]Through toys, children learn about their world, themselves, and others. Choosing toys that appeal to your children and foster their learning will help you make their early years count. Toys can teach children to

* figure out how things work

* pick up new ideas

* build muscle control and strength

* use their imagination

* solve problems

* learn to cooperate with others

Remember that good toys are not necessarily expensive, and children do not need very many. The more a child can do with a toy, the more likely it is to be educational. Here are some tips to help you choose toys wisely for your child:

* Hands-on toys build eye-hand coordination, encourage ideas about how things work, and foster cooperation and problem-solving.

* Books and recordings help children appreciate words, literature, and music.

* Art materials foster creativity and build skills that lead to reading, writing, and seeing beauty in life.

* Few toys are as durable as hardwood unit blocks, and they teach children about geometry and gravity, shapes and balance.

* Construction items contribute to muscle strength and help children learn about science and number ideas.

* Musical instruments and experimental materials such as sand, water, and clay offer children control while appealing to their senses.

* Active play equipment builds strong muscles and confidence to meet physical challenges.

* Pretend play objects such as dolls, stuffed animals and dramatic figures give children a chance to try new behaviors and use their imaginations.

* If your child attends child care or preschool, look at the types of toys available. Is there a variety of safe and interesting toys? For toddlers and young preschoolers, there should be multiple copies of toys -- a great way to avoid conflicts.

Get involved in your child’s play

Match toys to fit your child’s thinking, language, physical skills, feelings, and friendships. Each child grows and develops at a different pace, so watching your child’s play and playing together will enable you to choose appropriate toys and worthwhile activities for your child.

Parents who take part in pretend play with their one- to three-year-old children help them to develop more varied and complex play patterns. These children, in turn, engage in more pretend play with other children and tend to be more advanced intellectually, better able to understand others’ feelings, and considered more socially competent by their teachers.
Good toys are appealing and interesting to the child; proper for the child’s physical capacities; appropriate for the child’s mental and social development; suitable for use in groups of children; and well-constructed, durable, and safe for the ages of the children in the group. [/i]