All toys could potentially enhance your child’s development as long as you use them at the appropriate time, for example the toys you would use to enhance your child’s development as a baby are not the same as those that you would use for a toddler.
For the purpose of this article I am going to focus on toys for toddlers.
- Matching games such as snap or dominoes are great, they encourage the child to recognise when things are the same and when they are different. It also encourages them to take turns.
- Giving your child paper and something to draw with helps develop hand-eye coordination as well as their fine motor skills.
- Building bricks are good as they aid gross motor skill
- Toys that allow your child to use their imagination such as pots and pans, these encourage your child to broaden his or her vocabulary, they also open opportunities for interaction, it is also allows the child to explore and make sense of the world around them.
I’m not saying that you need alot of expensive toys just a few good quality ones that aren’t even that expensive. Other things that will make a difference to your child’s development is talking to your child as a normal person rather than dumbing things down to the level of a baby. Also giving your child the opportunity to be independent but at the same time having very clear boundaries about the type of behaviour that it is acceptable and the consequences for unacceptable behaviour. Involve the child in daily tasks such as setting the table, this provides the child with numerous benefits such as learning the vocabulary for everyday items as well as boosting the child’s self esteem if you give them praise for helping you, as toddlers attempt to imitate adults so if they feel that they are achieving the aim successfully it will boost their confidence.