When purchasing toys for a child, whether it is their birthday or just a holiday, it is crucial that you purchase toys that will help enhance their abilities while exercising all their domains. When you purchase toys for a child, you need to think of their age and the skills they need to work on developing to ensure their progress on hitting developmental milestones. When researching toys to invest in for your children, it is important that you investigate whether the toys will benefit their cognitive domain, physical domain, and/or emotional/social domain. Exercising these domains is crucial to the development of all children.
My first child is a one-year-old girl. She is developing well and hitting all the correct milestones needed as she progresses and grows, but needs work on getting up and moving around more often. She also needs to start being introduced to more mind stimulating activities. I looked for toys that focused on her physical domain as well as cognitive to promote her learning ability, but also toys she would enjoy as a child that would satisfy her emotional/social domain. That being said, I retrieved most of my information from ToysRUs, or Fisher-Price.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18511166&cp=2269725.10811240&parentPage=family / The fun-to-maneuver VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker in the Pink style encourages your child to learn to walk at his or her own speed with a removable play panel that can be used for playing on the floor or on the run. Spinning gears, three colorful rollers, three light-up shape sorters, three light-up buttons and a telephone handset help promote the development of motor skills, while the five piano keys on the play panel inspire musical creativity. This walker features over 70 fun sing-along songs, music, sound effects and phrases to engage your little one. Age range: 9 months – 3 years / I chose this Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker because it will help her work her physical and cognitive domain, while satisfying her emotional domain as well. Her physical domain will be challenged by the toy’s ability to allow her to stand up and walk if she pleases, so she will work her leg and body muscles. Her cognitive domain will be intrigued as she plays with the toy as she creates her own music, works with sorting shapes, and listens to sing along songs. Overall, the toy has many different activities for her to participate in, which will allow her emotional domain to be highlighted as well as she has the ability to chose what activity she wants to do.http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=34354626&cp=2269725.10811240&parentPage=family / Your little one can enjoy hours of fun with the Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant, which features a friendly design with large, soft ears and three fun ways to play and learn. Sit & Bounce, Stand & Walk and Scoot & Ride options promote gross motor skill development, and a wobbly-action bumblebee, a bat-at rollerball with rattle bead sounds and colorful light-up buttons help encourage fine motor skill development. This ride-on toy plays 30+ fun songs, sounds and phrases that your child can enjoy, and it is easy to convert for your baby. Age range: 9 months – 3 years / This toy was chosen for sole purpose of working her physical domain. The toy allows her three options of: bouncing, walking, or scooting that will work her muscles and enhance her physical abilities, promoting her walking ability. Allowing her a choice of the movement she wants to do, will ensure that she is happy which allows her emotional domain to be satisfied throughout the activity.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23324896&cp=2269725.10811241&parentPage=family / Entice your baby to stand up and cruise about with the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy & Friends Learning Table, which features four light-up corners and fun Sis, Puppy and Monkey characters for your child to interact with. Over 60 songs, tunes and learning activities introduce your baby to first words, shapes, colors, opposites, greetings, letters, numbers and counting, Spanish and more, while the pressable buttons, sliding mouse, pages to turn and levers to flip all aid in fine motor development. Detachable legs allow for floor play. Age range: 6 months – 3 years / This toy was chosen again for the purpose of promoting her standing and walking around. With activities at each corner, it will entice her to move about the table to see the different corners, thus promoting her physical domain. Her cognitive domain will be challenged as the corners provide her with songs and activities that feature: colors, shapes, number, letters, and opposites. These activities will help her mind expand as she is introduced to new words and activities.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_us/brands/laugh-and-learn/products/Laugh-and-Learn-Smart-Stages-Tea-Cart-Walker / Time to share a pot of tea—with two cups, tasty treats and plenty of songs, sounds and fun phrases! Push the tea cart along to help steady first steps and to hear rewarding songs and musical tunes. When baby twists the tea pot, phrases and sounds bring it to life. Pressing three colorful shapes introduces colors and shapes. While baby is busy hearing about manners and sharing, she can toggle the teacups or slide the cupcake for early role play fun. Age range: 9 – 36 months / This toy was chosen because it highlights each of the domains. The cart design allows her to get up and walk while providing stability. The toy also allows her to work with colors and shapes while teaching her about manners and sharing, which will intrigue her cognitive domain. Her emotional/social domain will be satisfied as the teacart and teapot allow her to start role-playing with mom.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/laughandlearn/products/Laugh-and-Learn-Singin-Soccer-Ball / Get ready to kick up some learning fun with the Singin’ Soccer Ball! Baby will love discovering numbers, counting, colors and opposites, and learning about teamwork and taking turns. The soft, baby-friendly ball is easy to grasp and roll, with fun sounds, songs and tunes to encourage play. Age range: 6 – 36 months / This toy was chosen because it specifically exercises her cognitive domain by allowing her to discover counting, numbers, and opposites as she listens to songs that the ball plays. The soft ball allows her to grasp and roll, which will work her physical domain as well.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13144110&cp=2269725.10811240&parentPage=family / The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magical Musical Mirror is more than just a toy vanity. With exciting accessories such as a bracelet, soft puff, open/close compact and spinning wheel, your baby will have fun role-playing, while magical activation helps teach cause and effect. The dancing lights, sparkly mirror and over 30 sing-along songs help encourage growth and self-discovery. Age range: 6 months – 3 years / I chose this toy to specifically work her cognitive domain while satisfying her emotional domain. The mirror has over 30 sing along songs, which will enhance her cognitive domain as she listens and learns new words. This mirror also helps teaches cause and effect, through object permanence, by the magical activation of the mirror. Her emotional/social domain will be satisfied as she is allowed the opportunity to role-play using jewelry and a make-up puff.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_us/brands/laughandlearn/products/Laugh-and-Learn-Sweet-Sounds-Picnic / Picnic time is really sweet with treats to sort and share, a basket to carry, and plenty of learning and singing on the menu! Age range: 6 – 36 months / This toy was chosen because it mainly focused on her cognitive and emotional domains. The toy allows her to start learning how to sort based on shapes and colors. The bright colors, songs, and ability to role-play highlight her emotional/social domain, as she will be happy given the fact she is allowed choices in how she wants to play.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/products/DISNEY-PRINCESS-Castle-Peek-a-Boo-Book-from-Fisher-Price / Introduce the magic of reading with this charming first book that brings Baby’s favorite Disney princesses to life! Every page turn unlocks the story of five princesses: Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel and Cinderella. Plus, there are lots of fine motor activities to keep little hands busy, too. Baby can play peek-a-boo with Rapunzel in her turret window, or spin the dial on the book for fun phrases and sound effects that relate to the page Baby is on! Hands-on activities enchant and engage—with fun sights and sounds that help stimulate Baby’s senses as she “reads” along! Age range: 6 – 36 months / This book was chosen for the sole purpose of enhancing her cognitive domain while pleasing her emotional/social domain. Her cognitive domain will be challenged as she listens to mom/dad read her the book as it will help her vocabulary develop. Also, as she is allowed to interact with the activities the book provides, this will also help exercise her cognitive domain. Her emotional/social domain will be satisfied as she enjoys bonding time with mom/dad, as she is held close as he/she reads to her.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/products/Growing-Baby-Peek-a-boo-Book / Play peek-a-boo with baby’s favorite animal friends! Turn the pages or press the sun to activate lights, a fun song, phrases and music. Colorful illustrations invite baby to turn each page and discover what’s next. Age range: 3 – 36 months / This book was chosen again to mainly enhance her cognitive domain as well as emotional/social. Her cognitive domain will be enhanced as she listens to new words be read to her. Her cognitive domain will also be exercised as she plays with the different activities that provide lights and songs to her to be intrigued with. Her social/emotional domain will be pleased as she spends quality time with mom/dad as he/she reads her the book.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/babytoys/products/Disney-Baby-NEMO-Amazing-Animals-Rollin-Round-Ramp / Baby can make Nemo “swim” down the ramp on his rollerball belly to activate fun sounds & music! Bright colors, interesting textures and fun sounds & tunes stimulate baby’s senses. Surprise actions and favorite Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo friends encourage baby to play & discover! Age range: 6 – 36 months / This toy was chosen because it strengthens all of her domains. She can play with Nemo and make him go down the ramps, which will work on her physical domain and motor skills. The songs that the toy plays will help her cognitive development by allowing her to listen and learn new words. Her emotional domain will be pleased as this toy gives her a lot of freedom to play how she would like and imagine.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/laughandlearn/products/Laugh-and-Learn-Learning-Opposites-Monkey / What’s the best way to learn about opposites? Monkeyin’ around with a soft and cuddly monkey pal! Baby can press the silly monkey’s belly and turn him upside down to hear sing-along songs, tunes and phrases. Or flip the monkey upside down for even more learning content that introduces opposites, counting and friendship. Age range: 6 – 36 months / This toy was chosen to amplify the cognitive skills while providing her emotional domain to be satisfied. This toy mainly works with teaching opposites, counting, and singing songs. All of which will challenge her mind to grow. Her emotional domain will be enhanced with the cuddly-ness of the monkey allowing her to snuggle and feel happy.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_us/brands/babytoys/products/Discover-n-Grow-Push-n-See-Giraffe / Babies love to repeat an action that makes something rewarding happen—like spinning sights and silly sounds. Pressing down on the giraffe’s tail makes the “kaleidoscope” spin. Click its head for extra fun! Age range: 6 – 24 months / This toy was chosen because it intrigues the cognitive domain while working the physical domain. The physical domain is worked, as she has to push down the tail and click the head, which will work her arms. Teaching her about object permanence requires the cognitive domain to be worked, as every time she moves the tail, the part will spin, so she will anticipate this each time she pushes the tail.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/babytoys/products/My-Little-SnugaMonkey-Nighty-Night-Monkey / A sweet bedtime story with a sing-along song—perfect for soothing baby to sleep! Develop & Learn Pages to turn • Encourage eye-hand coordination Light-up sun/moon & soothing sounds • Help baby understand cause & effect Read-aloud book • Fosters language development. Age range: 6 – 36 months / This toy was specifically chosen to encourage her cognitive development and nurture her emotional/social domain. By having the book read to her, she will hear many new words, as well as be able to interact with the activities in the book. By having mom/dad hold her and read to her before bedtime she will get the emotional/social nurture she needs.
http://www.fisher-price.com/en_us/brands/littlepeople/products/Little-People-Lil-Movers-School-Bus-Pink / The Fisher-Price® Little People® Lil’ Movers™ School Bus is packed full with fun play, sounds and music! Little ones discover “The Wheels on the Bus” song plays when they move the bus around. And each time kids press on a different seat, they hear a different verse! So there are lots of new words to learn as they merrily roll along. There’s a door on the side to open and close and a real-life stop sign that swings out and in, too. Age range: 1 – 5 years / This toy was chosen because it challenges her cognitive domain while slightly working her physical domain. Her physical domain is worked as she navigates the bus around on the floor, permitting her to crawl. Allowing her to imagine scenarios and play freely stimulates her cognitive domain.
My second child is a seven-year-old boy. He has just gone into the second grade and enjoys being active outside and playing with his friends. However, he needs to work on more cognitive skills, which will positively impact him at school. I focused on getting him games and toys that would work his physical domain, as well as games and activities that would work his cognitive skills. I also tried to incorporate a positive emotional/social domain with some toys by choosing games that would allow him to play with friends and allow him to build better social skills, or games that he would find interesting. That being said, most of his toys came from Wal-Mart, but also some other online stores that promoted cognitive development.