Infant development toys and activities encourage babies to learn about the world around them and develop essential skills for communication, motor development, hand-eye coordination and even walking. Toys and games designed to stimulate children’s minds will help them develop all of their senses so that they can begin performing more complex tasks such as playing, problem solving and communicating with other children and adults.
Step 1
Develop sensory skills with textured toys. Toys made with different types of materials and surfaces will stimulate children’s sense of touch and teach them to recognize new objects using tactual skills. These toys help babies become more comfortable with objects in their environment and encourage them to use their hands to explore the world around them.
Step 2
Play with toys that require grabbing and grasping. From colorful blocks to miniature plastic bottles, dropping, throwing and holding different types of objects improves hand-eye coordination. Any toys that require sorting different shapes into holes or buckets also help develop problem-solving abilities.
Step 3
Play with toys that make noise or music. Toys that play a song when touched or pressed or that make fun noises when shaken or picked up develop interaction skills and help your baby understand cause-and-effect relationships. Toys that play soothing music stimulate creativity and take young imaginations to new heights.
Step 4
Improve visual skills with colorful toys. Oversized plush toys in bright colors or pillows and other items designed with bold and eye-catching patterns encourage development of strong visual skills and help babies distinguish between different shades and color palettes. These toys also stimulate creativity while helping babies develop their sight.
Step 5
Encourage problem solving with hide-and-seek toys. Toys that pop up after a certain time or “disappear” when the baby pushes a button stimulate problem solving and critical thinking skills. These toys also teach your baby cause and effect, and they can improve hand-eye coordination as well as enhance creative thinking abilities.
Step 6
Play with toys that collapse, fold or break apart. Toys that can be broken apart and put back together also stimulate problem-solving and tactual skills and encourage your infant to play in a creative way. Building blocks, puzzles and other toys that can be broken down are also excellent toys for cultivating intelligence.
Tips
Providing a variety of toys at different stages of development can help your infant develop several important skills as she grows. Encouraging infants to play with other children or adults will improve their socialization skills.
Warnings
Overstimulation from too many toys can lead to irritability and anxiety. Avoid playing with toys late at night because it may be difficult to put your infant to bed.
About the Author
Sabah Karimi is an experienced freelance writer who enjoys writing about lifestyle, parenting, and childhood education topics. Sabah runs a web copywriting and marketing consultancy business in Orlando, Florida.
