My little guy (Baby G) is 11 months old and is BUSY. He is constantly on the go, exploring and crawling and dumping things out. But about once a day, I look for quiet time to sit with him and explore a new skill together. They may be tiny but their minds are WIDE open to learn!
I grabbed some of Big G’s chunky tools and put a few play nails in the play wood. I showed Baby G how to pull one out and he LOVED it. He was squealing as he pulled each one out, over and over! This is great for early fine motor work.
Toys can really pack a punch, too! This traditional ring toy has so many purposes but right now, it’s perfect for stacking. I dump them off and he pops them back on. It sounds easy but it requires so much concentration (so much that his paci always falls out because he’s focusing so hard on the ring!).
Also, look for cause and effect toys! Leap Frog makes some great ones, and this drum is one of them. He loves to beat the drum because with each strike, a noise and light flash on.
And of course, chunky Duplos are always fun. He isn’t ready to build but he DOES love to hit two blocks together. Sounds simple but it’s actually a huge part of brain development!
Also, give them new and exciting and colorful things to discover! With my teaching schedule, it’s hard to find a good tumbling class. But, malls have awesome play places that are fun and safe for the little guys (just be sure to wipe them down after!).
Written by Jill
Kristina
Saturday 9th of January 2016
Always looking for activities for learning for my 12 month s granddaughter that I can do with her while spending quality time
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families
Thursday 30th of January 2014
My youngest son has the drum and loves it. He just upgraded to a bit bigger drum set by V-tech.