Rylie's Mo
My daughter just turned one on Friday. I am curious as to what are the best toys for her at this point. (Ones that will help her learn and develop motor skills. Thanks.
Answer
Ones I had, or would have liked to have: VERY simple shape sorter - like with many copies of only 3 shapes; those things with 5 different buttons/switches/levers that pop up 5 different toys when you manipulate the buttons/switches/levers; small swimming pool; nesting cups / nesting dolls; sandbox + shovel; a bouncy ball of the right size (about 6" diameter); music toys - simple ones! like rattles or drums that make a variety of different sounds; some simple toys that have wheels; clear toys containing water and shiny things that can be shaken and you watch the things "swimming" inside; bubble blower (for you to use and child to watch); a top (also mainly to watch you use it but she might be able to get it going briefly); and board books with lots of pictures - still my 16 month old's favorite thing! She has learned almost all the words she has from those. She loves ones that have shiny stuff attached inside, like some of the more durable touch/feel ones, and the Katz lift-the-flap ones are good although they need protection from tearing and folding.
Interest in dolls might increase in the next few months - try a brightly colored ragdoll? Soon she'll be ready for push/pull toys, like a wagon or toy shopping cart, doll stroller, toy lawnmower etc. Oh, and we also have a set of foam blocks made by Sassy that has little cubbyholes in each one, with a small soft toy inside -- that she enjoyed a lot. Surprising to see how fast she learned to match the toys to their blocks.
http://www.sassybaby.com/product?productid=157&product=Peek-A-Boo%20Blocks
Some of what I've listed might seem too advanced at first but in the next couple months they should be just right! I'm also *still* searching for one of those tub toys that suctions to the wall and has tubes and waterwheels & such, that the child can pour water into.
Ones I had, or would have liked to have: VERY simple shape sorter - like with many copies of only 3 shapes; those things with 5 different buttons/switches/levers that pop up 5 different toys when you manipulate the buttons/switches/levers; small swimming pool; nesting cups / nesting dolls; sandbox + shovel; a bouncy ball of the right size (about 6" diameter); music toys - simple ones! like rattles or drums that make a variety of different sounds; some simple toys that have wheels; clear toys containing water and shiny things that can be shaken and you watch the things "swimming" inside; bubble blower (for you to use and child to watch); a top (also mainly to watch you use it but she might be able to get it going briefly); and board books with lots of pictures - still my 16 month old's favorite thing! She has learned almost all the words she has from those. She loves ones that have shiny stuff attached inside, like some of the more durable touch/feel ones, and the Katz lift-the-flap ones are good although they need protection from tearing and folding.
Interest in dolls might increase in the next few months - try a brightly colored ragdoll? Soon she'll be ready for push/pull toys, like a wagon or toy shopping cart, doll stroller, toy lawnmower etc. Oh, and we also have a set of foam blocks made by Sassy that has little cubbyholes in each one, with a small soft toy inside -- that she enjoyed a lot. Surprising to see how fast she learned to match the toys to their blocks.
http://www.sassybaby.com/product?productid=157&product=Peek-A-Boo%20Blocks
Some of what I've listed might seem too advanced at first but in the next couple months they should be just right! I'm also *still* searching for one of those tub toys that suctions to the wall and has tubes and waterwheels & such, that the child can pour water into.
What toys do I get for a 6 month - 1 year old?
Q. It's for my sisters new baby. At the moment she's only about 1 - 2 months old, but there's huge toy sales on where I live and my sister's moving here soon, but by that time the toy sales will be over, so she wants me to get her baby girl some toys for when christmas comes around.
I wouldnt have a clue what to get her, i've never had any experience with babys and i'm not planning to have my own. Please help, thanks. =]
I wouldnt have a clue what to get her, i've never had any experience with babys and i'm not planning to have my own. Please help, thanks. =]
Answer
Please, please, please, I beg you to buy this young girl something other than toys. I give books for all occasions and I cannot emphasize enough how important I think it is that you consider giving your niece books instead of toys as gifts, particularly with so many negative influences impacting children nowadays. The sad truth is that if you buy toys for your niece you'll be wasting your money on something she'll either not appreciate fully until she's much older or tire of in weeks if not days (after all, she's not quite one).
I heartily advise you to invest your resources on something that (when used daily) can benefit her for the rest of her life. I realize you're probably looking for toy ideas and that's why you posted your question in this forum, but think about the impact books can have on this young girl's future. Think of the special opportunity you have to influence her early learning and foster her emergent reading skills. Picture yourself on the day you meet her...or her mom every day thereafter, reading to this special child and the joyful moments you all can experience exploring the pages of a book. Besides, a book can be an everlasting gift and you can inscribe a special message within it, creating a lasting memory for this girl. I still have books that my aunt and uncle gave me when I was a child and I loved rediscovering the inscriptions they wrote me when I read the books again as an adult. The single best way to help a child become a reader (for life) is to read to her regularly. You can make a huge difference in this young lady's life by giving her books. You're establishing that you value reading and literature and you're encouraging her to value the same. I can't imagine that her mom won't appreciate the sensible choice you'll make in giving her daughter books, and you'll look smart, too. Most young children love to hear the cadence of someone else's voice.
Reading aloud to a child can be calming, instructive and just plain fun. I advise you to look for books that rhyme or have a rhythmic pattern. This is the key to building reading fluency in children. It's no accident that children will often ask to have their favorite stories read to them again and again--these books, from the classics to the contemporary feature repetitive or rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud time after time. Also, pop-up books, lift-the-flap, and of course board books, can be very attractive to children her age. I've included some titles below that are available in board book format. There are thousands of books you might select, but let me recommend a few that you may not be familiar with (some are more appropriate for preschool children--but they would make good additions now to her home library):
"The Long-Nosed Pig" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]
"The Wide-Mouthed Frog" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]
"Shark in the Park" by Nick Sharrat [Fun!]
"Bark, George" by Jules Feiffer [Hysterical!]
"T is for Terrible" by Peter McCarty
"Some Dogs Do" by Jez Alborough [I could read this book every day for the rest of my life--so positive do I think its message is].
"Duck in the Truck" by Jez Alborough
"Louella Mae, She's Run Away" by Karen Beaumont Alarcón; ill. by Rosanne Litzinger
"The Wolf's Chicken Stew" by Keiko Kasza
"Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins
"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale" by Mo Willems [the sequel "Knuffle Bunny Too" has since been published]
"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems [There are other books about the Pigeon and his adventure--this is the best].
"Leonardo, the Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems
"Edwina, the Dinosaur that Didn't Know She Was Extinct" by Mo Willems
"Sheep in a Jeep" by Nancy Shaw; ill. by Margot Apple
"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina
"Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag
"Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson
"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak
"Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown; ill. by Clement Hurd
"Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" by Sandra Boynton
"The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein
"The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" by Shel Silverstein
"The Very Quiet Cricket" by Eric Carle
"Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On" by Lois Ehlert
"Banana Moon" by Janet Marshall
"Dinosaur Roar" by Paul & Henrietta Stickland
"How Loud Is a Lion?" by Stella Blackstone; ill. by Clare Beaton
"Clickety Clack" by Robert & Amy Spence; ill. by Margaret Spengler
"One Red Dot" by David A. Carter [Amazing pop-up book]
"Blue 2" by David A. Carter [Incredible pop-up book]
"600 Black Spots" by David A. Carter [Outstanding pop-up book]
"Arrowville" by Geefwee Bodoe
"Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon
"No, David!" by David Shannon [Check out David's other adventures, too].
"Ella Sarah Get Dressed" by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin; ill. by Betsy Lewin
"How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague
"How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague
"How Does a Dinosaur Eat His Food?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague [There are several other books about dinosaurs from this author and illustrator].
"The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds
"Ish" by Peter H. Reynolds
"The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt; ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi
"Imogene's Antlers" by David Small
"Un Gato y un Perro" by Clare Masurel
"Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson; ill. by Jane Chapman [there are other wonderful books about Bear's misadventures from this author/illustrator team]
I've read the above picture books numerous times with great cheer (and some tears) from many audiences. Click on my profile and e-mail me. I would be happy to correspond with you and make further suggestions. I'd also encourage to stop by your local library and chat with the children's librarians there to get their recommendations. Finally, I'd suggest you find a copy of Jim Trelease's "The Read Aloud Handbook." http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/ It's an invaluable resource for parents, godparents, grandparents, and gift-giving aunts of soon-to-be-one-year-old girls. Another good source of information is "Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children," published by The New York Times and edited by Eden Ross Lipson.
Please, please, please, I beg you to buy this young girl something other than toys. I give books for all occasions and I cannot emphasize enough how important I think it is that you consider giving your niece books instead of toys as gifts, particularly with so many negative influences impacting children nowadays. The sad truth is that if you buy toys for your niece you'll be wasting your money on something she'll either not appreciate fully until she's much older or tire of in weeks if not days (after all, she's not quite one).
I heartily advise you to invest your resources on something that (when used daily) can benefit her for the rest of her life. I realize you're probably looking for toy ideas and that's why you posted your question in this forum, but think about the impact books can have on this young girl's future. Think of the special opportunity you have to influence her early learning and foster her emergent reading skills. Picture yourself on the day you meet her...or her mom every day thereafter, reading to this special child and the joyful moments you all can experience exploring the pages of a book. Besides, a book can be an everlasting gift and you can inscribe a special message within it, creating a lasting memory for this girl. I still have books that my aunt and uncle gave me when I was a child and I loved rediscovering the inscriptions they wrote me when I read the books again as an adult. The single best way to help a child become a reader (for life) is to read to her regularly. You can make a huge difference in this young lady's life by giving her books. You're establishing that you value reading and literature and you're encouraging her to value the same. I can't imagine that her mom won't appreciate the sensible choice you'll make in giving her daughter books, and you'll look smart, too. Most young children love to hear the cadence of someone else's voice.
Reading aloud to a child can be calming, instructive and just plain fun. I advise you to look for books that rhyme or have a rhythmic pattern. This is the key to building reading fluency in children. It's no accident that children will often ask to have their favorite stories read to them again and again--these books, from the classics to the contemporary feature repetitive or rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud time after time. Also, pop-up books, lift-the-flap, and of course board books, can be very attractive to children her age. I've included some titles below that are available in board book format. There are thousands of books you might select, but let me recommend a few that you may not be familiar with (some are more appropriate for preschool children--but they would make good additions now to her home library):
"The Long-Nosed Pig" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]
"The Wide-Mouthed Frog" by Keith Faulkner; ill. by Jonathan Lambert [pop-up book]
"Shark in the Park" by Nick Sharrat [Fun!]
"Bark, George" by Jules Feiffer [Hysterical!]
"T is for Terrible" by Peter McCarty
"Some Dogs Do" by Jez Alborough [I could read this book every day for the rest of my life--so positive do I think its message is].
"Duck in the Truck" by Jez Alborough
"Louella Mae, She's Run Away" by Karen Beaumont Alarcón; ill. by Rosanne Litzinger
"The Wolf's Chicken Stew" by Keiko Kasza
"Rosie's Walk" by Pat Hutchins
"Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale" by Mo Willems [the sequel "Knuffle Bunny Too" has since been published]
"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems [There are other books about the Pigeon and his adventure--this is the best].
"Leonardo, the Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems
"Edwina, the Dinosaur that Didn't Know She Was Extinct" by Mo Willems
"Sheep in a Jeep" by Nancy Shaw; ill. by Margot Apple
"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina
"Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag
"Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson
"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak
"Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown; ill. by Clement Hurd
"Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!" by Sandra Boynton
"The Missing Piece" by Shel Silverstein
"The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" by Shel Silverstein
"The Very Quiet Cricket" by Eric Carle
"Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On" by Lois Ehlert
"Banana Moon" by Janet Marshall
"Dinosaur Roar" by Paul & Henrietta Stickland
"How Loud Is a Lion?" by Stella Blackstone; ill. by Clare Beaton
"Clickety Clack" by Robert & Amy Spence; ill. by Margaret Spengler
"One Red Dot" by David A. Carter [Amazing pop-up book]
"Blue 2" by David A. Carter [Incredible pop-up book]
"600 Black Spots" by David A. Carter [Outstanding pop-up book]
"Arrowville" by Geefwee Bodoe
"Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon
"No, David!" by David Shannon [Check out David's other adventures, too].
"Ella Sarah Get Dressed" by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
"Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin; ill. by Betsy Lewin
"How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague
"How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague
"How Does a Dinosaur Eat His Food?" by Jany Yolen; ill. by Mark Teague [There are several other books about dinosaurs from this author and illustrator].
"The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds
"Ish" by Peter H. Reynolds
"The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt; ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi
"Imogene's Antlers" by David Small
"Un Gato y un Perro" by Clare Masurel
"Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson; ill. by Jane Chapman [there are other wonderful books about Bear's misadventures from this author/illustrator team]
I've read the above picture books numerous times with great cheer (and some tears) from many audiences. Click on my profile and e-mail me. I would be happy to correspond with you and make further suggestions. I'd also encourage to stop by your local library and chat with the children's librarians there to get their recommendations. Finally, I'd suggest you find a copy of Jim Trelease's "The Read Aloud Handbook." http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/ It's an invaluable resource for parents, godparents, grandparents, and gift-giving aunts of soon-to-be-one-year-old girls. Another good source of information is "Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children," published by The New York Times and edited by Eden Ross Lipson.
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