Quick Summary
- The 4 learning domains: Physical, Language, Cognitive, Social-Emotional.
- Examples of the best educational toys for infants 0 to 6 months.
Physical Development
When selecting educational toys for infants 0 to 6 months you should keep in mind that they are learning to coordinate their body movements. They are grasping and shaking things, as well as reaching and swiping at dangling objects. They are also learning to roll over, as well as pushing with their legs and hands onto firm surfaces. To encourage their development in the physical domain, toys for this age group should include rattles, squeeze toys that make noise, crib mobiles, toys that encourage crawling-chasing toys, tummy time mats, and developmental gyms.
Language Development
Since children this age are learning to understand and communicate with language, it is important for caregivers to make eye contact, use facial expressions, and talk with the infants face-to-face. It is also helpful for caregivers to follow the baby’s lead and repeat sounds he or she makes. Both of these activities help infants to develop their language skills. Toys for infants that encourage development in the language domain include recordings of lullabies, nursery rhymes, simple songs, and cloth, vinyl, and sensory crinkle books.
language development.
Cognitive Development
Children at this age are also beginning to realize that they can make things happen! To encourage their development in the cognitive domain , toys for infants birth-6 months should encourage multisensory learning. These types of toys stimulate their auditory, visual, and physical senses simultaneously. These toys include rattles, textured balls, tummy time play mats, soft blocks, stacking toys, and developmental gyms.
Social-Emotional Development
Children at this age are also learning to express feelings about themselves and others. They express their feelings audibly and with facial expressions. This is how parents and caregivers can tell if an infant is happy or unhappy with their environment. In addition, infants are learning to regulate their emotions by calming themselves. To encourage their development in the social-emotional domain, their toys should include plush dolls, teddy bears, pacifiers, teethers, pictures of people, unbreakable mirrors, car seat toys, and activity mats that provide soothing tactile stimulation.
Sleep
As any new parent will tell you, young infants rarely sleep more than four hours at a time. This is because they need to develop their own circadian rhythms. A good way to help infants during this phase is to provide crib toys that emit soothing colors and sounds.
Safety
Since nearly everything infants hold ends up in their mouths, caregivers need to watch out for possible choking hazards. Additionally, the toys need to be washable.
More Information
It is crucial for parents and teachers to recognize the importance of play for healthy child development. For more information on this topic, as well as safety and appropriate toys for infants, please visit the website for The National Association for the Education of Young Children, also known as NAEYC, by using the following link. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys