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Balls are a good choice for toddlers.
San Manuel (November 2016) – When it comes to promoting learning for children 5 and younger, basic toys and quality time with adults are the best gifts an infant, toddler or preschooler can receive.
But what about all those flashy, electronic toys with lights and sounds that we see advertised so much this season? One Northern Arizona University researcher has studied whether they provide an advantage to a young child’s learning.
Anna Sosa, director of the NAU Child Speech and Language Lab in Flagstaff, set out to see which everyday activities promote the best environment for babies and toddlers to learn language.
Early language development is critical to a child’s learning. And babies, toddlers and preschoolers need to hear a lot of language in order to best learn how to speak and eventually transfer those skills into reading and writing.
Turns out, parents and family members talk the most to babies when they are engaging their child with books and traditional toys, rather than electronic toys that claim to promote language development.
“Young children learn through play, through experimenting with the world around them and through interaction with other kids and adults,” said Ginger Sandweg, First Things First Senior Director for Early Learning.
Sosa’s study confirmed that. The study, published earlier this year in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, showed that parents used fewer words and interacted less with the child when they were playing with an electronic toy, which was designed to draw out answers such as animal names, shapes or colors. Books and traditional toys, which centered on the same themes of animals, shapes and colors promoted the most language.
“Parents talked the most to their child when they were looking at books or playing with traditional toys, such as helping their child put together a farm animal puzzle,” Sosa said. “Overall, the most ideal situation would be a parent spending 15 minutes of undivided attention, sitting on the floor reading or playing with them, but even in that ideal situation, just having an electronic toy in the mix, impacts what the baby is hearing.”
First Things First has compiled some suggested toys by age and stage that promote learning and language development.
Books are one of the best gifts for all ages. Daily reading has been shown to help young children develop language skills and increase vocabulary – both crucial if they are going to be good readers in the future. Other good choices for different age groups include:
Infants (under 1 year old) – Babies are fascinated by their surroundings, especially faces and bright colors. Toys that stimulate that initial curiosity include:
• board books
• safe, chewable toys
• toys with mirrors
Toddlers (1-3 years old) – Toys that encourage imagination and problem-solving include:
• pretend versions of everyday objects
• toys to ride on or climb on
• balls to roll or catch
• building-type toys, including fill and dump varieties.
• matching and sorting toys
• large crayons or markers with plain paper
• simple puzzles
Preschoolers (3-5 years old) – Toys that help preschoolers relate to each other and the world around them include:
• dress-up clothes and kid-size furniture
• simple board games
• counting and letter games
• sports equipment suitable to their size
• musical instruments
• art supplies such as play dough, safety scissors, glue, etc.
About First Things First – First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit FirstThingsFirst.org.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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