Of course your child a genius!
And we aren’t kidding!
New studies demonstrate that babies and very young children know,
observe, explore, imagine and learn more than we would ever have thought possible. In some ways, they are smarter than adults, says Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at Berkeley and the author of “The Philosophical Baby".
But according to Gopnik, research shows that babies’ intelligence is very different from that of adults and from the kind of intelligence we usually cultivate in school. And it is that very difference that we want to nurture. Babies and young children are designed to explore, and they should be encouraged to do so.
Open-ended toys make good sense.
From birth to the ages of five or six, children learn primarily through their senses and they learn mostly from hands-on exploration. If you want your toddler or preschooler to develop his or her full academic potential, embrace this natural curiosity and support it in every way possible. A good way to start is to be sure that the toys your child plays with offer plenty of open-ended play possibilities and child directed play.
Here are three of our favourite lines of toys for a great playtime.
Dandelion Developmental Infant Toys
Made from organic cotton, and filled with soft, natural corn, these delightful baby toys invite exploratory touching with their intriguing textures, gentle sounds and soft colours. And nothing could be safer for tiny lips and fingers.
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Thomas the Train Wooden Railway
Thomas is a favourite with toddlers and preschoolers – putting them in the driver’ seat.
Child development experts also like Thomas – noting that Thomas addresses many aspects of a child’s development. It fosters cognitive skills as children cultivate spatial skills while building tracks. It furthers physical development as it requires eye-hand coordination. Because the trains have different facial expressions and model conflict resolution, kids learn about identifying, labelling and managing emotions while playing with Thomas.
Save 10% NOW ! on all Thomas Wooden Railway Toys
Melissa and Doug
Melissa and Doug wooden educational toysare perfect for encouraging hands-on learning and encouraging early literacy skills.
Kids learn by manipulating colourful, wooden shapes in familiar forms including animals, letters and numbers. Well built and durable, Melissa and Doug toys are known around the world for their high quality and educational value.
