Gift Giving with Development in Mind | How Kids Learn Series
In 2016, I wanted to keep it simple and do the theme, "want, need, wear, read" for Christmas presents. But I literally have enough books to start a library for the first five years of Charlie's life. He has plenty of clothes. In fact, too many. And want/need… I had a new thought… basing their gifts on what they WANT/LIKE and support the development they need in the upcoming year.
SOMETHING I REALLY VALUE IS CHILD DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLAY.
So with toys and books this year, I am not going to look at the most popular toy. I'm going to start with the developmental areas… see what toys/experiences that support those areas.
Notice where my kids may need more support and get the toys that can help him develop those skills! This is my third year doing this and it’s been WONDERFUL.
I’ll do a recap of last years down below because it’s been such a win!
THERE ARE FIVE MAIN AREAS THAT CHILDREN DEVELOP.
1. Cognitive Development: This is the child's ability to learn and solve problems. (Intellectual AND academic skills can both fall into this category too)
2. Social and Emotional Development: The child's ability to interact with others, including their own self-control. Sharing space, toys, attention, self-regulation, emotional intelligence, calm down strategies, talking about feelings, empathy, compassion… the list goes on and on.
3. Speech and Language Development: To understand and use language. Speaking, reading, text-rich environment
4. Fine motor skills: Ability to use small muscles, specifically their hands. This is going to look different for each age and stage. Maelie has excellent fine motor skills. We play with stickers, she feeds herself etc. But instead of looking at where she's at according to his age. I look at what skills she has yet to learn and get her working on something beyond her abilities and support her through it. So if your child is 4, maybe that is drawing, maybe it's stringing beads on a necklace, maybe it's the little legos or holding a pencil with 3 fingers.
4. Gross Motor Skills: This is the child's ability to use large muscles. For example, climb, walk, skip.
I want to get my kids’ toys to use their gross motor skills in an appropriate way so they are not balancing on the edge of my couch trying to get the lights.
The more I have learned about sensory preferences/needs, the more I realize my kids THRIVE with access to gross motor. In the wintertime, it's a lot harder to get outside (bad air, too many snow clothes) so I like to think of ways to make sure gross motor can happen indoors.
K, now that I did an intro on the five areas of development.
THINK TO YOURSELF THESE TWO QUESTIONS:
1. What developmental areas does my child need particular attention in this upcoming year?
2. What toys/activities can I get that would support these developmental areas?
Be sure to listen to my podcast for some examples of this brainstorming process with my kids (2 & 4). I have some ideas under each age group below up to age 4. Keep in mind different toys work across many different ages AND there’s SOOOO much more to find for each age so don’t get stuck on my few ideas.
RULES OF THUMB:
Toys that use more senses, will generally support more development.
Toys that have more than one use or purpose will support more development.
Toys can serve multiple developmental areas at the same time.
Think about your child's interests and abilities. These toys might work for multiple ages and stages. In one stage of sensory toys for example there could be measuring cups and rice. In another you're adding magnets, in another, you're adding people and making it a whole imaginary play scene. Think outside the box and how toys work together to support developmental areas.
The toys don't do the teaching, what children create with the toys does the teaching!
IDEAS
SIX MONTHS
Cognitive Development: Xylophone / Balls / Noise Shakers
Social and Emotional Development: Mirrors / Books
Speech and Language Development: Board Books
Fine motor skills: Xylophone / Balls
Gross Motor Skills: No toys need, just a clean space and opportunity to move. Play mats if you have a hard or dirty floor. Place a toy they love out of their reach, put a mirror on a wall that they sit in front of.
ONE YEAR
Cognitive Development: Blocks / Dramatic Play / Sensory
Social and Emotional Development: Dramatic Play / Experiences
Speech and Language Development: Books
Fine motor skills: Sensory activities / paintbrushes / finger paints / cars
Gross Motor Skills: Slides, Ball Pit, soft play toys
TWO YEARS
Cognitive Development: Blocks / Dramatic Play / Sensory
Social and Emotional Development: Dramatic Play / Experiences / Baby Dolls / Peg dolls
Speech and Language Development: Books
Fine motor skills: Art / Sensory / Building Materials
Gross Motor Skills: Playground / Trampoline
THREE YEARS
Cognitive Development: Blocks / Dramatic Play / Sensory
Social and Emotional Development: Dramatic Play / Experiences / Games / puppets / pet
Speech and Language Development: Books
Fine motor skills: Art / Sensory / Building Materials
Gross Motor Skills: Playground / Trampoline / Balance Boards / Bikes
FOUR YEARS +
Cognitive Development: Blocks / Dramatic Play / Sensory
Social and Emotional Development: Dramatic Play / Experiences / Games / puppets / pet
Speech and Language Development: Books / Signs
Fine motor skills: Art / Sensory / Building Materials / Piano
Gross Motor Skills: Playground / Trampoline / Balance Boards / Bikes / Scooters / Soccer / Basketballs / Tennis
Developmental Guide Ages and Stages
https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages/
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/checklists/Checklists-with-Tips_Reader_508.pdf
http://www.howkidsdevelop.com/developSkills.html
Last Years Gifts
For my daughter, I wanted her to expand her speech/language, fine motor and cognitive development through pretend play so I got her some things to add to her doll play and a dollhouse. As I type this she is sitting next to me playing with this right now.
For my son, I wanted to encourage him to play outside and have a stronger relationship with his dad — who is always outside doing pheasant/dog chores. So I got him a Ranger that could power through the snow from Walmart. It has been an on-going hit and he always takes his sis along for the ride.
