Little Tikes Toys help to Stimulate Your Child’s IQAll good parents want only the very best for their child. We are careful to take care of them while they are still in the womb, making sure that mom eats and drinks things that are healthy for the two of them. Some parents even strive to start education before the child is even born with special music choices and reading aloud.
Once our children have emerged into the big, bright world, we strive to take every precaution to make them safe and healthy. We feed them the best foods, vaccinate them against diseases, and childproof our homes.
However, you might not be aware that one of the most important developmental things that you can do for your child doesn’t always have to be a long, drawn out process. In fact, children often learn best when they are having fun – as in when they are playing with toys like Little Tikes. There are several ways that Little Tikes toys can help develop a child’s mind and IQ, as well as stimulate learning. Here is a look at some of the things that Little Tikes toys can help accomplish.
Starting with Physical Activity
Some of the first skills that children learn are physical ones. Parents hold shout with glee and grab the camera when their child first rolls over. They hold their breath in anticipation when their child starts taking his or her first shaky steps.
Little Tike toys can help encourage children to move and help them develop different physical skills needed to grow and learn. For example, a toy like the Little Tikes Hopper can help improve balance and strength. The Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set can help improve hand/eye coordination. And the Little Tikes Musical Ocean Motion Gym can encourage even the youngest children to start reaching and grabbing or even standing up on their own.
Encouraging Interaction with Others
Play also endows children with the ability to learn how to interact with others. As an infant, a child believes that he or she is the center of the universe – and of course the parent’s behavior does not deter this belief. As we age, however, we learn that there are others that we must interact with and that they have feelings, beliefs, and their own individual personalities as well.
In order to become a successful member of society, a child has to learn how to interact with the other people that are around him or her. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this learning starts in the home. Play allows parents the opportunity to engage with their children on a one-on-one level and teach them skills like sharing, cooperation, and respecting others. Unfortunately, these playtimes are often reduced due to changes in lifestyle, family structure, and a stronger focus on learning. However, toys like the Tikes Town or the Little Tikes TotSports Soccer Set can help teach group play and team sports.
Stimulating Mental and Creativity Development
The third area where Little Tikes toys can help your child grow is in mental development. This is a huge area of child development where toys can boost your child’s IQ. Learning, recognition, problem solving, and other skills can be taught through play and learning with Little Tikes toys.
According to Barbara Thompson, a course development officer at the Preschool Learning Alliance, play has a wide variety of functions. In England, studies have been done on children that have proven that children learn better when they discover things for themselves, as in through play, than when they are simply told how to do something. In fact, Dr. Wendy Masi, dean of the Mailman Segal Institute of Childhood Studies, argues that the imagination quotient (the “other” IQ) has a larger influence on academic achievement than the traditional intelligence quotient.
Therefore, nurturing your child’s imagination quotient will work to boost his or her IQ. For example, the Little Tikes 3-in-1 Build ; Draw Activity Table gives children the chance to explore with art and building without requiring a specific final outcome. The Little Tikes Inside/Outside Cook N Grill Kitchen allows children to pretend to be mom, dad, a restaurant chef, or any number of characters. Games with toys allow children to explore their own preferences, make decisions (should we have chicken or apples for lunch?), learn how to interact with others, and to explore the needs that others have.
Playing with a variety of Little Tikes toys gives children the option to make choices and see what happens when they choose different things. Different shapes, sizes, and textures can be explored and tested.
Which Little Tikes Toy is Right for Your Child?
There are different ways that you can decide which Little Tikes toy is right for your child. Besides reading into the manufacturer’s age and skill level recommendations, there are some other criteria that you can use to decide whether or not a toy can help with mental and physical development. Look for:
• Toys that can be played with in multiple different ways
• Toys that can be powered with imagination and not just batteries
• Toys that look fun and are still safe and durable
• Toys that can be used by a variety of ages and skill levels
• The appropriate-for-age/ability values, morals, problem solving and situations are presented
• Toys that will still be enjoyable over time
By selecting the right toys and products for your children, you will know that you are making a good investment in your child’s future.
Check our Little Tike product pages for more information: