Hi Readers,
If you’re a parent or know of a parent, this blog post will be of service to you. Please don’t forget to leave a comment and share this post if you find this helpful. You can also use this as a gift guide if you happen to have adorable children/ to-be parents around.
There are many more toys (growth tools) than what I recommend in this blog post BUT, everything I am recommending is from my experience with baby Noor (18 months old as of Feb 2023). I don’t want to preach anything I don’t practice.
Power of Observation
Also, I recommend every parent to OBSERVE, just quietly observe their child because you can tell a lot about your child’s persona by observing. Every child is brilliant, it is upto the parent how they want to channel their child’s brilliance.
Routines
Children thrive when put in routines. You should always always always have a routine for your child. Even a new born baby should have somewhat of a routine such as:
feed-burp-play-sleep-tummy time :: REPEAT peppered with shower time, massage time, outdoor walks, etc. With age, routines change. The reason I’ve spoken about a new born is because a lot of people operate on the myths such as:
#Myth 1: New borns (& infants) should not have a routine. They are too young to follow a routine.
#Fact: They very much should. Based on the age, they must sleep every 2-3 hours. Speak to a Baby Sleep Consultant for details. There’s a proper chart and study based on this. IT IS IMPORTANT!
If you want to gift a to-be parent something VERY PRECIOUS & VALUABLE, gift them a workshop by Amrita (Instagram: momuninterrupted). She’s a ‘Baby Sleep Consultant’ who does both one-one-one and group workshops guiding you on a plethora of topics every new mom (or even a second time Mom) deserves to know postpartum.
#Myth 2: New borns (& infants) must be up all day so that they are tired and sleep through the night.
#Fact: Absolutely NOTTTT. Their brain and body needs regular sleep in intervals without which their growth will get hampered and everyone around the baby will suffer. Please do a workshop with Amrita (details above) to know what I’m talking about. IT IS IMPERATIVE! You must must must attend her workshop.
#Myth 3: Infants/toddlers must be able to fall asleep within minutes at night.
#Fact: There’s a lot going on in their brain which comes in the way of children falling alseep immediately. There’s a word for this, it’s called LEAP! Look it up. There’s an app called Wonder Weeks (paid app) which makes you enter your child’s estimated birth date (not actual one) and helps you predict the weeks your child will have a hard time falling asleep and why. It may not be 100% accurate but it’s a great app to make you understand everything that your child is going through so that you don’t get frustrated and understand why your kid is being a fussy sleeper during some weeks and an absolute angel in others. Screenshots below are just for reference:
Toys and Rhythm
Children love a rhythmic day- breath in & breath out.
Breath in stands for sitting at one place and exercising their creativity and imagination (books, colours, role play toys, stackers, etc.) and breath out represents nature walks, going outdoors (either in a stroller or a cycle or on foot) to enjoy a breath of fresh air. If you observe your child, he/she will tell you what they prefer & when. Yep, WHEN!
For #example- If I am playing with Noor, say reading a book or coloring and she suddenly gets excited and
wants to get up or
shows other signs of disinterest in reading/coloring,
it’s evident she wants to go out and play and that she’s done with reading/coloring. Then it doesn’t matter how long she’s been reading/colouring for. It could be 10 minutes or 30 minutes. A child’s brain is always developing and growing and is in the state of exploration so BE PRESENT with them if you want them to thrive.
There’s a thing called ‘child-led play’ where no matter what toy you have for the child, allow them to take the lead- there’s no right or wrong!
Types of toys/games we have used for baby Noor in the past 18 months
1>Play Gym/Play Mat with a Mobile for 0-6 months
Before becoming a mother, I’d wonder how new borns and infants (Age:0-1) play. Then I was introduced to the mighty and colourful world of Play Gyms.
You can either get a play mat and a mobile with fun hangers (check image above)
or
a play mat with everything attached
but definetely include a good variety (2-3 types of play gyms if you can comfortably afford) in your child’s routine.
Children love it and get attracted to it to learn how to grasp objects, follow with their eyes and ears. Also when children play in their play gym, they kick their legs a lot which helps them fart (release gas) causing colic issues to be as little as possible. Make sure you allow your child to play on their tummy from the very first week of birth. It has to be 100% monitored and can start from 10 seconds and go all the way upto 2 minutes, perhaps even more. Observe your child to see how they like this. Some children LOVE tummy time while others like my Noor hate it. But nevertheless, it’s important to relieve colic (gas issues) and also develops (strengthens) their neck & upper back muscles. Tummy time is non-negotiable! Keeping a fun object (toy/rattle) infront or simply keeping a mobile with fun hangings in front of the baby can be very encouraging for the baby to lift their head up making tummy time hugely successful. ;-)
#Strong #Recommendation- A play pen + padded, colorful play mat
#Rationale: Once children start sitting, they need a soft surface and putting them on a bed is risky. Some people put multiple bedsheets on top of each other which doesn’t help either. A good padded playmat encourages your child to sit upright and play a lot. Plus it stimulates your kid in a plethora of ways. Noor’s play mat has fun things on both sides and very early on (way before her age) she started pointing at most of the animals on the mat. Oh and I never told her myself but she was first to initiate. She pointed at some animal and looked at me with her gooey dollie eyes as if she was asking what that was *heart melts* !!! Once I started telling her each animal, she was on FIRE!
The play pen (image above) is for a time when kids can crawl to dangerous places and need to be put in one big spot to play for 5-20 minutes at a time.
2>Stackers
Noor’s first stacker was a part of a gift (when she was still a new born) which I frankly didn’t pay a heed to because she (at the time) was too young for it. But I like to give credit where credit is due. Noor’s nanny, who we lovingly call Aunty Shanti reintroduced that stacker when Noor was about 6 months old and patiently taught her how to stack.
That’s it - that day was the day my daughter became a stacking queen and
diligently & unapologetically become unstoppable. She stacked and stacked and stacked and has a fantastic collection now. The pictures below are for reference. Get 2 types of stackers (basic and easy please) to know if your child fancies playing with stackers. It helps children a lot with motor skills and their focus. Also, be patient with your child when they learn how to stack; honestly it was a treat to watch Noor learn stacking. There would be points she would get frustrated and give up but, with a smile we would help her and she’d be back at it.
Another thing I did for her was I praised her A LOT. I can say I’d over encourage her when she stacked even a small part of the toy because it indeed was a marvel for me and I really wanted to validate her. I also taught her to self validate and appreciate herself because I want Noor to grow up and not seek validation on the outside. As a mother, I know how much I am going to love and validate her throughout my life but she should not be dependent on my validation- she must be self reliant. That’s why from a very young age, I want her to love and validate herself.
#Strong Recommendation- ZERO screen time. I repeat, ZERO!
#Rationale: Screens kill a child’s creativity and steals the opportunity of exercising their brain. Screens are highly addictive. HIGHLY. HIGHLYY. HIGHLYYY. Children who don’t eat or are too much to handle are the ones who get screens the quickest and I kid you not, it’s a downward spiral from there. Once Noor was unwell and refused to take medication and was cranky beyond all measures (poor child was actually in a lot of discomfort- sneezing 2-3 times per minute due to an allergic reaction.) I showed her a screen two to three days in a row and that too a good old nursery rhyme- Old McDonald Had a Farm which is 3 minutes and 12 seconds long. Folks, I kid you not, it took me a week of making her forget that. She watched it for 2-3 days for 3 minutes and this child was HOOKED! So, I stopped using my phone in front of her cold turkey. She no longer asks for it. How I changed this?
Everytime she would ask for my phone, I’d start singing the rhyme and now she’s all about me singing the rhyme for her! Phew!
3> Books
Replacing screens with books is THE BEST. Noor started reading books the day she sat for the first time- when she was about 5 months old. That time, books were mere toys that helped her learn how to grasp objects. As she grew older she learnt how to point diferent animals and had a blast reading those books which were full of colour, wonder and story. At 7 months of age, she could point at 30 animals in her book (her fav book, pic below) which she would always ask me to take out of her drawer to read.
This book was a gift from Noor's bua, Nidhi.
Within 2 months of having this book, Noor could name almost every single animal in this book. This book was pure joy for her.
{Noor loved this book so much that today this book is in shreds. This is one of her MOST LOVED & USED books!}
Picture below has books that are some of the new additions to Noor's library.She has an extensive collection as of today!
4> Flash Cards
Flash cards are a fun way to engage a child and help them with their motor skills too. When they handle the cards and look at them, a story of sort is weaving in their head. You will know this when you OBSERVE your child. They will look at the card and go quiet for a few seconds and zone out in a way. Never interrupt them… they are making neural pathways in their brain. Noor not just enjoys playing with her cards but also loves arranging them and putting them back in the box- straight. Head up, body down. It’s super cool observing her play with cards in a multitude of ways. She also likes it when I associate sounds with certain words in her flashcards. Pictures below for reference-
5> Crayons
are something I introduced about 6-8 months ago when Noor was 10/11 months old. These were organic and edible (not that we allowed her to eat those anyway) but we only started using it a lot 2 months ago when she was 15-16 months old. You can start as early as your child can sit and hold objects but let me be honest, the fun begins only after 2-3 years. Although, I must admit, I love playing with crayons when I’m with her and she watches and tries to copy me a lot which in itself is fantastic for children. Let’s not forget, whether we like it or not, we are their first role models. They won’t follow what we say, they follow what we do.
6> Fidget Boards
My family went to a mall once and saw a fidget board being sold for a price they couldn’t justify so Noor’s bua (my sister-in-law) Yukta (very talented girl who owns her own packaging business today. Instagram Username: dolcegifthampersbyyukta) made her mission to create one for baby Noor. All From Scratch! Check out what she created->
These are amazing for children to develop their motor skills even further. Not all children are fond of this but it can change from phase to phase. Noor never did justice to Yukta’s creation but I know she will, it’s just a matter of time. If you wish to get a personalized board made, you can contact Yukta on Instagram to see if it’s possible.
#Strong #Recommendation- 100% NO TO LIGHT & MUSIC TOYS.
#Rationale: This again replicates the television model and discourages your child from using their brain & their creativity.
7> Role Play Sets
{Dr. Noor} {hehehe}
This we all know and remember from our childhood. Kitchen sets, doctor sets, dentist sets, set of cars & trucks, gardening set, tea set, shopping trolley set, etc. These are best understood and enjoyed by children who are 2 years old and more. 3-4 year old children have a blast with these kinds of toys all the way up to age 8. But it’s good to have one easy to understand (less parts) set around just to introduce to your child. 18 months on is a very good time although we got over excited and got these way before Noor was ready. I must admit that Noor did play a little bit which is surprising for children her age. So even though 18 months + is a better time to bring in these toys, it’s good to have one such set around a bit sooner to see how your child responds.
#Suggestion: No stuffed toys.
#Rationale: Stuff toys absorb a lot more dust and end up giving unnecessary allergies and other breathing issues. Growing up, because my parents didn’t know this and I didn’t have any allergies or sensitivities, I LOVED LOVED LOVED playing with stuffed toys. In fact, my room was full of it. Not every child is as crazy about stuffed toys but if your child is, ask a doctor and if you get a go ahead from the doc then make sure you wash the stuffed toy as soon as you purchase it for your child and keep getting them washed and cleaned every 6-8 weeks. Also, please observe your child if he/she is able to thrive with stuffed toys around. For me personally, these toys did wonders to my creativity. Each of my stuffed toy had a personality, temperament and thought process. I would weave stories daily!
8> OUTDOOR PLAY-
Swings, Slide, see-saw, riding horse, cycles
Children need this, they deserve outdoor play. It’s absolutely unhealthy if this is missing from a child’s life. Getting any 1/2 of the aformentioned is good if you live in a villa or else take your child to a nearby park 2-3 times a week and outdoor walks (in a stroller/cycle) daily, if possible twice a day. Even new borns need to be taken out because even if they lie flat in the stroller, the sight of wind blown trees is very new, cathartic and important for their brain development. Make sure your child has a lot of outdoor play eveyday. I’d say minimum 30 mins, maximum 3 hours. Of course, not when it’s sunny and make sure your child is very well hydrated and constantly watched and followed.
#Strong #Recommendation- NO clutter whatsoever. One toy at a time. At the max two.
#Rationale: Some parents with the sweetest of intentions, give their children many toys at a time. Perhaps it is to keep the child engaged/entertained for long but it’s highly HIGHLYY HIGHLYYY counter productive. You rather not give them toys in fact! If you give too many toys at once, the child gets over stimulated and also overwhelmed and ends up not playing properly with any toy. They get distracted easily and may have slight difficulties focussing. If you have been doing this, it’s never too late to reverse anything- stop cold turkey and start introducing only one toy at a time in your child’s routine.
We got this as a gift and our mind was blown with the number of rhymes (in both Hindi & English), stories, mantras and learnings (ABC, number rhymes, tables, etc.). The rhymes, basically the musical part of the Caravan made Noor so happy that she would always hold it in her hand and even knows how to operate it fully. She dropped it so many times that we had to purchase a new one but I’d keep purchasing more and more because the music makes my daughter a very happy bunny. Within the first 2 seconds of the rhyme, she already knows which one it is and she starts grooving in advance to her favourite rhymes.
I truly hope, this post helped you. It took me quite a few hours to put this together for you all but if you made it this far and learnt from it… it’s all worth it.
Love & Hug,
Sia (Aakansha)
Wow superb 👌🏻👏👏👏👏👏👏👏beautiful and very useful for children 🤝👍😊😊I'm loving this.