Toys: Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth? Part 2
The best toys grow up with your kids.
The best toys are multi-purpose, versatile, and friendly. By “friendly” I mean that a good toy plays nicely with differing ability levels, developmental stages, and age groups.
For “Most Valuable Toy of All Time” – a toy that stands up to being kicked around, a toy that is at its best when it is shared, an heirloom that can be passed down from sibling to sibling, I nominate: The Ball.
Toddlers who develop at a typical rate will learn to throw and kick with a surprising amount of force for their size. A ball is perfect for the outdoor play that kids need to improve those skills.
Youngsters whose development is not typical (or is delayed) will be helped by having a variety of textures and sizes to choose from. In those situations, it is important to be attentive to your child’s preferences, because one’s own preferences usually align more closely with one’s own abilities. The small spongy ball that can be squeezed will strengthen the hand muscles and coordination, in preparation for learning to aim, throw, and hit the target at a later time.
Although learning to catch is an age-appropriate milestone for older 2’s and 3’s who are developing typically, a larger ball that can be pushed or rolled even with imprecise movements provides children with developmental delays an opportunity to be effective, too.
When your toddler’s kicking skills become more accurate, set up 10 plastic water bottles, half-filled (use food-coloring in the water if you want to make it really interesting) for an afternoon of bowling. Kicking, rolling, or tossing the ball will do. It’s always interesting to see children adjust their strategies to find their own way to succeed and knocking down the water bottles. And yes, there will always be one who prefers to walk over to the bottles and kick them directly. He’s the future chiropractor.
That big ole box from yesterday? If you followed my suggestions, it’s pretty worn out and raggedy by now. And it’s also pretty — you painted it, didn’t you? Don’t haul it out to your neighbor’s recycling bin just yet, Mommy. Use it to set up a goal box outside, soccer-like. Toddlers will love kicking, aiming, cheering — this activity is so much fun, they’ll even enjoy taking turns.
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Carly Jennings | Motor Development | 
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