Start Your Baby Off Right With These Learning Toys To Use as They Grow
Babies and young children are like sponges. They imitate what they see and they learn from what is around them. In fact they pick up things so quick at times, things we wish they wouldn’t. Since they learn by immersion in these formative years it makes sense to surround them with learning opportunities from the start.
Yookidoo Gymotion Activity Musical Robo Playland
This Baby Gym and Play Mat is for 0m+ and offers three different stages for play. The Mat is portable and covers multiple stages of development. It has an on-the-go design and features a battery powered musical car that moves back and forth along a track. In addition to the car on the track, the track itself serves as abase to hang dangling toys to engage the baby’s attention. All three stages of play encourage growth and learning during the critical developmental stages of children. During Stage 1 the baby lays on his/her back and improves focus, eye tracking skills, and hand-eye coordination. Next in Stage 2 the baby has tummy time where the focus is on lifting his/her head and strengthening the shoulders and upper body. Lastly in Stage 3 the baby can sit, explore, and learn cause and effect principles.
Mom’s Thoughts
I love the colors used on this play mat. They are bright and happy. Also I like how it changes for each stage rather than being the same thing while the baby changes position. There is an adorable blue dog pillow that is great to prop baby as needed. I like the music the Gym plays, and it can play for ten minutes. It can also be put on mute for quiet play. The mat then folds up very flat, making storage simple. Putting stuff up and out of the way is vital as a parent, or the baby’s stuff would be everywhere all the time.
Count & Build Totbot
Once your baby is getting too old for the Play Mat the Count & Build Totbot is the perfect toy for ages 2 and up. With the Totbot your children can build their own robot friend and learn as they go. While they are playing they developing counting (1-5) skills, plus shape and color recognition skills. This 8″H robot includes a 2-piece Totbot, 5 number and shape nuts, 1 detachable bolt, and a wrench.
Mom’s Thoughts
The vibrant colors of this Totbot draw children to it. I had the Totbot at church with me and I looked over and there was one of the babies playing with it. She wondered across the room to get to the toy. The numbers are bright and visible and easy for a young child to see. Repetition with the Totbot will help them learn the numbers 1-5. I like the fact that this toy is not electronic, letting the babies really learn to engage. I feel that if everything lights up or does something their attention spans are probably damaged. This toy lets them learn how to screw and unscrew colored bolts.
Hot Dots Jr.
This great teaching tool is for your kindergarten and first grade aged children. It is an engaging , multi-subject set where children can learn and practice skills they need in school to succeed. Hot Dots Jr. has 160 lessons on 80 over sized, illustrated double- sided cards. Children can progress through categories including math, science, and reading. In addition to that parents will get a 20 page parent guide with play and learn extension activities. Most importantly Hot Dot Jr. comes with Ollie, the talking Owl pen, who responds with green and red lights and has 17 speech sound effect responses.
Mom’s Thoughts
Hot Dots Jr. is a fun filled way to learn. The interactive Owl pen is great and the kids love it. I really expected this set to be good because Highlights puts it out. Therefore I figured it would be fun and effective, and it is. The Owl pen could be a little louder, but otherwise this set was engaging and very beneficial. My little buddy has a hard time sitting down for school, but he really likes this and doesn’t even realize he is working. I am glad he has this to learn with, and help him succeed in his home school studies.