Play is the Business of Kids - Pt. 2

18 month to 3 years age range

Gross Motor: first tricycle, wagon to get into, rocking horse, large balls, outdoor play equipment, push-pull toys
    DT Toy Suggestions: Tangiball, Working Trio, Hammer Away, Roll & Play

Fine Motor: weaving sets, art materials, peg boards, clothes pins for tossing into an open pan, large balls, wheel barrows, sandbox toys, blocks of different shapes and sizes
    DT Toy Suggestions: Giant Pegboard, Bathtime Bugs,

Exploration: sandbox, child-size play furniture, play appliances and utensils, handmade materials, doll furniture, large packing boxes for climbing in and out
    DT Toy Suggestions: Bathtime Bugs, Measure Up! Pots & Spoons, Measure Up! Cups, The Potty Train, Match Up Ride & Go, Match Up Hide & Seek

Symbolic Representation: simple dress-up clothes, stuffed animals dolls, tea sets

    DT Toy Suggestions: Measure Up! Pots & Spoons

Problem Solving: various size boxes, simple puzzles, games, stringing large beads, take-apart toys with parts that snap together, construction toys that snap together

    DT Toy Suggestions: Caterpillar Shape Sorter, Castle Marbleworks, Place & Trace, Sunshine Market

Creativity: clay and modeling dough, blocks, large crayons, non-electric trains, blackboard and chalk, simple musical instruments, finger paints, safety scissors, paper and pencils

    DT Toy Suggestions: Baby Grooves

Language: picture books, children's magazines, tapes of stories
    DT Toy Suggestions: Sounds Like Fun, The Potty Train, Match Up Hide & Seek, Match Up Ride & Go, Roll & Play





What Caregivers Can Do
Pretend-play (create a traffic jam with a toy car).
Play tag, bounce, catch, and empty-fill games.
Hide things; "lose" things, and let children hide things from you.
Build something with blocks.
Play "guess what it is."
Tell stories and let children supply missing words.
Reverse roles (you be the child; child be the caregiver).
Play follow-the-leader.
Play guessing games.
Act out stories.
Let children imitate your activities (such as washing dishes and cleaning house).
Notice the child's play and praise efforts.
Help children to classify objects.
Sing to children.
Go on field trips in the backyard.
Take children to library.

To order the DT Toys listed above and so much more, visit www.playsmartstore.com and click on Shop Products.


posted by:
Cara Retz
Educational Leader, Discovery Toys
www.playsmartstore.com
playsmartstore@gmail.com