Stimulating Your Toddler: Practical information to help train your child

11 Steps To Help train your Child Brain

(Creative materials)

Scribbling with crayons provides tremendous satisfaction for many babies. Taping the paper to a table, the floor, or an easel will keep it from sliding all over, and confiscating the crayons as soon as they are applied where they shouldn't be or if baby decides to chew on one will help tech their proper use. Don't allow pens and pencils, except under close supervision, since the sharp points can spell disaster if baby falls on either one. Finger painting can be fun for some, while others are uncomfortable with muddy fingers that are an occupational hazard of the art. Although hand washing demonstrates that the condition is only temporary, some children continue resisting the medium. Musical toys can be fun, too. Baby can also learn to improvise musically, with a wooden or metal spoon on a pot bottom, for instance, if you demonstrate first.

(Putting and taking toys)

Babies love to put things in and take them out although the latter skill develops before the former. You can buy putting-and-taking toys, or just use objects around the house such as empty boxes, wooden spoons, measuring cups, paper cups and plates, and napkins. Fill a basket with a variety of small items (but not small enough for baby to mouth and choke on) for starters. Be ready to do most of the putting in until baby becomes much more proficient. Sand and water allow for putting in and taking out in the form of pouring - and most toddlers love both materials but they require constant supervision.

(Shape sorters)

Usually long before babies can say circle, square or triangle, they have learned to recognize these shapes and can put them in the proper opening in a shape-sorter toy. These toys also teach manual dexterity and, in some cases, colours. Be aware, however, that baby may need many demonstrations and much assistance before mastery of shape sorters is achieved.

(Dexterity toys)

Toys that require turning, twisting, pushing, pressing, and pulling encourage children to use their hands in a variety of ways. Many parental demonstrations may be needed before babies are able to handle some of the more complicated manoeuvres, but once mastered, these toys provide hours of concentrated play

(Bath toys for water play)

These teach many concepts, and allow the joy of water play without a mess all over the floor or furniture. The bathtub is also a good place for blowing bubbles - but you'll probably have to do the blowing yourself for a while yet.

(Follow the leader play)

Daddy starts clapping, then mummy. Baby is encouraged to follow suit. Then daddy flaps his arms, and mummy does, too. After a while, baby will follow the leader without prodding, and eventually will be able to take the lead.

(Books, magazines, anything with pictures)

You can't have a live horse, elephant, and lion in your living room - but you can have all of them, and more, visit your home in a book or magazine. Look at and read books with your baby several times durng the day. Each reading session will probably be short, maybe no more than a few minutes, because of your child's limited attention span, but together they will build a firm foundation for later enjoyment of reading.

(Materials for pretend play)

Toy dishes, kitchen equipment, pretend food, play houses, trucks and cars, hats, grown-ups' shoes, sofa cushions - almost anything can be magically transformed in an imaginative toddler's world of make believe. This kind of play develops social skills as well as fine motor co-ordination (putting on and taking off clothing, scrambling eggs or cooking soup), creativity, and imagination.

(Space safe for supervised climbing)

 Babies love to climb steps (when you're not supervising, a gate is a must), clamber up a slide (stay right behind, just in case), manoeuvre onto a low chair or on and off the bed. Let them - but stand by and be ready to come to the rescue if need be. 

(A varied environment)

The baby who sees nothing but the inside of his or her own home, the family car, and the supermarket is going to be a very bored. There's an exciting world outside the door, and your baby should see it daily. Even going out in the rain or snow (barring flooding and blizzard conditions) can be a learning experience. Give your baby a tour of area playgrounds, parks, or other busy areas with lots of people to see.

(Applause)

Cheer your baby on as new skills are mastered. Achievement, while satisfying, often means more when accompanied by recognition.