As parents, we want to give our little ones the best toys
that are appropriate for their age and will aid in their development. Between
6-12 months, I noticed that Audrey and Antonino began showing more interest in
interacting with people, banging stuff, crawling and cruising. Here are the
toys that kept them entertained during this age.
Rock-a-stack
At 6 months old, the twins started playing with these colorful
stacking rings by banging them together. They also loved shaking the smallest
ring because of its beads which made rattle sounds. Later on, they started stacking the rings on the pole. Although they weren't able to stack them in order
until after they turned a year old, stacking still helped them develop hand-eye
coordination. It also encouraged them to sit up for longer periods of time
which helped develop their balance.
Board books
When Joey and I brought the twins home from the hospital, we
made reading part of their bedtime routine. There were even times when we had
to read the same book to them 5 times in a row or else they would end up
crying. Somewhere between 7-8 months, they began turning the pages of their
board books on their own. It was actually fun seeing them do this because
they looked like they were really reading! Board books are perfect for this age
because their pages are easier to turn compared to regular paper books. Plus they
didn't get ruined easily when the twins put them in their mouths, which they
really loved to do then!
Drum
What better way to encourage the twins' love for banging
stuff than a toy drum? At least I can always say "They're creating
music" while they pound away at their toy. It also helps them learn about
cause and effect. If they bang their drum, they instantly hear a sound!
Blanket
So this is really not a toy but when the twins were just a
few months old, they enjoyed playing peekaboo for hours! I guess they loved the
surprise element and being able to interact with people around them. Peekaboo
may seem like such a simple game but what's great about it is it teaches babies
the concept of object permanence, a theory of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget which
means the ability to know objects still exist even when you do not see them.
Once they really got the game, we tried variations like hiding a toy under a
blanket and even "Where's the baby?" where they would hide under a
blanket and uncover themselves while laughing and squealing after we ask
"Where's the baby?"
Play mat
Another item that's technically not a toy but I just had to include it in the list. A good firm
play mat has provided the twins with a safe place to crawl and use their legs
and arms, which in turn helped strengthen their muscles. Once they started
pulling up and cruising, we put a play fence around the mat to give them
something to hold on to and keep them on the play mat where they always had a
soft landing spot.
What toys kept your 6 to 12-month-old babies entertained? I
would love to hear them in the comments below.
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