Hey, kids don’t need toys!!! If you want to strengthen their cognitive skills and creativity, just let them run wild in the outdoors. You do not want to trap your children inside the four walls of their rooms and hand them some tacky toys and expect them to exhibit great skills. They need free play in the nature for their growth and overall development. But what about the times when going out is not an option, like during heavy rains, extreme cold or scorching heat. What do you expect kids to do then? Remember, balance is key. While outdoor play is essential, toys can also play a role in promoting a child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. Hence in this post, we will explore five of the best toys to boost creativity and imagination in children between the ages of 3 to 6 years old.

It sounds like an easy topic, you may ask, what’s the big deal with toys? Many will say, it’s so easy to choose a nice toy for a child as there are thousands of options available in the market. Or, some may suggest, simply take your child with you to the toy store and they will choose the best one for themselves. However, parents who recognize the impact of toys on their child’s growth and learning would understand the struggle.

I want to recommend some toys based on my experience as these have played a crucial role in nurturing my son’s creativity, imagination, and various developmental skills. As I believe that by providing children with toys that stimulate their problem-solving skills and fine motor abilities, we can foster their cognitive development and enhance their creativity.

I have already talked about the importance of cognitive milestones in early childhood and how the stimulation activities and environment play an important role in the brain development of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

You may also read: brain-boosting games for children! I have also made a video on the same topic. Check it out below-

So, without further ado, let’s check out 5 of the best toys that can enhance creativity and imagination in young children.

5 Best Toys to Boost Creativity and Imagination in Kids

1- Big Building Blocks

The first on our list of toys to boost creativity and imagination in kids is the Building Blocks. There are numerous learning possibilities with building blocks for young children. When my son was a toddler, he learned numbers, counting, shapes, and colors using these blocks. These blocks can be helpful in developing gross motor skills, curiosity, creativity, and imagination. These blocks provide a hands-on experience that engages children in constructive play, allowing them to explore their environment and learn through building and problem-solving.

Mega Bloks is an excellent choice for early learners.

MEGA Bloks – Building Blocks

Recommended Brand – Mega Bloks

Recommended Age – 12 months to 5 years

2- Magnetic Blocks/Tiles

The magnetic blocks and magnetic tiles are a great open-ended toy to build creativity in young children. These are also the perfect toys to challenge children’s logic and thinking abilities. By manipulating the magnetic pieces, children can create various structures, fostering their creativity and spatial reasoning. They learn about shapes, symmetry, balance, and how different pieces fit together to form stable structures.

GEL MAG – Magnetic Blocks

GEL Tiles – Magnetic Tiles

Recommended Brand – GEL Mag & GEL Tiles

Recommended Age – 2+ years for GEL Mag and 3+ years for GEL Tiles

3- Jenga Blocks

Once you feel that your child has honed the primary skills using big building blocks, it’s time to introduce Jenga to your kids. This game can be played in many ways, it’s fun and it also tickles your brain. It not only uses your physical skills but also needs a lot of mental skills. By carefully removing blocks and maintaining balance, children improve their fine motor control and strategic thinking.

Playing Jenga with Nemit

HASBRO Gaming – Jenga

Recommended Brand – Hasbro Gaming Jenga

Recommended Age – 4+ years

4- LEGO Bricks

Lego is the classic toy loved by children worldwide. These little building blocks can keep kids occupied for a long time. This is one of Nemit’s all time favorites and he never ceases to surprise us with his amazing creations. It’s a perfect toy for children to work on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Also, it is the best one when it comes to building concentration span in kids. As children construct different creations with Lego, they engage in problem-solving, critical thinking, and imaginative play.

LEGO Classic

Recommended Brand – LEGO

Recommended Age – 4+ years

You may also read – Fun Activities to do with Family at Home!

5- Activity Box/Science Kit

The last one on the list of toys to boost creativity and development in kids is the theme-based Activity Box and Science Kit.

An activity box for kids is a fantastic way to provide them with a variety of engaging and educational activities. These boxes typically contain a curated selection of crafts, games, puzzles, and other hands-on activities that cater to the interests and developmental needs of children.

Our son enjoyed doing activities from such theme based activity boxes. We have mainly used Flintobox & Firstcry Intellikit but I am not able to find links to these brands on Amazon now. I am not sure if they have stopped making activity boxes or they are just not available on Amazon.

Not to worry, I will recommend our current favorite brand. We love their STEAM educational DIY toys.

Smartivity Activity Box

Recommended Brand –  Smartivity

Recommended Age – 3+ years for Activity box.

Science kit for children is an excellent way to spark curiosity and foster a love for science from an early age. These kits provide hands-on experiences that allow children to explore scientific concepts through fun and engaging experiments. Science kits are still my son’s favorite.

Einstein Science Kit

Recommended Brand – Einstein Box

Recommended Age – 4+ years for the Experiment kit.

By providing children with these five toys, we can create an enriching environment that promotes creativity, development, and learning. Whether it’s constructing with Mega Blocks, building with Lego Bricks, or engaging in experimental activities, these toys offer endless possibilities for children to explore their imaginations and enhance their cognitive abilities. So let’s dive into the world of play and watch our children grow into creative, curious, and confident individuals.

PIN IT!

Would you like to recommend a toy that would help nurture a child’s creativity, imagination and cognition? Share that in the comments below.

Image Source

• Toys – Amazon.in

• Featured Image – Pexels.com (Photo by Yan Krukau)

• Pin Image – Pexels.com (Photo by Pavel Danilyuk)

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and brands that we trust and believe will provide value to our readers. The commission earned through these links helps support the maintenance and growth of our website and allows us to continue providing valuable content for our audience. Thank you for your support!

The post Toys to Boost Creativity and Imagination in Kids (3 To 6 Years Old) appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

It is said that ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, how true is this in today’s world? Let’s talk about new age parenting and the role of parents in the cognitive development of their child. We are in an era where more and more families are turning nuclear and both parents have specific career goals. Due to multiple responsibilities, parents are always running short of time, still, they want to practice the best parenting method for their kids. However, I have seen parents struggling through this phase with little or absolutely no help around. Also, it’s commonly believed that the responsibility of a child is tilted more towards the mother. But times are changing and we can see many fathers proudly sharing parenting responsibilities and taking the load off the mothers’ shoulders.

Source – simmom.in

So, if you come under this category of nuclear family setup or joint family with zero support, this post is for you.

We are a nuclear family with no help around. Initially, after the birth of our son, I thought of dedicating my full attention and giving all my time to raising our kid. However, motherhood is not that easy, it comes with its own pros and cons. Postpartum depression hit me quite early and too hard that it took a toll on my mental as well as physical health. This, in turn, put a bad impact on bonding with my newborn. Luckily, my husband observed the mood changes and took the step to talk it out. That was the time when I poured my heart out and explained how difficult it was for me to manage a newborn all alone. Then onwards, we decided to follow a shared parenting approach.

Nemit and Papa shares a strong bond

You may read – How to conquer the Postpartum Depression?

I have already talked about how an impressive amount of a baby’s brain development occurs during pregnancy in my previous posts. And also how choosing the right nutrition plays an important role in boosting a child’s growth and development. We very well know how understanding the benefits of breastfeeding, choosing the right environment, and offering the age-specific stimulation exercises can all assist in the cognitive development of a child. These are some of the ways in which a mother can FeedIQ to her child.

Source – simmom.in

It is the responsibility of both parents to ensure that the child gets the right stimulatory environment by being mindful of their parenting approach. We make sure we are available for each other and for our son as and when required. This way we also try to inculcate the important values of equality in our son.

How do we ensure our child’s proper physical, social as well as cognitive development?

Let’s be true to ourselves, a mother can’t do it all by herself. She can fit well in all the roles but the fact can’t be ignored that she too needs rest and care. Here are some of the things we do in laying a great development foundation for our child.

An equally shared parenting truly is half the work and all the fun.

=> Outdoor Play – To ensure Nemit gets ample time outside, Sumit takes him to the nearby park twice a day. It’s an advantage to us since Nemit wakes up early, he gets his first dose of physical activity in the early morning hours, which in turn, helps in keeping his energy levels in check. Now, here it is important for parents to be a part of their child’s outdoor activity. Outdoor play or play dates also help in improving the child’s social development.

Toddlers still need their parents around; they feel secure and loved when parents show interest in what their kids are doing. This can also be the best bonding time for a father with his child. Just by playing with your child, you can help in reducing their feelings of anxiety and stress.

You may also read – How to make outdoor play more fun for toddlers?

=> Interaction – Talking to the child and making conversation is very important starting from an early age to develop their communication skills. And here I am not just speaking about making general talks, positive interactions with your child are helpful in a child’s social development too. Yes, your child’s social development starts with you. We do this by encouraging Nemit to share his day and activities with us, we help him in building a two-way communication. Listening to your toddler is as important as talking which also helps in their cognitive development.

When you speak with your child look into their eyes, respond with a smile and stay focused. Never shy away from hugging and kissing your child, always make them feel loved. All this helps in teaching a child to be affectionate and compassionate to others.  These positive interactions also help in maintaining a good parent-child relationship.

Cuddles are Fun

You may also read – Ways to develop good communication skills in kids!

=> Structured Play – I have always encouraged play-based learning for Nemit. In simple terms, structured play means ‘play with a purpose‘, and this may include pre-planned skill-based activities. These activities provide the right stimulation which in turn boosts the child’s cognitive development.

Play-based learning

The power of play should never be underestimated when it comes to a child’s cognition. In fact, these stimulation activities play the most fundamental role in their physical as well as intellectual development.

Finger Painting

I resort to these pre-planned activities mostly during the daytime when I am alone with Nemit. During Nemit’s summer break, this structured play helped in keeping me sane through the long summer days.

Pre-planned activities

I usually plan 3-4 activities which help in keeping him busy for good 2-3 hours. These are not just fun but helps in strengthening our bond too. Also, following the Montessori approach has helped in planning activities based on day to day life skills. I will be sharing more about these toddler activities in my next post.

You may also read – Activities to boost a child’s brain development (0-2 years old)!

When the parents provide attention and the right environment, it helps in shaping their child’s physical, social as well as cognitive development. This is how I manage being a work at home mom without feeling the undue pressure even in our nuclear setup. I understand this approach is not applicable for everyone, and I have no intention to portray that only equal parenting is better for every family than another parenting model. But this has surely helped us in many ways.

How do you moms manage your work-life balance? Does your family also follow the equal parenting approach? Share with me in the comments below. And if you liked this post, please do share it with your friends and family.

The post Role of Parents in the Cognitive Development of a child appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello, my dear friends, hope you liked my previous post about top things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Today, I am going to share the importance of play-based learning in a child’s development. As you all know that Nemit started his preschool in March this year. He is a smart 2.4-year-old boy and just like all other kids of his age he loves to play. I have always encouraged play-based learning for Nemit since it’s the best way for young kids, and there’s no doubt about it.

The power of play should never be underestimated when it comes to children’s learning. In fact, a play is the most fundamental in their physical as well as intellectual development. It builds a range of skills that enable young minds to take risks, create, solve problems, imagine possibilities, negotiate, and much more.

Schools which foster a play-based learning curriculum will help the student’s overall development whilst building social skills and furthering knowledge. While searching online for schools which are best known for their play-based methods of teaching, my eyes caught sight of Panyaden International School, which is a highly regarded international school in Chiang Mai. You should definitely have a look at their website. I so wish I could find a similar school near us as that’s the kind of education and environment I was looking for Nemit.

Source – Panyaden Website

Nemit’s summer vacations have started from today and I plan to follow a similar approach of play-based learning at home as well. This is to make sure that he enjoys his time at home and also learn some practical life skills. So, let’s see how play-based learning helps in a child’s development.

Why is play-based learning so important?

Play-based learning gives teachers a chance to teach new concepts and emphasize old ones. They can gage and make the most of a child’s developing strengths and passions. This way, kids have the opportunity to learn important stuff in a way that engages them and keeps the level of fun up. This also keeps them motivated and inspired to continue learning; a crucial element to them succeeding throughout school life.

How does play-based learning work in a child’s development?

Instead of the traditional whiteboard methods, the child is encouraged to learn key elements of mathematics and literacy through playing and exploration. This might be through playing out in the garden, for example.

Source – Panyaden Website

The tutor may ask the children as per their interest which activity they want to do outdoors. It could be anything from running around to collect stones or dry leaves and then writing about them. Or, it could be helping each other in a group activity to pull out the weeds. And if the child is more interested in dinosaurs, they may be asked to write and talk about the resemblances and variations between different breeds.

It encourages kids to be active learners

Children learn best when they are actively involved and feel as though they are a part of the process. Unlike the conventional method of being taught to, play-based activities make learning more visible.

Kids learn through exploring, experiencing, listening and much more. Then, the teacher heightens their experience through things such as:

> Asking the right questions to encourage problem solving.

> Preparing materials to help kids build and create.

> Observing children’s progress and seeing what is not working through recording the process.

It inspires kids to be their unique selves

Individuality is always fostered in the play-based learning environment. This is because it encourages children to bring their own paradigms and understandings to the table to undertake the task.

Source – Panyaden Website

It has been shown to aid brain development

If done when the child is young, the play aspect of learning has been proven to change the way the brain is structured. It increases the flexibility of the mind and its ability to be used in a wider context for the future. As a result, allowing kids to play and learn simultaneously encourages neutral pathways to be strengthened that may not have been before.

You may also want to read – Best ways to boost your child’s brain development from an early age!

As you can see, there are several advantages of play-based learning that can benefit your children. As I shared earlier that I am planning to implement the play-based approach during these summer vacations for Nemit. And if you wish to follow our daily activities or share your own ideas, you can keep a tab on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

If you liked the post, don’t forget to hit the share button. And if you have any questions or feedback for us, do leave a comment below. Take care.

Disclaimer –  “This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer”

The post Role of Play-Based Learning in a Child’s Development appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Have you ever wondered how fast a baby grows and learns things? I get amazed daily by the activities my kid chooses to do, how he interprets the signs from his surroundings and acts like a pro even at the age of 2.

Did you know that 90% of the child’s brain development takes place in the early years of their life?

If you know me then you must be aware of how keen I have been since my pregnancy days to raise a healthy child. I strongly believe that the child’s healthy growth is completely in our hands apart from our genetics. Hence, we mothers not only pass on our genes to the baby but also IQ through proper nutrition and stimulation exercises.

A baby’s brain development is based on the environment, genetics and nourishment she/he receives in utero and via breastfeeding. The right stimulation i.e. infant brain exercises also boost infant cognition. This is called FeedIQ.

Let’s see how nutrition and stimulation can help in the child’s brain development during the initial years.

 Role of Nutrition during Pregnancy

We often hear from our elders and doctor about taking care of our food intake during different trimesters. I was advised to eat a mindful balanced nutritious diet. There’s a myth that says we should eat for two people when pregnant. In fact, one should not look at the portion as eating healthy food is more important. Only during the 3rd trimester, should the intake be increased to meet the body’s demands. Also, eating right food plays an important role in baby’s growth and overall development.

Source- Google

So when a mother takes care of what she eats, she is literally feeding IQ to her baby!

• Include a variety of foods in your diet
• Be mindful of what you eat, portion size doesn’t matter
• Don’t forget to take daily supplements as suggested by your doctor
• Try to add all food groups in your diet from the very beginning
• Apart from protein, iron, and calcium, DHA or omega 3 is very important for brain development
• Always remember the developing baby gets all the nutrition from the mother
• Most important, avoid drinking alcohol and smoking as that impacts the learning ability and growth of the baby

Importance of Breastfeeding

Mother’s milk is baby’s first food and is best for newborn’s development and immunity. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months. Breastmilk not only provides nutrition to the baby but also passes on the disease-fighting substances that protect the baby from illnesses.

Source- Pinterest

No matter how difficult it seems, the best gift you can give your baby is exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Various researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development.

• A mother’s milk consists of all the essential nutrients
• Breastfeeding helps in emotional bonding, further improving the brain development
• Mother’s body produces the antibodies which pass on to the baby through breastmilk and provides immunity
• Breastmilk also has DHA which is an important nutrient for brain development
• Research says breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests

You may want to read Breastfeeding Challenges are Common!

Apart from essential nutrients, the environment (or stimulation) also plays a vital role in baby’s development. As I said earlier, child’s initial 2 years are the most crucial for the proper growth and development of the brain. A baby’s brain doubles in size in the first year. And by the age of two, the brain has up to twice as many nerve connections as it will have in adulthood. Hence, the role of brain exercise is an important part of baby’s brain development.

Nerve Connections. Source- Google, Corel, JL.

Types of Brain Exercises to develop baby’s IQ

Every mom will agree with me that following a nutritious diet during pregnancy is not easy when you face food aversions and mood swings. Similarly, breastfeeding is a natural biological process which has its own set of challenges. However, let’s talk about activities which you can do with your baby to stimulate his brain; fun for both mom and the baby.

Source- QuotesGram

Let’s see some age-appropriate brain exercises which you can do for your baby to boost his skills and brain development.

Activities for 0 to 6 months old

The smiles while playing Pee-Ka-Boo

• Vision – Young infants can’t differentiate colors, so for vision, you can show black and white drawings. Once they are 2 months old, you can put them in front of the mirror while giving tummy time. You can also place some small green plants around them, once they start rolling. Pee-ka-boo is my son’s favorite game till now. I started doing it around 3 months and in return, he would give me the most beautiful toothless smile.
• Hearing – I like the idea of using white noise for newborns as that makes them feel secure. You can play any soft music or even sing to your baby. Talking to your baby using wide facial expressions and hand movements works best as that also strengthens the bond between the parents and the baby.
• Touch – You can use various objects for developing their sense of touch. I used to give small clothes of different textures in his hands to touch and feel. My son started loving water when he was 5 months old. He could not sit properly but during bath time he loved to splash water. Let them touch and feel various shapes.
• Cognition – Let your baby explore his surroundings. Don’t stop if he’s putting his hands in his mouth as that’s his way of understanding how the body parts work.

Activities for 6 to 12 months old

Stimulation Exercises for 6 to 12 months old

• Vision – This is the best age to introduce books with big colorful pictures. You can show them things in the book and point to the same things in real. You can also roll the ball on the floor for the baby to follow and crawl towards.
• Hearing – Start reading stories to them, they will love it. You can bring in variations in the voice like emphasizing, whispering, singing, talking slowly or fast, and changing the pitch too. My son loved the tearing sound of the paper and would laugh every time he heard that sound.
• Touch – I introduced sand-play at this age using kinetic sand. Babies at this age want to touch and hold everything that comes their way. And then they put these things in their mouth as that’s their own way of exploring objects.
• Cognition – I did many DIY activities with my son to improve his cognitive skills. Mess-free painting, putting sticks in the bottle, sorting toys, cause and effect games etc. to name a few.

Source – AZ Quotes

Activities for 1 to 2 years old

Stimulation Exercises for 1 to 2-year-olds

• Gross motor skills – Babies grow rapidly during this age and their brain development is also at its peak. Encourage them for more independent play. Most babies start walking during this time and they want to test their physical ability. My son’s favorite activity was pushing the chair around the house and later on, he started climbing up the chair.
• Fine motor skills – The best way to help develop fine motor skills is to let them eat their food on their own either with hands or using a spoon. Another way is to give them crayons and let them test their scribbling ability. However, keep a watch as that’s when they would want to use the walls as their canvas.
• Social & Emotional development – Allow your kid to mingle with other kids by arranging play-dates. This is the age when separation anxiety sets in and your young toddler will not let you leave his side. Be considerate and cooperative, as a lot is going on inside their little minds. They are at a stage where they start understanding instructions but are unable to control their impulses enough to obey.
• Language & Vocabulary – Introduce new words and arrange to play around that word for a couple of days. Instead of talking to your child, start talking with your child. Start with 1 word, then 2-word sentences gradually increasing to 3 words. Repeat their words and form a sentence to assist their language development. By the age of 2, most kids start forming 3-word sentences to indicate their needs. And their vocab increases from 5-20 words to 150-300 words by the age of 2.

You may also want to read Reason for speech delay in toddlers!

Watch this cute video of Nemit learning new words using picture book at 22 months!

A post shared by Neha Sharma (@growing_with_nemit) on Nov 28, 2017 at 10:21pm PST

I would like to sum up my post by saying that we should not ignore the importance of nutrition and stimulation for boosting a child’s brain development and improving IQ.

If you liked this post, don’t forget to share with your friends and family. Tell me in the comments section what activities you include in your child’s day to day play.

References:
https://simmom.in/
http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/
https://www.usnews.com
https://in.pinterest.com/
http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/
https://www.health.ny.gov/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

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