Thursday, December 27, 2012

Keep Them Little Ones Rolling: Rolling Toys



Bring in the holiday cheer because One Sassy Doctor presents (get it, presents!) our final post in the series BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS!

Playing with your baby is one of the most enjoyable duties of parenthood. Not only do you get to spend quality one-on-one time with your precious one, you also help him develop the skills and strengths he’ll need as he grows. Toys are a great way to make playtime even more fun.

Last week, we talked about toys for creative play. This week, we’re talking about rolling toys.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Getting Creative: Toys for Creative Play


It’s been a ball spending this month on BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS! We have explored various aspects of the basics, and ways Sassy Baby can help fill those baby and toddler dreams

A well-stocked toy box will give you ample tools to help your child develop their fine- and gross-motor skills—and give you plenty of ways to bond over belly laughs.

Last week we talked about the value of rattles and rings. This week, we’re looking at the benefits of creative play.

Creative play lets your little one build real-life skills while enjoying herself and exercising not only her body but also her brain. Toy pots and pans, play kitchens, baby dolls, dress-up clothes—all of these let her act out the activities she sees you engaging in.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Shake, Rattle And Roll: Baby Rattles And Rings


We’re talking BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS this month, because when it comes to babies, playing is serious business. Stocking your toy chest with the right playthings will not only prompt plenty of giggles but will also help your little one develop the important developmental skills he needs to grow big and strong.

Last week, we talked about the benefits of stacking toys. This week, we’re focusing on baby rattles and rings. It’s the holidays, right? Do you hear the bells?

When we think about baby toys, the rattle is one of the first toys that come to mind. These simple playthings help babies tune into their senses. Shake the rattle and see their heads turn toward to sound. Move it back and forth in front of them, and watch their eyes track the rattle. Choose a soft rattle that can be attached to her wrist or ankle, and, when she’s old enough, she’ll have a great time making sounds all by herself!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Stacking Up The Fun: Stacking Toys


This month of BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS, we’ve explored play mats, balls, musical instruments and now… we’re stacking up the fun even more!

Playing with your child is great exercise, for both the body and the brain. Not only do you get a workout, so do they! When it comes to toddlers, all play is physical and toys that they can manipulate will be among their favorites.

Stacking toys are not only fun, they are among the hardest-working toys in your child’s collection. If you choose a toy that has colorful rings, you can work on your child’s colors with her. The act of stacking requires sorting for size, and placing the rings on the stacker requires fine-motor skills. 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Making Music: Musical Toys for Baby


We’re continuing these super fun holiday months with BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS with a musical break.

Playing isn’t just for fun—when a baby plays, he’s really learning and growing! Fine-motor skills, critical thinking and hand-eye coordination are crucial for achieving these important milestones, and playtime helps encourage growth in all of these areas. Music is a big part of this development!

Last week, we focused on how balls can improve hand-eyecoordination and harness the energy of a newly walking toddler. This week, we’re hoping you and baby can make beautiful music together with toys that mimic instruments.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Toy Balls: Having a Ball With Baby



We hope you’re ready to play, because we’re all about BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS for the entire month of December. If you’re looking for great, age-appropriate toys for you and your baby, you’re in the right place!

Last week we talked about the fun you and baby can have with a set of building blocks and the week before, we worked out on a play mats

This week, we want you to check your toy box to make sure you have a ball or two ready. Balls are great toys for an active toddler, giving them ample opportunity to practice walking (by chasing the ball) and they also work wonders for hand-eye coordination. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids should be able to throw a ball by the age of 2, but you can have plenty of fun with younger tots, as well.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Toy Blocks: The Building Blocks of Fun


As you know, the One Sassy Doctor blog is devoting this entire month to BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS! This week, just in time for the holidays, we’re all about BLOCKS.

For babies, play is hard work and they need the best tools possible to do their jobs right. The right toys can help make sure your precious wee one meets all her developmental milestones, and it’s a sweet way to spend time bonding.

In our last post, we talked about play mats, and this week we’re focused on having fun with building blocks.

Blocks help to build a great foundation for physical dexterity and problem solving, and babies can begin to grasp and hold blocks as early as six months. By the age of 12 months, most babies will be able to stack blocks on top of one another, making a simple structure. Stacking helps hand-eye coordination, reaching for and grasping blocks develop fine-motor skills.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Going to the Mat: Playmats and Your Baby


As we’ve been talking about for over two years now on the One Sassy Doctor blog, playing is a wonderful way to bond with your baby, and it’s also a serious developmental workout! This month, just in time for the holidays, we’re BACK TO THE BASICS – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD TOYS! Choosing your child’s toys carefully can make playtime even more fun, for both of you.

This week, we’re talking about an overview of play mats – as you know we devoted an entire previous month to our new Inspire the Senses developmental playmat. (One Sassy Doctor is a little play mat obsessed!).

A truly versatile toy, a play mat gives baby a soft and stimulating spot to work on her gross motor skills—and it’s a great place to get plenty of tummy time.