Toys for life
7 toys for babies and toddlers you can make at home.
For very young children, play is a serious business and can bring a lifetime of benefits. As Harvard University's Dr. Jack Shonkoff says: "Play is exploration. Play is trying things. Play is trying to figure out [why] when you do one thing, something else happens. Play is trying to develop a sense of mastery of the world."
The good news is children don't need expensive toys to play and learn. In fact, you probably have at home all the things you need to create a fun and engaging game with your baby.
Here are 7 ideas to help get you started. Have fun!
1. Baby mobile
Why: Develops hand-eye coordination and stimulates visual skills.
2. Peekaboo
Why: Helps children to understand that people and things exist even if they don't see them.
3. Build-a-band
Why: Stimulates the coordination movements and helps strengthen your young child's hands.
4. Shake shake shake
Why: Stimulates your baby's ability to see, hear and grasp objects.
5. Sort the shapes
Why: Helps children learn to classify objects based on colour, shape, size.
6. Tickle tickle
Why: Helps develop senses and encourages communication.
7. Imagination builder
Why: Helps develop your child's thinking, imagination and movement coordination.
Videos filmed by UNICEF Paraguay. Watch in Spanish.
