We love stacking toys! They are one of the most popular educational tools and are a great way to encourage fine motor and problem solving skills in young children.

Between the age of 6 months and 1 year, your baby will start to learn some developmental skills that will help them learn more later on.

Stacking a toy on top of another is a great way to teach them hand-eye coordination and cognitive skills such as color and size concept. You can start to introduce blocks and stacking toys as early as 6-7 months old.

By the time they are between 15-18 months, your child should be able to stack 2 blocks and stack 6 blocks between 18-24 months.

Once your child masters the basic ‘one on top of other’, there are a lot of toys out there that will further challenge them to think a little more and problem solve while they’re stacking.

Here are 9 great stackers for kids 2 and older:

1. Stacking Construction Vehicles – This cool set includes a bulldozer, a dump truck and a cement mixer. Each vehicle has a free wheeling base and is constructed of solid wood stacking parts. The fun is endless, as they can be taken apart and rebuilt again and again. Interchangeable? Probably! ($20)
2. Plan Toys Stacking Tree – This stacking set is designed based on the concept of nature. Each wooden piece can be stacked to form different kinds of trees. Children can learn the color variation and size..($20)
3. P’kolino Stacking Toy – Children are initially challenged to fine-tune motor skills by placing the easy to hold rings on extra thick stacking pole. With that mastered the child begins to enhance spatial logic by interlocking anyone puzzle piece to any other; in any order. Finally, through “solving” the puzzle sequence the child learns color and size recognition.
4. Voila Four Load Truck – A pull-along truck with 4 stacks of 4 colored pieces perforated with 4 different geometric shapes.
5. Wooden Fish Boat Stacking Toy – Stick a small passenger in the boat and have the fish swim all around or stack the fish to create a beautiful rainbow-colored sail. This fish stacker is made of hardwood. 10 pieces in total.($37)
6. Rubbabu – Rubbablox – These multi-colored, natural foam building blocks have soft connectors so children can easily build with them. They are tactile and great for early spatial learning. Includes 9 blocks and 18 connectors.
7. Melissa and Doug Stacking Train – With just a little imagination little ones can custom build their own train from the 15 interchangeable pieces and three linking cars. My boys have this train and love it.
8. Wooden Numbers Stacking Board, Rings from Bajo – Made of solid wood and finished with completely non-toxic, child-friendly paints and finishes, the nicely sized disks are perfectly sized for a young child’s hands. What’s even better, you don’t have to worry about losing any of the disks, because they are all attached to their posts via a long string with a balled end. 55 disks total.
9. Geometric Stacker – This large, colorful wooden toy has three different stacking towers, and includes 25 durable, solid-wood pieces to match, sort and stack.

From birth, Lamaze is a toy line that has been staple in our household. Both my sons adore everything they make including their cast of characters and developmental playsets.

Keeping in this tradition, the new Lamaze Play House Gym($80) has been a hit for us. This bright playspace offers many features that keep both the baby and mommy happy.

Out of the box, I was impressed with the detail on both sides of the mat. Designed like a house, this reversible pad comes complete with backyard, front door, garage and flower garden scenes on the outside. And an eating, playing, bathing and sleeping baby on the inside.

The whole mat is easy to put together and take a part. In fact, it packs up nicely for easy storage or to accommodate a child who is able to sit and play with the activities on the outside.

I like that the Lamaze Play House Gym comes with characters that mirror those in most households; a mommy, daddy, baby, cat and flower! The latter 3 double as shapes that can be placed on a Velcro pad on the outside. Also included are a baby activated lights and music sun, perfect for visual tracking and a mirror for self discovery.

Now that my youngest son has outgrown the laying on his back and waiting for stuff to happen stage, he loves to crawl through this mat like it’s a tunnel. We also lay the mat out flat as a soft play area when we are out at either grandparents house.

In order to keep all of our toys organized, I store all of my youngest son’s soft toys inside this gym when they’re not being played with. It Velcro’s up just like a purse for easy storage, complete with handles for carrying. The baby knows that this is where his toys are kept and I often find him rummaging through it looking for his favorite stuff.

Lamaze uses the softest Velcro tape I have ever come across. It is smooth, but effective and I don’t have to worry about the baby scratching his face or hands if he gets a little crazy with the toys.

Overall, I think that Lamaze has thought of almost everything when designing this vibrant playspace. The only thing missing from this set is a tummy pad, which may make tummy time more comfortable for younger babies.

I recommend this for babies from newborn up to a year.

*Thank you to Lamaze for sending this to us to review!*

Just in time for the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle has teamed up with Kids Preferred to introduce a line of developmental toys for babies and kids.

The themes of Carle’s stories are usually drawn from his extensive knowledge and love of nature — an interest shared by many small children. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer children the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. Thanks to Kids Preferred, those literary characters – Caterpillar, Elephant, Lion, Ladybug, Penguin, Frog and friends – leap from Carle’s storybooks to the hands of a new generation of Eric Carle fans.

This collection incorporates many tricks to keep a baby interested. Kids Preferred uses bright fabrics to cover rattles, squeakers and chimes. Their eclectic mix of patterns are both eye catching and very soft to the touch.

A couple that have quick became favorites my little man are the Apple Playset and Caterpillar teether.

The peekaboo apple is filled with plush fruit that squeak, rattle and crinkle. They also must feel good on the gums because Mr.Teething also loves to chew on them while playing. The best part: the stuffed Caterpillar ‘eating’ through the apple. Too cute!

Here are is a preview of the rest of the collection:

1. Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Playset
2. Eric Carle Activity Very Hungry Caterpillar
3. Developmental Butterfly
4. Eric Carle Activity Dome
5. Developmental Caterpillar
6. Eric Carle 10″ Stacking Rings
7. Very Hungry Caterpillar Teether Rattle

Just a few months after I brought my first son home, I found Lamaze toys. ‘Freddie The Firefly’ provided my son with endless hours of entertainment and me with just as much sanity.

At the time, I had no idea that a toy could make someone so little, so happy for so long…

New for Spring, Lamaze has introduced some incredibly adorable characters to their already popular ‘play and grow’ line.

My 4 month-old is currently crushing on Adrian the Alien. The combination rattle, crinkle, squeaker, and mirror keeps him interested and occupied. The colorful, puffy, velour space creature’s unique look gets lots of laughs when nothing else will work.

For little girls, Kerry the Fairy and Princess Sophie are two new additions that would be a great first doll with developmental benefits.

Additionally, Lamaze has introduced Lights & Sounds Wrap & Go Flower, Stack, Roll and Crawl Ball, and Elephantunes.

Manhattan Toy’s Whoozits are a fun loving line made of bright colors and high-contrast patterns.

Each Toy offers many developmental benefits for babies including visual stimulation, Early Motor, Sensory and Independent Play skills.

Hidden noise makers like rattles, squeakers, and crinkle paper spark curiosity, while textured fabrics keep little hands and mouths occupied.

On a recent vacation the Whoozit Pull Musical was a blessing when it kept my son’s attention during a boring plane ride. I even passed it to a mom behind me in hopes that it would make her crying baby happy.

Both babies seem to love the combination of the flashing lights and happy faces.

It’s officially our ‘go-to’ toy when nothing else works.

• Whoozit Activity Spiral
• Whoozit Water Filled Activity Toy
• Grabbitz Ball
• Whoozit Pull Musical
• Starz Lights & Sounds
• Whoozit Stellar Star Activity Center

Everything is pink at Tiny Love! This summer they will be introducing the Tiny Princess™ Collection. Moms who are looking for a couple more pink pieces for their new baby’s nursery will love this new line.

Tiny Love’s new all pink collection, comprised of the Gymini Tiny Princess™, Tiny Princess™ Mobile, Tiny Princess™ Electronic Book and Follow-Me Fiona crawling toy, is sure to make any baby girl squeal with delight.

As comprehensive as it is colorful, the toys included in the Tiny Princess™ collection address all of the developmental milestones that babies experience in their first years of life — sensory development, building cognitive and motor skills, the growth of emotional intelligence and much more.

• The Tiny Princess™ Mobile soothes baby while encouraging her cognitive, visual and hearing development. This unique mobile is designed to resemble a magical tree in a fairytale forest with lush pink flowers extending from its branches, each holding its own friendly dancing creature. Each adorable doll has their own special choreographed “dance” to engage and mesmerize baby —lulling baby into a dream filled slumber sure to end happily ever after.
• The Gymini® Tiny Princess™ offers baby a breadth of engaging and feature-rich developmental activities fit for royalty. The pink portable kick pad, with its engaging mirror and touch-sensitive effects, is a detachable, stand alone component that is as conveniently useful out in the yard, in baby’s crib or in the car as it is on the Gymini®. Fun accessories such as a pink butterfly, yellow sunshine and baby turtle dangle on the flexible overhead arches, encouraging baby to uncover a wealth of sounds, colors and textures.
• With the Tiny Princess™ Electronic Book(not shown), a multitude of fun and stimulating activities await to be discovered with the turn of every page. The Tiny Princess™ fairy wand makes the friendly storybook characters and attractive images come alive. The bright and pretty images arouse curiosity and encourage baby to touch her new book with the electronic wand, promoting her fine motor skills, cognitive abilities and emotional development.
• Follow-Me Fiona toy, is a motorized self-rolling puppy that engages baby with cheerful barking sounds and stimulates physical movement and interaction. The female version of Tiny Love’s popular, Follow-Me Fred crawling toy, this cheerful pup plays more distinct feminine musical tunes when in motion. To best serve baby’s crawling needs, Follow-Me Fiona features a multi-directional, accordion-shaped body that can be set to move in a straight line as well as in a circular motion. Parents will also be happy to know that Follow Me-Fiona comes with two speed settings to adapt to baby’s pace.

Beleduc’s five layer “Your Body” puzzle shows in clear and child oriented way to set-up of a human body from skeleton to the organs, over the muscles to the naked and to the dressed child.

Made in a boy and a girl, these cool puzzles combine problem solving skills with science to help your little one better understand what they are made of.

Priced between $20-$25

Tiny Love has always been known for their original, innovative baby toys.

This year they have introduced some products that will benefit babies while they are playing around the house or while they are out with mom and dad.

I like that each product has an element for every developmental stage and that the company’s website outlines the benefits for your baby at each stage for each toy.

This is a great resource for parents because it helps them know what things to look for when their child is playing with these and other products.

Here are our picks for 2009:

Clockwise:

• Musical Nature Stroll
• Island Stroller Set
• Sweet Island Dreams Mobile
• Music Take-Along Arch
• Nature’s Serenade Mobile

]]> http://www.growingyourbaby.com/2009/02/18/toy-fair-2009-tiny-love/feed/ 0 http://www.growingyourbaby.com/2009/01/07/twig-building-blocks-stacking-with-a-twist/ http://www.growingyourbaby.com/2009/01/07/twig-building-blocks-stacking-with-a-twist/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:34:42 +0000 Lisa http://growingyourbaby.com/2009/01/07/twig-building-blocks-stacking-with-a-twist/

Stacking the usual way, on on top of the other, this set also offers kids the ability to use sticks to secure their work.

72 vibrant colored wooden pieces—each precision-cut and compatible with one another—combine to form an infinite array of captivating creations. Fostering visual-spatial development, this innovative construction set encourages open-ended exploration of essential principles like proportion, structure, composition, and color.

Ages 3 and older.

$50 at Met Museum Store

The groundbreaking infant video’s have been made popular by their unusual way of combining real life images with children playing and puppets.

My son, who is three, still loves to watch these videos when he wants a bit of down time after playing. They seem to calm him and make him laugh at the same time.

In celebration of their 10th year, Baby Einstein has released Special Editions of 2 of their popular titles, Baby Mozart and Baby Beethoven.

Also coming in 2009, they will ‘dance to a new beat’ with a while line of World Music products celebrating music and cultures for all 7 continents.

Momcentral recently gave us the opportunity to preview the 10th Anniversary Baby Mozart DVD, Baby Einstein Board Book and the Lullaby Classics CD. All three items are a must, in my opinion, for a successful road trip.

The video to keep your child occupied if the drive is over 45 minutes, the CD to soothe them to sleep on the way home (if it’s a long trip to grandmas) and the book as something bright and exciting to look at when everything else has been played out.

This trio would also make a nice gift pack to give to a mom-to-be or a baby for Christmas.