The best ones boost your child’s mental,
physical and social development.
Age 2
What to buy Modelling clay
Modelling
clay - you can buy cheap multi-coloured modelling clay
Your two-year-old loves exploring his
surroundings and is beginning to think creatively. Modeling clays provide the
perfect opportunity to merge the two – and you will probably see your little
one recreate objects that are a part of his existence, such as balls, cars and
cakes. Take this opportunity to ask open-ended questions that encourage your
child to describe that he’s making, suggests Fiona Walker, principal director
of Julia Gabriel Canter and Chiltern House. It builds his vocabulary.
Joy Koh, marketing manager of Hasbro
Singapore, started her daughter in Play-Doh when she was two. “It teaches
toddlers to roll, press and extrude. I used to help my daughter roll ig out,
cut out shapes and poke the clay with the Play-Doh fork to make patterns. This
showed her how a cookie is made. It taught her shapes and color, too.”
Age 3
What to buy doll
Dolls
encourage the type of role-play that’s especially beneficial to the development
of language and communication skills
At this age, your child will start to react
to the people around her. She’s able to play with other toddlers and respond to
the emotions or actions of her friends, explains Fiona. Dolls encourage the
type of role-play that’s especially beneficial to the development of language
and communication skills. It allows the child to put into practice what she has
heard and observed, imitating the mannerisms, reactions and vocabulary of
adults.
Age 4
What to buy pedal-less bike
Your
four-year-old is on the brink of amazing physical growth.
Your four-year-old is on the brink of
amazing physical growth. He probably has good balance and smooth muscle action
now. By his next birthday, he would experience rapid muscle growth and start to
run faster, says Tee Shan Shan, psychologist at Thomson Paediatric Centre.
Pedal-less bikes help develop his natural
balance in a safe way. They are made lower to allow his feet to touch the
ground, so that if he falls, it’s from a lower height. Buy from a reputable
brand, as poor quality wood may contain splinters. Speed control can be a
problem, so always monitor your child.
