What toys are good for an 18 month old preemie?
We have the Fischer Price animal farm, shape sorters, and stacking cups. We, too, are working on learning body parts using mirror books and picture books. What else can you recommend to get my daughter on target? Please be specific. Thanks!
My 22-month-old son is also a preemie born at 33 weeks. At 18 months, I started doing puzzles with him. I bought the wooden kind that have different shapes (fruit, cars, etc.) that have little knobs on top and he’d have to fit them back into the space. You can get them at the dollar store and they are very good for helping the fine motor skills as well as learning words.
Like you said, shape sorters and stacking cups are excellent. I also used plain wooden blocks. I put them in a basket on our coffee table as a "decoration" (because, really, what else can you use for decorations these days!) and he still goes over to them, dumps them out, and makes towers.
He also really likes the Leapfrog Fridge Phonics (both the farm one and alphabet one) which works like a puzzle so it’s good for fine motor coordination as well as learning letters and animal names.
I don’t know how you feel about letting her watch TV, but I have the Baby Einstein Baby Wordsworth DVD and it has sign language and very simple pictures and words on it. My son has learned about 8 signs from the video and will sit there and call out the word for the picture he sees (he wasn’t calling out words at 18 months….he only recently started saying a lot).
Anyway, I hope these ideas help and I wish you and your little girl lots of luck!
It depends on how she is advancing. Usually kids that are born premature are on the level of the kids born on their due dates. If this is like your child, I would start with toys for that age range.
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Mom of 4
My 22-month-old son is also a preemie born at 33 weeks. At 18 months, I started doing puzzles with him. I bought the wooden kind that have different shapes (fruit, cars, etc.) that have little knobs on top and he’d have to fit them back into the space. You can get them at the dollar store and they are very good for helping the fine motor skills as well as learning words.
Like you said, shape sorters and stacking cups are excellent. I also used plain wooden blocks. I put them in a basket on our coffee table as a "decoration" (because, really, what else can you use for decorations these days!) and he still goes over to them, dumps them out, and makes towers.
He also really likes the Leapfrog Fridge Phonics (both the farm one and alphabet one) which works like a puzzle so it’s good for fine motor coordination as well as learning letters and animal names.
I don’t know how you feel about letting her watch TV, but I have the Baby Einstein Baby Wordsworth DVD and it has sign language and very simple pictures and words on it. My son has learned about 8 signs from the video and will sit there and call out the word for the picture he sees (he wasn’t calling out words at 18 months….he only recently started saying a lot).
Anyway, I hope these ideas help and I wish you and your little girl lots of luck!
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discovorie toys
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It appears you instinctively know what to do since most children of any developmental level ususally enjoy the interaction between them and caregiver irregardless of the specific toy or game. Children of this age particularly seem to be excited about the box as much as the toy within. Kitchen pots,lids and spoons make great rhythm instruments. And what do we suppose the original Mr. Potato Head was? Be creative. Make safe obstacle courses around the house and interact. I think she would be motivated to develop strength and coordination by playing a gentle, fun game of tag with you. Or hide-and-go-seek. A low-to-the-ground homemade balance beam might be helpful too. Roll balls or cars and make a game to see who can get to it first. Follow her interests as a guide. Try art/crafts together: She could put stickers on paper for starters. Make learning spontanious and authentic while having fun together.
I noticed you use the phrase "on target". Seemingly parents tend to compare our children to others. My recommenation is to keep in mind each child is different. I realize we must depend on some standards of development, but continue to use these guides to compare your child to her own growth and development. I know you are proud of her.
Actually, the first thing that caught my attention was the phrase "18 month old preemie". For the sake of your child, be careful to not overprotect her. I know your problematic experience is fresh in your memory and your daughter may require some special considerations. I am empathetic to that. However, try not to introduce her down the road as say "My 18 Year old preemie". (Smiling here) She is lucky to have a concerned mom like you and will do just fine.
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