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VTech – Helping Children Reach Milestones

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The VTech product, information, and giveaway have been provided by VTech.

VTech-Toys-Milestones

I love for my kids to have a variety of toys. Different kinds of toys teach children different skills so I think variety is important. I especially love educational toys that are so fun that kids don’t realize they are learning. VTech is really good at making super fun toys with a high educational value. They are even focused on providing toys that help children reach their developmental milestones.

VTech works closely with an of children’s learning experts to develop toys that are age appropriate and help develop children’s . These milestones are broken down into 3 categories:

o   Language and Cognitive

o   Social and Emotional Development

o   Physical and Motor

My toddler recently started speaking. He started with a couple words and has been slowly building his vocabulary. Every once in a while we will be surprised by him saying a sentence! These VTech toys have been fun for him because they are teaching him new words and some new songs.

Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano

lil-critters-piano-Vtech

Recommended for children from birth – 12 months the Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano provides lots of fun and soothing music for your little one. With over 70 melodies sounds and songs, including a timer your little one will be entertained for a while. Put it in your child’s crib to be played with by kicking it or by using hands. With a soft fabric piano it is gently for your little one to play and easy for your child to press.

Since I don’t have a baby I’m saving this as a baby shower gift for a friend!

Roll & Surprise Animal Train

Vtech-Roll-Surprise-Animal-Train

The VTech Roll & Surprise Animal Train is a fun for children 6 – 36 months. My 22 month old LOVES it. This cute toy has over 55 melodies, phrases and sounds. It plays a peek-a-boo game and sings songs. It helps with fine motor development with the buttons and levers for getting the animals to pop out of the train.

Chomp & Count Dino

Chomp-Count-Dino-Vtech

The Chomp & Count Dino is probably my favorite of the toys VTech sent. Feed the dino 1 of 6 colored discs with healthy food on it. The dino will respond with sounds and phrases while introducing colors, numbers, shapes and food. The dino will play a game with you by asking a question and you push the correct button to answer. This dino will teach shapes, numbers and colors using the buttons on the side. This is a really fun toy recommended for children 12 – 36 months.

Questions & Answers about Childhood Milestones

The bloggers working with VTech also had the opportunity to ask Dr. Lise Eliot questions about child development and milestones. She also put together a little for parents. Perhaps some of the questions we asked, you were also wondering so read on.

Q: As a parent, what are your suggestions on things I can do with my child to help them develop their social and emotional skills? What are ways I can help my child to get the most of their playtime?

A: Social-emotional skills are the bedrock of learning, so good for you for taking an interest in cultivating them in your child.  The best way to promote emotional and interpersonal skills is through interaction–reading, singing and lots of talking with your child.  Make eye contact with him or her. Laugh together.  Direct your child’s attention to interesting things in your environment.  When you read together, ask your child questions about the characters’ thoughts and feelings. This can help build empathy. Another way to think about it is to use books or videos as a stepping stone for dialogue with your child.  It’s the two-way, back-and-forth sharing of words and feelings that build emotional and communication skills.  Playtime has ample opportunity to do this, whether you are visiting the zoo, finger-painting, or playing with toys.  Take every opportunity to talk about the feelings and relationships among characters your child is drawing or playing with.

Q: As a stay-at-home mom, I feel like I’m responsible for most of my toddler’s learning the first couple of years. How can I ensure that I’m teaching him all he needs to know? What are the best games or play to help him learn basics things like numbers, colors, words, etc.?

A: Children learn through play, so almost any activity is a learning opportunity for your child.   Show your child how to count banana slices at lunch time, or toothbrush strokes at bedtime.  Read ABC books to him to teach letter sounds and recognition.  But don’t worry too much about academic skills in younger children.  Most important at this age is for children to learn the joy of discovery.  Try to avoid drilling exercises (like flashcards) and instead focus on learning about the real world around him–animals, people, vehicles, music, art–whatever you encounter through books or the world outside that excites your child.  When kids find a passion and get absorbed in it, early literacy and number skills follow easily.

Q: What if it seems like your child isn’t reaching a particular milestone, what can you do to facilitate the learning of it?  While every child is different, are there any Milestones (when not achieved on schedule) a parent should be concerned about?

A: It’s important for parents to know what milestones to expect, because failure to reach them can be a warning sign of a developmental delay.  For social skills, we like to see babies making eye contact early on, and worry if it doesn’t happen by 3 months or age, or if s/he is not sharing facial expressions or some other kind of back-and-forth communication by 9 months. For language skills, we worry when children are saying no words by 16 months, or only a few words at 2 years, and when there is any loss of communication ability at any age.  For motor skills, it is concerning if a baby cannot bring an object to his or her mouth by 7 months, sit independently by 10 months, or walk by 18 months. If your child isn’t reaching these milestones, talk to your pediatrician, who may propose additional testing and exercises you can do with your child at home to promote his or her development.

Q: My 2 year old (26 months to be exact) barely talks unless she wants to.  She has two older siblings who tend to speak for her.  She can string a few words together like “me up” or “love you.”  How can we encourage her to talk more and what VTech products would be most beneficial for her?

A: There’s a simple equation to verbal development:  “Language in = Language out”  The more words you and others address to your child, the larger her own vocabulary will eventually be.  You are right that younger children sometimes do have trouble getting a word in edgewise in a big family.  Find opportunities when your daughter can be the only one speaking.  Try to carve out some one-on-one time, when you are just focused on each other, and make sure to listen and respond to every word or babble she makes, acting as if you understand her.  Imitate her words and sounds and offer lots of praise.  Just giving your child the confidence that she is being heard will provide great reinforcement to encourage her to speak more. 

Also, VTech’s infant toys can promote this language development since most produce simple words or phrases that babies love to control.  Toys such as Cody The Smart Cub™ and Cora The Smart Cub™ introduce children to first words, emotions, stories, sing-alongs, and more. 

Q: How do doctors come up with specific milestones for each age group? What are some milestones for older age groups (up to age 9)?

A: Infant developmental milestones have been cataloged by studying thousands of babies from all walks of life.  In healthy children, the various milestones emerge in a predictable sequence and time, give or take a few weeks or months.  This predictable pattern is due to the maturation sequence of the developing brain, along with the typical sequence of practice most babies engage in, given their gradually growing strength and coordination.  Some milestones you can look for as your child gets older include: able to draw a circle at age 3, asking lots of “Why” questions at age 4, knowing his or her letters at age 5, tying shoes at age 6, reading aloud fluently at age 7, and a big spurt of social independence beginning at 8-9 .

Q: What are some of the benefits of teaching children sign language at a young age to help improved their cognitive, motor and social skills? How can teaching sign language to my child help promote more than language development?  How can sign language help stimulate a child’s brain in other ways?

A: The research on sign language is not terribly strong, but enough has been done to indicate that sign language may benefit your child’s overall language development. The more words addressed to babies, whether spoken or gestured, the faster their own vocabulary growth. Sign language also has the advantage that it is easier for babies to communicate using simple gestures, compared to oral articulation.  So especially in the first year of life, some babies find it easier to communicate their needs when taught simple signs, and may express less frustration than infants who were not exposed to baby signing.

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Comments

  1. Tracy Pryor says

    I would love to give my nephew the roll and surprise animal train. He will be 6 months old in December.

  2. Shannon says

    I think the Roll and Surprise Train since he will be just sitting up and maybe thinking of crawling by christmas

  4. McKim says

    I think the Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano Read is most appropriate for my grandson. Mainly because of his age.

  6. Ashley C says

    The Roll and Surprise Train would be perfect for my niece. She loves things that make noise and she’s trying to learn how to crawl!

    demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. Margaret Smith says

    The Touch & Swipe Baby Phone would be great because my son often wants to play with my phone and would enjoy this toy.

  10. Michelle Weaver says

    I like the musical piano. We have been going to little small group music lessons so that would be great!

  11. Jessica Beard says

    The Animal Train would be perfect for my son, he learned to walk recently so this would be great for him to pull along. He also loves music!

  15. Jen T says

    I like the train for my 13 min old because the learning pieces are connected and it has a string to pull it.

  16. Jen T says

    I like the train for my 13 mon old because the learning pieces are connected and it has a string to pull it.

  17. Wendi S says

    I think my little guy would like the Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano he does seem to like banging his hands on everything.

  19. Beanybopp says

    I would have to say the dino….our son has motor planning issues and this toy looks like it would help him with that.

  24. Bobbie Smith says

    The one that is most appropriate for my grandson would be the piano, my grandson is just now at the right age for that, and he loves hearing the different sounds

  25. karenb says

    the Chomp and count Dino because he is going to be 1 years old and he is very smart, this would be helpful for teaching him.

  27. Susan Chester says

    The Play and Dream Musical Piano would be perfect for my granddaughter because she is the perfect age for it-4 months!

  28. Cassandra Eastman says

    I think the Chomp & Count Dino would be the most helpful for my daughter, because it would help her with colors, shapes and counting!

  29. Leesa says

    I the the Chomp & Count Dino would be perfect for my grandson. He is starting to learn numbers. Love Vtech.

  31. Sue E says

    The Chomp and Count Dino because it will teach shapes, numbers and colors using the buttons on the side. Making learning fun.

  32. Nancy says

    I think the Chomp and Count Dino would be perfect for our 10 month old granddaughter. She is talking up a storm and has a very nice vocabulary for her age. This toy would help reinforce leaning new words,

  39. Martha Willis says

    The Chomp and Count Dino is perfect for my granddaughter but the piano would be perfect for my new grandson. Everything for everybody 🙂

  41. Lauren Becker says

    the Play and Dream musical piano would be great for my friend’s little one because he’s about nine months, so he could use it now! and he loves music.

  42. Whitney L says

    I think the Chomp & Go Dino would be my sons favorite he loves dinosaurs and putting things into stuff! It would be like he is feeding a dinosaur!

  51. margaret peg m says

    hi, the ‘roll and surprise train’ would be a great gift for my 1 yr. old grandson…he loves papa’s g-scale train already.

  52. Carla says

    The Chomp & Count Dino would be perfect for my 1 year old. His brain is like a sponge right now and this would help him with his learning.

  53. Kristy Hughes says

    The chomp and count dino would be the best for my son. He really likes putting things in to things.

  55. Jessica Padilla says

    The Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano would be great for my son. He loves to kick and hear music. It would soothe my little munchkin.

  57. Dawn Monroe says

    I have 2 grandkids under two and a newborn coming in May so this would be great. Right now I thing the roll and surprise animal train would be the one they would enjoy.

  61. Terry Maigi says

    I think the Chomp & Count Dino would be great for hand-eye coordination and great for learning numbers!

  62. Abigail says

    My daughter would love the chomp and count dino. She’s learning her colors and loves to “feed” her toys so it’d be perfect

  66. Anel says

    Since my baby is due in two weeks, I would say the the Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano would be most appropriate for him! What a great product! Looks like fun! Thank you!

  67. Valerie Taylor Mabrey says

    My grandson would love the animal train. he is just now understanding trains and the noise and such.
    vmkids3 at msn dot com

  70. Tina Peterson says

    I’ve been eyeing a few things for Christmas gifts for my 11 mo old girl. There is the Smart Shots Sports Center (she loves balls), light up baby touch tablet, the Alphabet Cube Set and the Inno Tab 3. She (and I) would be very happy with anything though. =D

    Thanks!

  73. Nicole Sender says

    The VTech Roll & Surprise Animal Train would be perfect for my grandson! He loves trains and music!

  74. Klydra Pugh says

    The Chomp and Count Dino for my youngest child because he is in that age group.
    Thanks for the chance.

  79. Alia says

    I really like the piano, and I think that it would be so great to take babysitting. The kids I babysit are always so excited when I bring new toys.

  81. Stephanie O'Day says

    The Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano is best for my baby!! He’s always kicking those feet and this would be great!

  82. Bertha Wilson says

    I think that the Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano Read would be most appropriate for my Grandson that is not hardly 1 yet. He would love the musical sounds .

  84. Laurie Emerson says

    The Chomp and Count Dino is the most appropriate toy for my son. He is in the age group which it is intended for and he is learning his shapes, colors and counting so this would be perfect for him.

  85. Brittney House says

    I would like the Musical Piano for my niece. She loves to make music and hear the different sounds the keys make.

  87. Stephanie Larison says

    The Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano…she’s 3 months and can’t do too much yet, but she sure loves to kick!

  88. Candace benefield says

    Any of the activity tables to help my daughter with shapes and sounds. She is nine months old and very curious!

  90. Rochel S says

    The Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano would be perfect for my son! He is almost 3 months old!

  93. Richard Hicks says

    I think our little one would like Lil’ Critters Play & Dream Musical Piano because he has already shown a strong affinity to music and songs

Trackbacks

  5. […] VTech Learning Toy Bundle Do you have a little one on your holiday list?  This giveaway is for kids 2 and under. VTech is a and great way to help your little ones learn and have a great time! Enter this giveaway at Making of a Mom. […]

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