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9 Benefits of Dancing for Toddlers

October 8, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Children are the powerhouse of energy and this boundless energy often makes parents worried. If you have a toddler in your home, and you are apprehensive as what’s the best way to channel this seamless energy, then you are in the right place. In this article, why not to discuss realistic tricks to engage your toddler in something creative and physically demanding?

Let’s get started!

The Best Benefits Of Dancing For Toddlers

Although sports seem the best available option for utilizing energy, when it comes to engaging the toddler, that’s not a reliable option every time. So, how about dancing? Who doesn’t adore to dance? Dancing is the best alternative to sports and offers a variety of benefits as well.

“But my child is just a toddler!”… That’s even better! The sooner he begins, the more focused and disciplined he’ll become! Nowadays various dance academies or studios offer dance lessons for 2-3-year-old children.

So what benefits of dancing for toddlers would you expect if you opt for this? We’ve enlisted 9 benefits of dancing for toddlers to give you valuable insight.

1. Physical Health:

Dance is the epitome of physical activities. It offers a significant improvement in your toddler’s overall health. Researches show that, with the regular dance practice, your child can enhance stamina, strength, flexibility, and range of motion. The dance practice offers you repetitive moves to tone up your muscles and improves your posture as well.

A dance session will grant your child not only exterior benefits, but it also offers additional benefits including improved balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health.

Dance is the compilation of repetitive moves and postures. So, with regular practice, the muscles adapt accordingly and offer a high level of physical involvement.

Next time if anyone asks about the benefits of dancing for toddlers, you can easily describe the physical ones.

2. Socializing And Communication Skills:

Dance doesn’t only offer physical improvements, but it could be a great way to enhance your child’s socializing and communication skills. Joining a dance studio could be a life turning point for your child as he or she will meet new mates and learn plenty of new things. If your child stays silent most of the time, then opting for him or her to learn dance could offer assistance to improve the communication skills.

Dance offers a uniform environment for all the kids to face their fears and to express their emotions. So in this particular setup, even the shiest children start interacting and opening up. Conquering the fear or unknown would be helpful for your child in the future to face unknown situations and scenarios.

3. Enhance Their Self-Confidence:

Self-confidence is the essence of success. By only concurring the fear, you can achieve success. So if your child is shy and doesn’t feel confident in new places or meeting new people, then dance is the best solution for your child. The reason why we stress the benefits of dancing for toddlers is that dancing lets you interact with new people in a relatively comfortable environment. The healthier your child will be, the more socially he will connect.

One of the greatest benefits of dancing for toddlers is it removes the fear of performing in front of an audience. It thus allows your children to express their emotions and skills without hesitating.

4. Improves Their Discipline:

Dance could be a tool to teach your children how to listen carefully and showcase discipline. While practicing dance, a child has to listen to the instructor to perform well; this develops a habit of listening in your child. If your children always want things to be their way, then it’s time for them to learn discipline and careful listening. While dancing, a child has to move according to the instructor. He or she can never perform well if they do not pay attention to. This contingency makes listening to an obligation that further transforms into a beneficial skill.

Toddlers Ballet Dance Class — Image by hdydi from Pixabay

5. Learn About Teamwork:

Dance demands both partners to be in utter coordination to come up with something nice and beautiful. While practicing dancing, your child learns about teamwork and coordinating with others. In today’s life, teamwork is essential and learning it while being a toddler is going to benefit your child in the future. So why not let your child learn the crucial skill of teamwork at the early stage of his life?

6. Improve The Posture:

Having a proper posture depicts a strong personality and confidence. As far as the dance is concerned, to be a good dancer, you are required to be in great form. So if you are worried about your child’s posture then don’t be as with regular dancing sessions, you are going to witness a great improvement in their posture. So among the various benefits of dancing for toddlers, improving the posture is definitely the one.

7. Teach Them Perseverance:

In life, hard work requires perseverance to succeed. That’s what dance practice would teach to your child. No matter which dance form you opt for your children, they require practice, skill, and consistency to learn it. If your child doesn’t show persistence, he’s not going to learn any dance style. With the proper practice, your toddler will not only master the dance form but will also learn the importance of perseverance and persistence. Don’t you think it’s time for your little pyrotechnics to learn perseverance?

8. Dance Offers A Fun Way To Learn A Skill:

Dancing is a fun way to learn new skills and polish the socializing skills. A dance studio offers an environment that is filled with fun and entertainment rather than being frantic and strict. Surrounded by people similar to him/her, eager to learn, curious with a little bit of anxiety; your child will feel comfortable.

9. Improves Cognitive Performance:

According to various research, dancing can improve the thought process with age. The regions in the brain that are associated with cognitive skills like memory, planning, and organizing get to grow with exercises like, dancing. Through dancing, your child learns the balance; and that’s too a cognitive skill.

Final Words

The benefits of dancing for toddlers are diverse. They offer your kid a realistic gateway to channel all the energy into a positive direction. Learn dancing could equip your child with a lifelong skill. However, you have to be really careful while choosing the dance form or the dance studio for your child. Only a skilled and experienced team with proper passion will be able to engage the toddlers to learn dance. An engaging dance team with passionate staff is essential to make dance a fun thing for your child.

You can opt for the initial dance lessons just to engage your toddler into something positive; to keep him/her active. However, once your child learns about the dancing forms and skills, your toddler can then choose the dance form they want.

I’d love to know if your child is a dancer, and what classes they love the most! My toddler loves going to her mixed class for 3-4 years – it’s perfect for her right now:) Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can:)

Happy Playing,

Erica

If you are looking for more activities for your child, check out my most popular articles: Role Play for Kids, Water Play for Kids, and Best Tech Toys for Toddlers.

The 7 Real Benefits of Role Play For Kids

September 14, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

There are so many ways in which kids can play. Whether it’s a game already in existence, or one they’re making up themselves, each game has something to offer. Because young children are still learning about everything in the world around them, it helps them to be able to experience various aspects for themselves.

This is just one reason why role play can be such a beneficial activity for children. Here, we’re taking a look into several more benefits that role play for kids can have. Dive in to learn about how this activity can help your little one to learn and grow.

The Benefits of Role Play for Kids

Role play can help kids to learn and grow in a number of ways. It’s a fantastic activity for teaching them more about the adult world and what kinds of experiences they may face as they get older. Take a look at these benefits to learn more about why role play is great for your child!

1. Learning About the Real World

There are a number of situations that children can learn about by role playing them. Things like going to a restaurant, cooking a meal, going camping or taking a trip to the grocery store are just a few examples. When they practice these activities, they learn how to behave during those trips.

Not only is it fun for them to play pretend, but they’re actually starting to get a feel for how those kinds of transactions should play out when they get older. As a result, they are more prepared for the real world, and more ready to socialize and take on roles in those situations.

2. Experiment With Adult Jobs and Roles

As children play in various roles, they can learn about adult life and the careers therein. This allows them to gain some experience in learning what it’s like to be a doctor, firefighter, veterinarian or just about any other career they might have some interest in.

For some, this can be a very early indication to what kinds of jobs that child might be interested in as they get older. Even if that isn’t the case, it’s a great way for young kids to learn about what people do when they work various jobs, or take on various roles in their household or community.

3. Learning Empathy

As children practice taking on different roles, they start to learn about what life is like for people who actually maintain those roles in society. While this might be in a much lighter way, it helps to start creating the groundwork for more empathy towards other people.

For example, if a small child is taking on the role of a parent in their play, then they start to learn what it’s like to take care of a baby. In time, that fuels an ability to place themselves in the shoes of someone else.

4. Building the Imagination

Role play is also a fantastic way for young children to start engaging their imagination. Naturally, they probably don’t know everything about the role they are playing, so that gives them an opportunity to create situations, problems to solve and experiment with how that role can be taken on.

Additionally, it’s a great opportunity for them to start learning how to create unique stories of their own. The sky is the limit when it comes to role playing for children. They can become a vet for unicorns or work in a restaurant that serves only the most delicious Play Dough creations.

5. Increasing the Understanding of Other Cultures

When children have the chance to try out new roles and jobs, they can experience other cultures as well. This might mean racial cultures, such as pretending to be a samurai or a king in another country. Or it might mean traveling back in time to be a knight.

In other cases, it may mean cultures that exist in work places, colleges or other environments. Regardless of what the culture it is, playing a role within that culture can help children to learn what those cultures are like, and it’s a great opportunity to teach them about those cultures as well.

6. Developing Social Skills

Role playing together can allow children to both engage in play and learning as well as discover how to interact with one another. Just imagine a pair or group of children playing like they’re in a grocery store, taking turns being the checker while others line up to buy various items.

It’s a fun experience for them, and they get to learn about what it’s like to work or shop at a grocery store. As a result, they learn more about this activity and begin building friendships by playing together. While it may just look like play, there’s really some important learning going on!

7. Learning by Doing

As children practice various kinds of roles, they learn more about those roles. Essentially, it’s like having on the job training, except they aren’t actually on the job and they can work through the various aspects of that role in their own time and in a safe way.

These activities are also fantastic for helping them to learn about their growing interests, as they may find that some activities are more fun than others. Consequently, they can start to develop ideas about the kinds of roles and careers they may be interested in as they grow up.

Conclusion

No matter what role they’re playing, experiencing the activities involved in it for themselves is a great way for children to discover various aspects of the world and start putting themselves in the shoes of other people. As a result, they become more empathetic and have a greater capacity for understanding others.

Because of that, it’s a good idea to encourage role play quite often. Additionally, allowing them to experience a number of roles is a great way to provide a well-rounded experience. Not to mention, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun for them in the process!

I’d love to know what your favouite role playing games are for your kids? Leave me a comment below and ill get back to you as soon as possible.

Happy Play!

Erica

Check out my other popular articles on the benefits of play for your kids: Benefits of Musical Instruments for Toddlers and Benefits of Water Play for Your Child

The 10 Best Tech Toys for Toddlers In 2019

September 3, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Having a toddler in the house can be a lot of fun but also a lot of work. It’s even worse when they’re at those terrible two’s, right? It seems as if they’re on a mission to explore everything, all at once, and who can blame them?

Research has shown the toddler stage is the optimal stage for developing their cognitive and social skills. Keeping them stimulated and engaged in educational activities are key. Learning should be made fun because a toddler’s attention span is extremely short. Retaining their attention can be difficult, yet there are some nifty tech toys available that help you do that.

Technology has provided so many solutions to our everyday problems. It has enhanced communication, transport and gave us the internet. And now technology has provided a solution to keep your little one entertained while teaching them. Tech toys give you more purposeful toys that will equip your child with the necessary skills for our digital world.

Let’s look at some of the top tech toys currently on the market.

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Tech Toys Buyers Guide

The wonderful aspect of tech toys is that it’s unisex. Gone are the days of girls playing with dolls and boys with cars only. Tech toys have bridged the gap between the sexes and offer toys that can be passed on to any child.

Appropriate Toys for Different Ages

Finding the age-appropriate toy for your little one can be challenging. Some of the age guidelines provided by toy manufacturers are ambiguous and sometimes they don’t hold your child’s attention. But how can you make sure your child is getting maximum entertainment while learning?

There are some simple benchmarks you can look at to ensure you buy the correct toy for every age such as:

Milestones your child reach at every age
The usefulness of the toy

Recommendations

Toys for toddlers aged 12-24 months

At this age, your little one starts finding their feet and toddling around the house. Their curiosity is at a peak as they try and capitalize on their newfound mobility. Recommended toys for this age are those that help teach numbers and letters and keep them on the move.

Toys for toddlers aged 24-36 months

This is the age where your little one has slowly started building their vocabulary. They should have between 50-200 words memorized. This is the perfect age to encourage them to use their imagination using puzzles and activity games.

What Makes Tech Toys Better Than Traditional Toys?

Have you been following the debate on what’s better, tech versus traditional toys? Then you’ll know tech toys are winning by far as they’re simply outshining traditional toys.

It improves pronunciation

Children love mimicking sounds and actions. Most tech toys usually have audio and visual stimulation built in. As the toy keeps repeating the same letters or words, so will your little one. Before you know it, they would have mastered the sound.

It makes learning entertaining

Your child might not appreciate the idea of learning attached to playing yet without them knowing tech toys make learning entertaining. These toys are specifically designed with some education value attached to it.

It prepares kids for our digital world

There is no escaping the digital era we live in, so it’s best to embrace it. Tech toys expose your little one to technology with smart artificial intelligence built into most of the toys. Investing in tech toys for your kids will give them an advantage for the future.

We have compiled a list of the best tech toys on the market currently. It will assist in selecting the right one for your little one.

The 10 Best Tech Toys in 2019: Reviews

1. VTech Switch & Go Dino’s 2-in-1 Pack

Playtime should be nothing short of magical. Studies have found children learn more if the information is presented as playful. Making playtime enriching can be done with the Dino transformer toy by VTech. Here are some incredible features to look out for:

A two in one toy that transforms easily into a vehicle or dinosaur in seconds
Interactive push buttons that mimic the sounds dinosaurs make and provide interesting facts about dinosaurs
It’s educational and fun at the same time
The toy is powered by AAA batteries
The toy weighs less than 1.5 pounds so it’s easy to handle

Tech toys are the new craze for good reason. The educational value attached to tech toys is undisputed. We’re constantly learning and kids even more so as they’re still inexperienced and curious.

Meet Sliver the mighty T-rex and Horns the Triceratops. The switch and go dino set will have your kids completely mesmerized. They switch from car shape to dinosaur shape in seconds. It’s also programmed with 50 different dinosaur facts shared spontaneously. Without being forced to sit still and absorb all these facts, toddlers can continue to play with the dinos acting as if they’re right there in Jurassic Park.

You’ll believe it’s a real T-rex or triceratops in your living room, that’s how realistic they look. This toy will provide hours of enjoyment for your little one. Playtime will only be limited to your child’s vivid imagination.

Check out this video for more information

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uQYg5Pf9UY

Pros

Two-in-one value pack
Transformational toy
Mimic sounds

Cons

Bulky
Batteries deplete quickly

Get Price & More Info

2. Lascoota 2-in-1 Kick Scooter

How many times have you heard about the importance of improving the motor skills of your little one? Lascoota has designed an adaptable scooter that teaches your child to use their motor skills. Some other features are:

The scooter is fitted with wheels that light up
It has an adjustable seat for comfort and secure fit
The handlebar can be adjusted to accommodate different heights
The deck is wide enough for both feet to fit with a firm grip pad
Advanced technology is used in the form of a lean-to-steer function

Considering the affordable price of the toy, we think it’s good value for the money. Also, the scooter can grow with your toddler. The adjustable ride-along seat can be used when they are small. When your little one becomes older and more confident you can change it to scoot mode for them to enjoy.

Lean-To-Steer technology teaches your child to balance and use his or her coordination skills. The first ride on the scooter might seem daunting without the safety seat but they will soon gain confidence. You know what they say: ‘Practice makes perfect.’

This video will show you even more.

Pros

Lean-to-steer feature
Grows with your child
Safe and easy to use

Cons

The seat can become wobbly

Get Price & More Info

3. Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit

Technically, this kit is for kids 8 years and over, but it is worth mentioning as a great addition to the tech toys line up.

The wonderful world of electronics is explored in this Snap Circuit Kit. This educational toy set comes with over 30 electronic segments that allow your child to build more than 100 diverse electronic circuits. The following pieces are included in the exploration kit:

Snap wires
An alarm circuit
A music incorporated circuit
A plastic grid

What child wouldn’t be completely mesmerized to build a complete circuit board on their own? With the easy step by step instructions, it’s possible. The pieces are also numbered and color-coded for easy identification.

Replicating a circuit board such as those installed inside your television or any other electronic appliance will be a wonderful accomplishment for your child.

Snap Circuits brings the value of education combined with play together in this amazing kit. The kit also becomes timeless as each project is organized according to different age levels. After your kids have mastered the illustrated projects in the manual, they can experiment with their designs.

The only limitation on this toy will be your child’s imagination and you can learn more about it here.

Pros

Educational and fun
Electronics simplified
Capacity to create your unique circuit

Cons

No batteries included
Batteries can overheat
Most probably too advanced for toddlers

Get Price & More Info

4. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Teach n Tag Movi

Playtime is a joyful time with Think & Learn Teach n Tag Movi. This interactive toy gets your little one up and moving while honing their listening skills. Some more exciting features are:

The toy can move and bend in any direction
Robot Movi makes 60 different expressions
Buttons that illuminate during play
Enhancing critical skills by spewing instructions on activities to do
The toy is designed with a three-way play mode and six different games to select from, making playtime more engaging

Do you remember that fun game called ‘Simon says’? Whatever Simon said you had to do. Now it’s ‘Movi says’ … whatever this little robot says, your child must do.

Meet Movi, the expressive robot that will get your toddler moving and learning at the same time. Teach n Tag Movi has a smart way of engaging with children without them even knowing they are busy learning and developing.

We all know children love to dance, jump and generally move their bodies. Movi initiated a full-on dance party by showing all his cool dance moves to your kids.

Check out this video to see how you can utilize it for your child’s fun and development.

Pros

Promotes movement and listening skills
Compact and lightweight
Interactive toy

Cons

Can easily break

Get Price & More Info

5. Casdon – Dyson Ball Vacuum

How many times did you have to get your little one out from under your feet while cleaning around the house? It can be frustrating at times, right? Well, Casdon has come up with the perfect solution to keep both you and your little helper happy.

They invented the Dyson Ball Vacuum toy that is a realistic copy of the real Dyson vacuum. Some other outstanding features include:

Realistic suction that can suck up debris
Tiny colorful balls that whiz and swirl inside the vacuum
The waste drawer can be removed
Ability to twist and turn to imitate a real vacuum

Nothing fascinates your little one more than observing what you’re doing and copying that. Playing house now becomes more exciting with the Dyson ball vacuum.

The size of the vacuum is customized for toddlers; it’s lightweight and easy to handle. This toy significantly improves your child’s motor skills and encourages them to problem-solve.

Trying to control the little vacuum develops your child’s hand and eye coordination. This toy is recommended for ages 24 months to 5 years and this video will give you some inside information.

Check out this video for more information:

Pros

Improves motor skills
Realistic look-alike vacuum

Easy handling

Cons

Suction is problematic

Get Price & More Info

6. LeapFrog My Own Leaptop

LeapFrog has found a wonderful way for your little one to get ready for the digital age we’re living in now. The Leaptop is a colorful, fun version of a real laptop for children. It’s loaded with music, games and pretend Emails for extra authenticity. Some other interesting features included are:

It helps your child learn the alphabet
It shows 26 animated animals
It promotes early computer literacy
The games loaded are interesting and engaging

This make-believe laptop is not only user-friendly but also eco-friendly. It’s packaged with recyclable material and gets shipped in the original box. The personalized emails are unique and will have your little one feeling super important.

Or are you looking for a tablet for your toddler? Check out our posts on the Top 10 Tablets for Your Toddler or our Buyers Guide to Buying a Kids Tablet.

You can download songs and compile a favorite playlist. It also comes with six different educational activities that will have your child glued to the screen. The joy of learning how to spell their names and see it on the screen will be an unforgettable highlight.

Check out this video for more information:

Pros

Improves speech
Interactive screen
Allows customization

Cons

Girls’ version more expensive than boys version
Faulty keypad

Get Price & More Info

7. Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

The only problem we foresee with this toy is that you would want to play with it more than your kids. And we wouldn’t even blame you either. The Anki Overdrive is a pioneering toy. You get the best of tech married with the best of play. Let’s see what else is included in the starter kit before we tell you more:

Two cybernetic supercars
Six coiled tracks
Four vertical tracks
Two risers
One charger
One tire cleaner

The Anki Overdrive kit is truly state-of-the-art. It’s a racing track that enables you to control two supercars via your smartphone or any Android device. The cars are stacked with trail blazing features such as visual sensors and a 50 MHz CPU.

The track is made from magnetic material and is easy to assemble. It has the flexibility to construct eight different combat tracks making each new battle completely unique. Say goodbye to boredom because Anki Overdrive will keep the entire family tickled.

Your child will learn important motor skills and discover how to be strategic. It teaches them critical thinking skills and makes them tech-savvy. This futuristic game has the power to keep your kids continually entertained.

This video will show you more:

Pros

Unrivaled tech game
Constant new games
Suited for the whole family

Cons

The charger can be faulty
Software apps problematic

Get Price & More Info

8. Boogie Board Scribble and Play Tablet

Do you remember that blackboard and chalk set that was the envy of everyone? A replica of the blackboard your teacher use to write on, remember? Well, this Boogie Board Scribble is a chip off the old blackboard but completely upgraded.

The Boogie Board Scribble tablet is an electronic notepad your little one can write on and rub out in a minute. Some other interesting features include:

It has color-burst display features
Easy to handle grip case
It’s made from resilient materials that are easy to carry
The battery is made from disposable coin-cell and will function for five years
It has four different tools to write with

This colorful display of artistry is one of a kind. Your child will no longer be limited to a boring blackboard with chalk. They can now create colorful artwork that you can scan and upload on the Scribble ‘n Play App.

It has the feel of a pen on paper but is more creative. Traditional paper and crayons are cool but need to be replenished several times. You never have to worry about topping up with this toy. The battery will last for seven years before you have to replace it. Think of all the savings of not buying coloring books and crayons.

The toy is also easy to carry and comes in handy during short or long trips. It will keep your little one occupied and develop his or her writing & drawing skills.

Check out this video to learn more:

Pros

Develops writing and drawing skills
Affordable
Easy to carry

Cons

The eraser can be tricky

Get Price & More Info

9. Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler

It’s as close to driving the real thing they will ever get at this age. The Power Wheels Jeep is built for adventure and exploration. It’s fitted with all the safety features that will give the most paranoid parent complete peace of mind. Some other impressive features include:

Automatic brakes kick in when your little one takes her feet off the pedal
The toy is tested to the highest safety standards
It can drive over rough terrain
It has a useful storage compartment for all their must-have paraphernalia

This Jeep Wrangler is such a realistic look-alike of the actual Jeep; it has incredible detail. It has been fitted with the famous Jeep grill in front and the recognized rear and front fenders. Your little one will start to believe it’s the real version simply miniaturized for them.

It has two-speed levels at 2.5 and 5 mph going forward, the ability to reverse and safety lock brakes. This is the ideal toy to refine their motor skills as well as the ability to think on their feet. It’s both educational and exhilarating. What more could any kid ask for?

Check out this video for more information:

Pros

Extra storage compartment
Superior quality
Durable

Cons

Pricey
The battery doesn’t last long

Get Price & More Info

10. Best Choice Kids Battery Powered Remote Control Electric Car

Do you remember the first time you heard the engine of a sports car roaring? That display of sheer power was invigorating, right? Now you can recreate that same sense of awe with this miniature version of a sports car for your child.

It comes tailored with real-life engine sounds and changing speeds. Other features include:

Remote control for parents to safely assist with navigation
Speed levels can be adjusted from high to low
LED lights that brighten
A music player that is compatible with an AUX cable or programmed playlist

The world of fantasy can be explored with this impressive tech toy. Your little one will spend hours in it, safely driving around the house. It has enough room for only one rider at a time. It’s made from durable plastic and is easy to assemble.

The maximum speed it can drive is 2mph. This toy, as so many of the other tech toys we listed, is unisex. It’s recommended for children from 3-7 years old.

This video will teach you more:

Pros

Easy controls
Amazing rev sounds
Smart safety features (safety belt and parent remote control)

Cons

Not spacious
Battery inferior

Get Price & More Info

Final Thoughts

When it’s all said and done, it all comes down to getting the most value for your money, right? Tech toys have proven their multi-faceted prowess against traditional toys that are one dimensional and outdated.

The only question worth asking is, which one of these fantastic tech toys tickled your fancy? Have your pick and let us know how it has enriched your little one’s life. Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Happy Playing,

Erica

12 Incredible Benefits Of Musical Instruments For Toddlers

August 25, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Toddlers can get a lot of joy from a wide number of toys, but we may not always see this as the best age for them to be playing instruments. However, getting them started with music early can help them in a number of ways, including those that don’t directly relate to music or playing music.

The act of playing with an instrument can teach toddlers patience, teamwork and much more. To help you with guiding your child in the best ways possible, we’re taking a look at just how musical instruments can benefit toddlers.

Read on and learn why your toddler should be playing with musical instruments!

Benefits of Musical Instruments for Toddlers

Music and musical instruments may have more of an impact on toddlers than you might think. There are a number of skills that playing with instruments can help them to build, which can greatly affect them later in life. Below, we’ll take a look at 12 important ways in which musical instruments can be beneficial to your toddler. Continue on, and enjoy!

1. Social Skills

When pleasant songs are taking place around babies or toddlers and their caretakers, they start to make connections between the pleasant song and the person taking care of them. As a result, they begin to understand that being around that person means good things, and good sounds in particular.

As they grow a little older and start playing with other toddlers, music can work in much the same way to help them with having fun, cooperative playtimes. It’s a great way to foster healthy, happy connections for your child, allowing them to be comfortable around others more easily over time.

2. Patience

Many of us are well aware that toddlers don’t tend to have a whole lot of patience. However, with some gentle guidance and a durable instrument, they can learn how to develop that skill. Creating music takes time and a whole lot of learning, and it shows them that sometimes you need a lot of patience in order to develop a worthwhile skill.

Naturally, this is something that caretakers will also need to promote, otherwise young children may not see the benefit and choose to give up. Instead, teach them that just a little work every day can become something wonderful.

3. Developing Senses

The senses of toddlers are growing rapidly, so it never hurts to add one more thing to the list of items for them to explore. Being able to touch an instrument, hear music being played, and see themselves touching the strings or buttons required to make music can be a hugely important learning experience.

Furthermore, introducing them to the different musical genres can help with their brain function as it grows. New pathways in their mind are opened and become more solidified, which is going to help them with processing information in the long run.

4. Cognitive Abilities

In addition to growing senses, toddlers have rapidly increasing cognitive abilities that need to be guided. Music can be a fantastic helper in this, as it’s able to help produce greater efficiency over time when it comes to learning and understanding new information. It also allows for greater positive brain activity.

This kind of growth is going to help with things like logical thinking and critical thinking. Additionally, they’ll have an easier time with learning and problem solving as they grow and are introduced to more and more situations that require it. Overall, it will help them in all of their cognitive endeavours.

5. Emotional Growth

Many of us rely on music when we need something to calm us down. The same process works for toddlers, helping them to relax when they might otherwise be frustrated, upset or just over-excited. It’s also a great way to help them with processing their own feelings in a healthy way.

Additionally, playing with toy instruments can give them a confidence boost. It’s also fantastic for relieving energy that has built up, allowing them to get the energy out without becoming a household terror. Music and instruments are also vital to self-expression in a number of ways.

6. Creativity

When babies become toddlers, they really begin exploring the world around them in a truly meaningful way. Naturally, they are a very curious lot, seeking to learn more and understand about nearly everything they come across. This also applies to things like musical notes and instruments.

Toddlers are likely to get very creative, using instruments in ways they aren’t intended, or toys not meant for music with the instruments. This is just their way of figuring out how to handle objects in the world around them. They may also attempt to create their own music or songs.

7. Learning Rhythm

Learning about music and instruments also includes learning about rhythm. All music has rhythm, and with some practice, toddlers can start to figure out what that rhythm is. In time, that will allow them to do things like clap or dance to the rhythm without too much trouble. That added dancing is also helpful for their coordination.

Once they’ve mastered understanding rhythm, they can start exploring the concept of creating their own rhythms. This is a great way for them to engage their imagination and develop songs that sound good to them. It’s definitely something worth allowing them to explore and enjoy!

Musical toys for kids — Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash

8. Listening Skills

Engaging with music and instruments also means that toddlers will have to learn how to listen well. This might mean listening for different melodies or instruments in a song, or listening to the speed. It may also mean they have to listen as they are given instructions on playing the instrument.

As a result, they begin practicing things like active listening, concentration and focus early. These things can all help them with learning more effectively as they grow older. Furthermore, it’s a great way to help with guiding them through good behaviours and how to behave in a classroom-like space.

9. Memory

There’s a good reason why so many children’s songs are geared towards learning. Using music can help young brains with discovering how to process and recall information more quickly and easily. As a result, they’ll have an easier time with learning things going forward.

Playing an instrument is a fantastic way to help the brain with getting some exercise, allowing it to work on handling information and remembering it. Overall, that memory will be useful in many ways, from standard every day needs to remembering what they are taught in a classroom. You really can’t go wrong when you introduce instruments at a young age.

10. Language

Music comes with a number of different phrases and terms. As children learn about playing instruments, they also end up hearing these terms. Naturally, toddlers aren’t going to know many of those terms already. This makes for a great opportunity to teach them.

On top of that, the music they listen to can also assist in growing their vocabulary. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a lot of variety available in the music they listen to. As they hear the songs, they will pick up words and ideas from them, giving them a greater pool of language to work with.

11. Motor Skills

As you might expect, playing an instrument, even in play, can help with fine motor skills. Children learn how to pick up and handle instruments carefully. On top of that, they learn how to press specific buttons or pull strings in order to make the instrument work in the correct way.

As they practice these behaviours, they’ll gain greater control over their body movements. This will allow them to function well as they grow into children and adults, and it can also help them with having a greater understanding of instruments if they aim to continue the habit.

12. Self Expression

As your child listens to more music and experiences different instruments, they’ll start to grow their preferences. This is a really important step as it shows them slowly growing into their own person with their own likes and dislikes. You’ll also get to learn exactly what music and instruments sound good to them.

You may even find that they decide they want to continue a certain instrument as they grow older. There are few skills quite like being able to make your own music. It’s certainly one that should be fostered and appreciated, as it’s sure to bring good things for your child.

Summary

There are so many ways in which instruments and music can help a child to grow in healthy ways. It’s not only a solid way to have fun with them, but it also helps to teach them important skills like logic, rhythm and creativity.

In time, they’ll be able to use those skills to grow into competent, happy adults. Additionally, they may end up with some musical values that get passed onto their own children. Overall, fostering a love of music and instruments is really a choice that can only turn out well.

I’d love to know what your favouite musical instruments are your for kids? What’s the most popular in your home? Leave me a comment below and ill get back to you as soon as possible.

Happy Play!

Erica

Check out my other popular articles on the benefits of play for your child: Benefits of Water Play for Your Child

7 Excellent Benefits of Water Play for Kids: Why You Want Your Kid to Get Wet More Often Than Not

August 13, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Whether it’s in the pool or the bathtub, playing in water can be an incredibly useful experience for children. Through interacting with it, they can learn and grow in numerous ways on their own. When sharing those interactions with others, they can discover how to create games with friends.

Take a look, and learn about all the ways in which water play can help your child to learn and grow!

Benefits of Water Play for Kids — Image by CarolinaP from Pixabay

What Benefits Can Your Child Get from Water Play?

Although playing in the water may seem to be a simple thing for us, it can actually help a child in some crucial ways. As they learn how to navigate the world around them, water can be a great ally for building strength, learning to communicate and bonding with others. Below, you’ll find several ways in which water play is helpful for children.

1. Water Helps Develop Their Growing Brain

Water provides children with an entirely new experience to explore. Not only do they get to experience water itself, but also how different toys and tools work in the water. They get to test and play with a form of matter that we don’t typically work with.

Furthermore, the introduction of water can get them on an entirely new language track. As they play with the water, they’ll learn new words that apply to the way they’re playing. As they fill up cups and other toys, they’ll also start getting the very basics of measurement understanding.

2. It’s Great for Imagination Building

For young children, the concept of playing in water adds a whole new dimension to their playtime. They get to explore a new world, using new tools or simply experiencing the way tools they are used to work differently in water.

You can help to allow for this imagination growth by adding special features to the playtime. This might include cycling out toys and cycling in new ones, adding bubbles to the water or through the use of food colouring to allow for different water colours. Whatever you do, your child is sure to love it.

3. Water Helps With Building Motor Skills

Playing in water is a great way to help your child with building up their motor skills. While playing, they have opportunities to engage their gross motor skills as well as fine motor skills with different tasks. On top of that, they can feel textures they may not be familiar with, like slickness or sliminess.

As they play, they’ll be able to do things like stir or pour water, which is great for hand-eye coordination as well as their finer motor skills. Additionally, they’ll be able to provide their arm muscles some good exercise, which will be useful as they grow.

4. Assists With Growing Physical Strength and Coordination

Most of us recognize that when we’re in water, moving in certain ways can become harder. Things like walking become slower because there is more resistance. However, we are also lighter and more free to move without the risk of falling. This combination makes the water a great place for babies to become stronger.

Furthermore, learning things like kicking and swimming to help with building strength in their legs and core. Getting kids into the water is a great way to allow them to build their strength, become more coordinated and learn skills that will help them for life.

5. Water Stimulates an Interest in Science

As young children begin to understand the concept of water, it opens up numerous possibilities for teaching them about things like water conservation, how important water is for our health, or even marine life and environments. Through the simple act of water play, you can open up doorways into brand new types of learning.

Remember that while things like knowing that the world is made up of vast amounts of water may seem mundane to you, it may be incredibly interesting to a small child. Make sure to use playtime as a time for some great learning as well!

6. It’s a Great Social Bonding Activity

When children play in water together, there is a strong opportunity for them to develop social skills. This is particularly true with regard to the skills that children need at playtime, like teamwork, learning to share and figuring out how to create a game together.

As a result, it’s a good way to help children with learning how to play together, whether they’re just working towards the same goal or engaging their creativity to create a new game with their own rules. This is a fantastic way to help them with learning how to develop lasting friendships with one another.

7. Swimming Build Survival Skills

On a more serious note, things like swimming, floating and treading water are great skills for your child to develop. This is not only for the sake of exercising and having fun, but they are also necessary skills to have when it comes to survival.

If they are involved in a water-related accident, it’s going to help them to know how to behave in a given situation. That includes knowing when to swim, when to take breaks and eventually how to react in different kinds of water scenarios. A little extra knowledge never hurts, especially if you have a family that spends a lot of time on the water.

Conclusion

It’s easy to help your child with learning to play in the water. Most of us start with baths, as we need to get clean anyway. Baths make for great practice with keeping good habits and learning to play in the water. Aside from that, a small kiddie pool is another great way to enjoy the water.

Just make sure to take the proper safety precautions as well. Any toys used should be large enough that they can’t be swallowed, dyes should be non-toxic and you may want to be careful with soap, as small children stand a good chance of ingesting at least a little bit of it. Aside from that, play on!

I’d love to hear the ways you and your kids engage in water play – leave me a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Erica

Dragon Touch Y80 Kids Tablet Review

August 9, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Although many parents may prefer it if their children played outside, you can’t deny that we live in an age ruled by technology. As a result, children are going to want access to technology and they’ll grow up in a world where they’re constantly influenced by it.

On top of this, technology is remarkable because it can help children learn but it can also be dangerous. So how do you give your children access to it and still prevent them from finding unsavoury content? The answer is simple. Find the appropriate tech that’s built for kids.

With the Dragon Touch Y80 Kids Tablet, children have access to apps and content that can educate them and keep them entertained for hours. You don’t need to put any unnecessary parental controls in place that can be time-consuming and aren’t always effective. All of these are included on the tablet.

Your kid will feel like one of the grownups while still being safe. This tablet is fun and easy to use, so it’s no wonder why it’s one of the most popular models on Amazon. Do you want to learn more about it?

Dragon Touch Y80 Kids Tablet

Keeping children away from technology in today’s day and age is impossible. Even schools are incorporating tablets and laptops into their curriculums. That’s why it’s so important to find the right tech for your kids.

If your child has access to technology early on it will become part of their developmental skills and they won’t be left behind in comparison to their peers. The Dragon Touch Y80 is perfect when it comes to this because it offers a variety of apps that can help your kid learn and grow. With this device, your child can learn to navigate technology while their safety is guaranteed.

It’s built with an Android 8.1 Operating System which means it’s equipped with the latest technology. The Quad-Core 1.5GHz Processor ensures that it’s always running optimally. Although the signal speed isn’t as fast as more expensive models and it occasionally loses signal, it has preinstalled apps that can be used without Wi-Fi so your child is always having fun.

On top of this, the durable silicone case means that your toddler can drop it without fear of it breaking. The cases are available in a variety of funky colours to suit any child’s personality. Furthermore, the eight-inch screen size makes it ideal for long car rides and its light-weight lets you take it wherever you go.

Who is This Product For?

Does your child love Disney? Then this is the tablet for them. Each tablet is preinstalled with a variety of exciting Disney books and apps. For hours, your child can enjoy stories and games that include their favourite characters from Winnie the Pooh to Frozen.

This tablet is also ideal if you want your child to be safe. The parental control feature lets you define what content your child has access to. Because the tablet is easy to use and the buttons are large, it’s even a great gift for toddlers.

With Wi-Fi access and top-quality apps, it comes with all the perks of more expensive tablet models while still being affordable. Any parent who wants their child to have access to technology can benefit from getting their child this tablet. It’s sturdy and quirky, so children of any age will enjoy it even if they aren’t the biggest Disney fan.

It’s so much fun that even adults will love using it with their kids, even though it’s aimed at children. At the end of the day, it’s built for kids by people who love kids, so you can be assured that your child will be protected.

What’s Included?

Each Dragon Touch Y80 box includes the tablet as well as a durable silicone case in either bright pink, blue or yellow. You can choose whichever colour your child will love the most. It has a long-lasting battery, but once the battery runs out, there’s a charger so you can keep reusing it.

Although the tablet is easy to use, the box includes two user manuals to help you get started. Once the memory card is full of your tot’s pictures and videos, the box even includes a USB cable so you can store the precious memories on your laptop forever. It also gives you more control over your child’s downloadable content.

Overview of Features

What makes the Dragon Touch Y80 stand out in comparison to similarly priced kids’ tablets, is its free preinstalled Disney content. It includes 18 all-new Disney storybooks as well as six audiobooks that feature stories from popular Disney movies such as Finding Nemo, Cinderella and Toy Story. There’s even fun Disney-related apps and games to appease even the most avid Disney fan.

To ensure your little one stays safe, the tablet includes the Kidoz app and parent control so that you can select from a variety of child-approved content. Download from thousands of apps that are appropriate for your child.

You can even install YouTube Kids, Netflix and other popular apps. Parents can keep an eye on what content their kids are accessing to ensure that the internet remains a safe place. Whether the content is entertaining or educational, you can even manage how long your child spends on each app. This way, they can balance the time they spend on their tablet and playing outside.

The display graphics are perhaps not as crisp as they could be, as the 8-inch screen only has a 1280 x 800 IPS Display. Despite this, the bright colours will still be pleasing for your child and the pictures are highly detailed.

It has a dual camera so your kid can have fun taking photographs of their surroundings and they can store these pictures because of the ample 16GB memory. If that’s not enough space, it even has an expandable memory option and can support up to 128GB.

Although it supports Wi-Fi connectivity, it does have issues with losing connection. This can be frustrating when it comes to downloads or playing online games, but the preloaded content can be accessed without an internet connection. As long as you download videos in advance, your kids can still watch them during long road trips without the need for Wi-Fi.

The childproof case is made of high-quality soft silicone which makes it easy to hold and protects the tablet from damage. It’s back clip is height adjustable so when you place it on the table it’s suited to your child’s height. This way, your kid can sit back and relax while watching movies and their arms won’t get tired.

If you’re concerned with its quality, it even comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty. This tablet is of a high standard that will easily become one of your child’s most favourite belongings.

How to Use It

The Dragon Touch Y80 is one of the easiest kids’ tablets to use. All you need to do is hold in the power button until it boots up and then your kid will be able to have hours of fun. On top of this, the interface is easy to navigate so even your youngest child will be able to flip through apps without too much help.

As mentioned before, the buttons are large so that small fingers can select apps or switch on the tablet with ease. It’s so simple that your kid will become a tech pro in no time.

Pros

Easy to use
Decent battery life
Has parental controls
Lightweight
Comes with a protective silicone case
Includes preloaded Kidoz Kids Apps and free Disney content

Cons

Tends to lose Wi-Fi signal
Kidoz app occasionally crashes
Is a bit slow

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Alternative

Tagital T10K Kids Tablet

If you’re looking for a tablet with a larger screen, the Tagital T10K Kids Tablet has a 10-inch screen that makes visibility easier. Additionally, the image is also crisper so your kids can enjoy pristine visual quality. At the same time, it’s also similar in price to the Dragon Touch Y80.

Unlike the Dragon Touch Y80, it doesn’t include any preloaded Disney content and it isn’t as durable. It also has a slower processing speed. But, with the Tagital T10K, you’re less likely to experience internet drops and it also includes Bluetooth.