3 Best Ways to Improve the Baby to Toddler Transition
As your baby grows, they will start to explore their environment, and you can encourage this development by allowing them to use their motor skills in line with their age.
Here are five ideas for building items for your baby’s transition to toddler that will encourage their growth and development.
1. A Climbing Frame
A small climbing frame is excellent for children once they begin to use their motor skills and explore navigating objects. You may wish to start your child on a Pikler Frame from around 6 months – this encourages them to practise pulling themselves upright.
Eventually from the age of 3, children will be more inclined to explore larger climbing frames, with outdoor play areas being the perfect place for them to explore. Climbing frames that are low to the ground, with easy access for parental support and supervision are ideal for this.
If you don’t have a play area near to you, why not build your own in your garden? Companies like Accu supply high quality fixtures and fittings for you to create your own unique climbing frame that is unique to your child’s needs.
Their wide range of tools and fasteners will allow you to build a sturdy climbing frame that will last for years to come.
2. Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are an excellent tool for encouraging creativity and development in the transition from baby to toddler. For younger children, it would be wise to create your sensory bin from widely edible materials, as they will commonly place things in their mouth to explore texture and taste.
For this reason, using water, jelly, edible slime, yoghurt, cornstarch paint and ketchup can be a good introduction to messy play. Later on in development, you can add textured foods like oats, beans, pasta and rice. Sensory bins should always be supervised, but they can be a fun and stimulating activity for children who are developing taste and texture awareness.
You can even introduce tools like utensils, cookie cutters (blunt plastic versions) and scoops from retailers like Amazon to encourage the development of gripping, scooping and stabbing movements alongside weaning at mealtimes.
3. Fabric Pull
Perfect for advancing the pincer grip, tissue pulls encourage babies and toddlers to master pulling tissues or fabrics from a ball or box. Simply attach one end to the inside of your box or ball, and allow the ends to poke through the end, allowing your child to pull them free.
Craft shops like Hobbycraft stock fat squares in bundles, allowing for a stimulating experience for your child as they explore their favourite colours and textures.
Do you have any ideas for creations that will encourage the development in the transition between baby and toddler?
