Bath time can be very stressful for parents, but with the proper bath toy, your baby can be happy even while bathing. Is your baby a 9-month-old? The baby bath toys discussed should be one of the essentials in your home. Although it has become hard for many to lay their hands on the very best baby bath toy for their kids, as you may know, you need a safe and cleanable toy for your kids. In this article, we will discuss in detail how you can get the best bath toy for your 9-month-old baby.
What Is Pretend Play?
Pretend play comes in many names, which include: creative play, imaginative play, fantasy play, or make‐believe play. In this play, the child uses their imagination in a role-play scenario they've seen, experienced or would love to experience. So, it's more of an open-ended, unstructured play with no rules that use educational toys in a learning mode through which the baby can learn a lot by participating.
This play would include examples such as; playing superheroes, playing 'mum and daddy,' playing dress‐ups, playing tea parties, playing with dolls, playing trucks in the sandpit, just to name a few. Typically, normally developing children should begin anytime from 11 months to 18 months, but each child has their own pace to do things.
It also starts to morph into other forms of play in older babies in the 10-12 years age group. It becomes most noticeable when children turn 4 years old because, at 4, children can enjoy playing out a scene over several days. There is no limit to this form of play, as long as the child uses their imagination, favorite toys, and sometimes props to act out that scenario.
What Psychological Theories Does Learning Through Play Have?
A) What is Vygotsky's Theory?
According to Vygotsky's theory, social interaction is central to learning. And as Vygotsky proposed, imaginative play is a leading factor in the development of a child. Broadly speaking, this is a unique and extensively influential zone in the proximal development of a child's range of developmental milestones.
Depending on what kind of interactive toy you get your baby, the best toys for 9-month-old babies help them experiment with all the different challenging skills. This then helps them acquire culturally valued competencies. In theory, Vygotsky emphasizes the concept of instructional scaffolding, which allows the learned people to build connections based on their social interactions.
B) What Is Piaget's Theory On Play?
According to Piaget's theory, learning through play might appear as a simple notion, but it carries such profound meaning to a child's life. In his theory, play is integral in developing a child's intelligence. In the play theory, he argues that as the child matures, their environment and play should encourage movement, further their cognitive skills and language.
What Are the Benefits of Imaginative Play?
Kids these days can get surprisingly busy. With school and homework, plenty who also play sports, or in clubs, tutoring, music or language lessons. But imaginative play allows the child just to take a break, let go, and just be a kid.
The benefits of this play don't just stop there. Experts firmly believe that this kind of play does a lot for the child's development. It helps improve their social, language, and motor skills, boosting their problem-solving abilities and creativity. And most importantly, you also keep them active in a way that makes them happy.
a) Social Skills Development
Social skills can be a little challenging to grasp. However, kids have a natural way of relating and connecting as they play. Through interaction with other kids, they learn to take turns, share, and even work together. As the child engages in imaginary play, they begin to understand basic concepts such as relationships.
In this play, babies can explore social boundaries, which helps improve their social skills as they become more connected, self-reliant, and confident. As a result, they can build much better relationships with their peers.
b) Emotional Development
This kind of play helps foster emotional competence and empathy. During make-believe play, the child will encounter situations that need them to practice caring for others and showing empathy.
For instance, as they play doctor, they learn to be gentle, kind, and the need to help others. As your child understands their feelings and emotions, they also learn how to interact.
c) Language Skills Development
Research further confirms that this play in early childhood helps in language development. In this type of play, it's all about communication. Generally, babies love to describe and narrate all that's happening, so this kind of conversation play and play songs helps the baby learn vocabulary and language skills. In addition, using a highly supportive, high-quality play learning toy and environment can help boost the child's language development.
d) Independence
This play gives your child a chance to create stories, explore new ideas, and even make their own rules. As the baby starts to connect with everything around them, they incorporate what they see and have learned into their play. The opportunity to explore on their terms encourages the freedom to take risks, which are essential in their sense of independence and becoming critical thinkers.
e) Creativity
Engaging in creativity is a form of stress-relieving activity that is instrumental to your baby's well-being. Fantasy plays allow the child to stimulate their creativity and imagination. With great imagination, the child can be anything or anyone they'd want. As a result, they're happier and even more likely to become healthy and confident adults in the long run.
f) Problem-solving Skills
Excellent problem-solving skills will require creativity. Babies love figuring things out independently, and they'll need time and space. But, through this type of play, they also develop their unique solving skills.
For instance, negotiating who plays what role or even re-enacting the real-life situations. Role-play activities for older babies help the child practice their problem-solving skills. It's also essential that you engage in fantasy plays with your child for both the fun and to bond with them.
However, also make sure that you give them the space to solve the problems in their way. This kind of space supports cognitive skills development and builds on their creative solving skills.
What Are Some Imaginative Play Ideas You Can Try With Your Kid?
- Play cooking imaginary meals- Children enjoy acting out the ordinary things they see their parents do. So you can help your little one explore the world of a chef by buying toys in the form of cooking equipment and 'ingredients.' Alternatively, you can also get a drawn-out hob for them to get creative with. It's important that you also create time to let them prepare and serve you a 'meal.' Here's where you're going to pretend that that mud pie is literally your most favorite meal.
- Play picnic and throw tea parties- You can also set up an indoor/outdoor picnic using your picnic rug, your baby's favorite toys and a few 'kitchen' props. Remember, your pinky's up at all times, and also never forget to ask whether little Teddy would like some more tea or cake. Etiquette does matter.
- Play superheroes- You and your little one can don a cape, choose your favorite action figure and then embark on the most incredible fight of all time between good and evil to try and save the world. What's even more fun is if you play the villain and let your little one defeat you. Also, you'll need to perfect your "Oh, I'm meeelllltiiing!" speech.
- Turn that box into anything- One of the benefits of this kind of play is that you don't really need any special props to play it. For instance, an ordinary large cardboard box can be converted into a house, a car or even an airplane. Just flatten it out, and there you have it- a desert island. You can start by giving your little ones a few boxes and watch to see what they do. This will help you observe and determine their interests. Then, you can jump in once they've settled on what game they want to play.
- Act out a play- This is an ideal improv activity for educational purposes. Use whatever props and fun songs you have in hand, either; puppets, action figures, hairbrushes, dolls, or boxes. You can act out a play with your toddler but let them dictate how the plot goes as you move.
- Build a city - With toys like Lego and building blocks, you can help your little one build an entire metropolitan area, and then you can run that whole town together.
- Cleaning in the house- Might not entirely be a game but, have you ever turned around while doing your household chores, only to find your little one copying you? Adults might not, but often kids are strangely fascinated by house chores. So, the next time you're planning to vacuum or mop the floor, give the child a cleaning prop so that they can follow you around like a little helper and take part.
- Exploration-With a simple magnifying glass, you and your child can go on an expedition around your home. Could that sweet wrapper be the secret key to that lost temple?
What Are The Stages of Pretend Play?
Every child is different; however, most develop along with this pattern:
- 14– 18 months- At this age, you'll notice that the play is based on everyday activities that they are familiar with
- 19– 22 months -At this stage, it is mainly based on familiar everyday activities. A good example would be when you see the child using a spoon to feed a stuffed bear
- 2– 3 years - In this stage, more emotions are included, with more verbal planning and sequencing of some actions within the same theme. You'll see multiple steps included in that play. For instance, the doll is fed using a spoon; the napkin is then used to wipe the doll's mouth and then she's given a cup of water to drink
- 3.5– 4 years- This kind of play is based on events that the child has seen or heard about but not necessarily experienced personally. You will notice the inflections in their different sounds to signify when the doll is talking. There's also more use of language. This play usually includes short-sequence activities that are time-related. You'll now see non-symbolic items become toys at this age. For instance, random blocks becoming cars and sticks becoming wands
- 5– 6 years -In this stage, you'll see the child integrate and play multiple roles, i.e., mother, father, or teacher. This is a higher level that includes multiple tones, different sounds, gestures to communicate and use of inference
And does it ever stop? Probably not. As they progress through the elementary school stage, most kids will substitute what we'd traditionally categorize in this kind of play with dolls and action figures with video games, books, sports or art. However, some kids and, if we're being honest, adults still have a desire to engage with these imaginary themes through art, creative writing, theater, etc., throughout their life.
How To Select The Best Bath Toys For 9-Month-Old Babies and Toddlers?
Getting the best toys for 9-month-old babies and toddlers is easy if you consider the following criteria before buying. They include:
A) Safety
The safety of the toy you are buying is very important. Most safe toys are safe to use if you strictly follow the manufacturer's guidelines. It is best to search for ones that don't retain water. Get a solid toy that is either made with open one-piece construction or those that are sealed off completely.
B) Educational Value
If you are getting a bath toy for your baby, getting ones with educational value is very important. Baby start learning from an early age, so giving them toys that aid learning is very important.
C) Sensory experience
It is important to consider the use of toys that will benefit your baby. Healthy development is aided by the use of toys that encourage sensory play. You can get a bath toy with different textures, colors, and sounds, these are some of the things to look out for when getting toys with sensory experience.
D) Versatility
Can it be played with in just a single way? If yes, it is not the best for your kids. Look for toys that can be played with in multiple ways. Development and entertainment are guaranteed when you get a versatile bath toy.
What are the best toys for 9 month old?
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