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Home › Articles › Play Time › Stimulating vs. Soothing Toys

Stimulating vs. Soothing Toys

Creating a Healthy Early Learning Experience Through Play

By Kathy Pyrce

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Stimulating vs. Soothing Toys-Creating a Healthy Early Learning Experience Through Play

Most expectant and new parents today are very concerned with providing the right environment for their infants and toddlers. We see evidence of this growing concern in the recent popularity of creating an "infant gift registry" to ensure just the right items are purchased by thoughtful gift-givers.

Beyond the furnishings and safety products, strollers and car seats that are a must-have in the world of babies, there are environments that are equally important for the healthy growth of infants. Key among these is the learning and development environment. For a baby, this is all about discovery and play – different types of play – fostered by different toys that can help create the most happy, healthful and rewarding learning environments.

Recent research has demonstrated that during an infant's "curiosity" months (from birth through 1 year) there are two distinct developmental learning environments that need to be nurtured. One is "soothing," and the other is "stimulating."

The Soothing Environment
Parents cite time and time again the importance of having toys and objects that help calm an over-stimulated or over-tired infant. They are looking for items that help create a quiet place that feels both comforting and relaxing. Appropriate playthings in this environment help create the safe, caring and loving world a baby so desperately needs for healthy development. The "soothing" environment fosters all-important parent-child bonding while gently encouraging early developmental milestones such as baby's ability to self-comfort using a "lovie" or favorite toy.

The types of toys included in this "soothing" environment include musical or lullaby toys, plush animals or first baby dolls. These have been classic shower and newborn gifts for half a century. Items such as Eden's Waggie Lamb have been bestsellers in the classic infant line because they offer the best of plush combined with soothing motion and music in a lovable, soft toy. Baby can enjoy the soft touch, the gentle music and the warmth of this type of "lovie" from his or her earliest days.


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