116
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Should you play games with a toddler that they're very good at and always win?
If the child really enjoys the game, what you need to do is not making him stop playing it. Teaching kids that they're not supposed to win at things, or play things they are good at, is just as bad as ...
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87
votes
Accepted
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
At 15 months old, a rubik's cube would not be appropriate.
First, it's kind of a complex puzzle. Most adults can't solve it. A 15 month old is going to see it as a brightly colored cube and nothing ...
- 13.3k
53
votes
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
I would not recommend this as a toy, but for a different reason.
As a brightly colored geometric shape a Rubik's cube would probably be appealing to small children, and at that age they will likely ...
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42
votes
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Overcoming Lego Addiction
I'd like to challenge the framing here: is this actually an addiction, or is it just a normal child's passion/fascination?
It seems to me there are a few issues that could be the concern here:
The ...
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36
votes
Is it okay for a child to focus on one toy type?
To expand your daughter's range of toys, build on the toy she likes.
(Aren't you lucky that it is imagination-based -- and not TV or computer. Do note that if you remove one thing, it will be ...
- 17.5k
28
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Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
There are huge soft 2x2 rubik's cubes for toddlers.
Like this one: Jumbo 12157 - Rubik's Baby - My first Cube, Kleinkindspielzeug
They are soft and not easily breakable.
There is a youtuber called "...
- 1,388
25
votes
Overcoming Lego Addiction
It seems like you have a couple of different problems here.
Too many Legos in the house
Room is a mess
Not playing outside
To answer (1), a common strategy is to either re-sell or donate complete ...
- 61.8k
23
votes
Accepted
Do girls and boys need different toys?
Let the child decide. Offer both and see what they like.
- 1,622
22
votes
Overcoming Lego Addiction
I have two boys who loved Lego - still have a LARGE box of Lego and several still completed models that work.
The boys are now over 20 and completed engineering apprenticeships - both precision ...
- 2,459
20
votes
Accepted
Toy safety 3 years old - what are the reasons?
In the USA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets these limits. In Which Toy for Which Child Ages Birth Through Five (only a PDF for download), the reasoning is explained.
In short, the ...
20
votes
Is there any reason for my seven year old son not to play with toys appropriate for younger children?
Cuddly soft toys are most certainly age appropriate, and in fact most of the Pokémon plush toys are at least age 4+ if not higher. They're great for creative play, and are especially useful if there'...
- 61.8k
18
votes
Should you play games with a toddler that they're very good at and always win?
I would suggest teaching the child the concept of handicapping. An approach I've found helpful with some other games is to say that every time someone wins, they have to start with one more card [or ...
- 281
15
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Why am I hurt by my toddler saying she wanted to throw all her toys in the garbage?
Children say hurtful things. Sometimes they know they are doing it and sometimes they don't. Since they are so young and have limited vocabulary and ways to express themselves, they often grasp onto ...
- 13.4k
14
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Should you play games with a toddler that they're very good at and always win?
I have also noticed that young children are remarkably good at Memory games, although 95% of wins against adults is very impressive.
A small trick (beside concentration) can improve your results ...
- 360
13
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How to get toddler's mind off of a single topic (vehicles)
Welcome to having a toddler. Every toddler I've ever known has done this to some degree. For some it was vehicles, others was baby dolls, etc. And after a while, they all move to something else. ...
- 13.3k
12
votes
How can I forget children toys riffs?
Not sure this is the answer you want to hear. I learned to not hear those toys along with zoning out repetitive kids sounds that meant everything was fine. It took time. I have also used other songs ...
- 17.5k
11
votes
Accepted
Robot to get started with programming
I don't know how old your daughter is, but we have recently bought this programmable robot toy for a 4 yo:
Andy from Xtrem Bots
(YouTube ad)
It is pretty simple but for a toddler seemed interesting ...
- 124
11
votes
Robot to get started with programming
Try Big Trak. This is a rereleased version of a toy that was very popular in the 1980's(!). Here is the original TV advert to give you an idea what to expect.
Summary: A toy vehicle that you can ...
- 315
11
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Robot to get started with programming
I want to mention the Lego Mindstorms NXT. The official age is 10+, but with all the flexibility it offers (it even has an own programming language), it can be a challenge even for fully grown-up ...
- 211
10
votes
How can I forget children toys riffs?
Embrace it
or, in the words of a song you will soon know if you don't already...
♫ let it go, let it go ♫
Don't try to unhear or get the song out of your head. Instead, accept the fact that it is ...
- 1,121
10
votes
Is it okay for a child to focus on one toy type?
Yes, it's okay (and very, very common) for a child to focus on one type of toys for a period of time. My sons and their friends have variously focused on trains, cars, ponies, Pokémon, one specific ...
- 61.8k
10
votes
Why am I hurt by my toddler saying she wanted to throw all her toys in the garbage?
I just want to add to @SomeShinyObject's excellent answer. But first, I'll actually answer the question.
Why am I taking such offense to her request?
Because you love her, and what she feels ...
- 69.8k
9
votes
Is it a problem to keep getting my kids small toys / trinkets? 2 and 4 year old
I'd say if you have a concern, you should listen to your inner voice.
I personally think you are setting up your kids to expect certain things at certain times. We all do it it different ways -- it ...
- 17.5k
9
votes
Accepted
What are the guidlines for 6-month-olds sucking toys?
Babies usually explore the world with their eyes first, then their mouths. Depriving them of this highly motivated behavior seems unwise at best and possibly harmful, though the latter is strictly my ...
- 69.8k
9
votes
Do girls and boys need different toys?
My wife thought the same thing until we had a boy.
While the range of enjoyment varies more within the sexes than across the sexes, in general, left to their own devices, girls will gravitate more ...
- 3,697
9
votes
How to get toddler's mind off of a single topic (vehicles)
I’m going to address something that I think is perhaps in the background of your concerns.
Between the ages of 2 and 5ish, my son would get fantastically obsessed with different things and it would ...
- 1,537
9
votes
Is it healthy for children (aged 8-14) to play with toys from for R rated film franchises?
Sure they can. It depends on how the parents raise them and their level of interactivity with the subject.
My older daughter was about 2 or 3 when I started telling her my own recollection of the ...
- 4,576
9
votes
Accepted
What are some good ways a father can engage a toddler boy who is 1 year and 8 months old?
At 20 months, my oldest was like yours - very physical. So, the main thing I did with him was to take him outside to play. Running around, climbing on the playground, climbing stairs; all of this ...
- 61.8k
8
votes
Is a Rubik's cube an appropriate gift for a 15-month-old child?
No, at 15 months this doesn't make sense.
I'd recommend a book with little flaps that show pictures underneath. These are fun for kids that age. Pick a book that shows colors, numbers, animals, etc. ...
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