| Experts enumerate physical, motor, cognitive and | | | | have. While genetics play an important role in |
| emotional growth as key areas in child development. | | | | determining a child's personality, actual interaction |
| Of these four, most people would actively seek out | | | | would allow him to learn faster and better. |
| ways to help their growing baby in achieving the first | | | | The first few years of a child's life is a crucial period |
| three. Parents' primary concerns would usually include | | | | in which the mind is best prepared to learn |
| finding the right balance of nutrients and exercise to | | | | fundamental skills. This is also the time when a child |
| strengthen their babies' bodies and to help them | | | | develops emotional bonds to the people around him. |
| navigate their way through the world of big things | | | | These two in conjunction sets the perfect stage for |
| around them. In a typical toy store, there would be | | | | learning emotional and social skills. Parents could give |
| the usual slew of colorful blocks and puzzles for a | | | | their toddler toys such as dolls and stuffed animals, |
| toddler, toys which stimulate mental growth. A father | | | | but the most vital thing would be to consistently set |
| would aspire for his son to be a sports star; a | | | | loving and responsible examples. Play-acting would be |
| mother would love the idea of her child becoming a | | | | a stimulating and creative activity, with characters, |
| doctor someday. | | | | dialogue and situations mirroring the actual world. |
| While not consciously overlooked, the last key area is | | | | Something as simple as a pair of sock puppets could |
| one which is the most easily taken for granted. | | | | demonstrate to your child such abstract ideas as |
| Emotional growth is, after all, something that a child | | | | empathy and respect. Even in playing with toys such |
| can not learn from just his toys. Though a child could | | | | as blocks and puzzles, a child would become more |
| learn to "love" his toys, a stuffed animal could not, in | | | | confident with himself if given praise for hard work |
| reality, hug him back; a doll can not teach him to be | | | | and accomplishment. A story from a book becomes |
| considerate of other people's feelings. Toys are tools | | | | much more interesting to a child when it is being read |
| which could help, but the actual lesson would come | | | | in his father's loving voice. |
| from the parents. | | | | It is a fact that a child who is loved is a child who is |
| It is a common enough scenario to have a mother | | | | happy. It has also been said that the home is the |
| keep herself in the background while her child is | | | | schoolhouse from which a child may learn his first, if |
| preoccupied with playing, while she herself is busy | | | | not the most important lessons he would need in his |
| with other activities. However, she would not only be | | | | life. And what lesson is more important than that of |
| missing out on developing a loving bond between | | | | love and respect for fellow human beings? Parents, |
| herself and her child, but she would also deprive him | | | | love your child not just by giving your toddler toys, |
| of the chance to become better adjusted socially. | | | | but by playing with him. |
| Parents are, after all, the first "friends" a child could | | | | |