Learning through play, thanks to Fisher-Price! (Reviews)

What is the one thing you loved to do most as a child? I'm sure most of you would answer 'play'! Play is such an important part of being a child and for a good reason - play is a fundamental part of learning! I love that companies like Fisher-Price make it possible to have fun and learn developmental skills at the same time.

This month, Lyla had the opportunity to try three new toys!  Here are her experiences...

Laugh & Learn - Stride-to-Ride Puppy
This toys fits right in with the other Laugh & Learn items by Fisher-Price that we have...and it features Puppy, whom Lyla has enjoyed having fun with many times before.  When I first saw this toy, I noticed that it was rather large and I wasn't sure how Lyla would react to Puppy's big head, but when I first introduced her, it was clear she loved it!

We love that this toy helps her meet so many of the 12 elements of enrichment, which help her to develop and grow!  In the Physical domain, we find that her using all 4 elements, sensory (experiencing sights & sounds of the toy), fine motor (putting the shapes into the shape sorter on the side of puppy), gross motor (getting on puppy's back for a ride or walking and pushing puppy when the toy is turned into a walker), and balance and coordination (learning how to get on and off of puppy and stay on while he is moving, with our help).  In the cognitive domain, Lyla is enhancing her curiosity and discovery (learning by pressing the different buttons, and seeing how different aspects of the toy work), thinking and problem solving (learning how and where different parts of the toy go - for example, finding that the shapes that she puts in the shape sorter end up in the puppy's belly), and academics (learning things such as colours, shapes, counting and more).

This toy has proven to be a lot of fun and something that she will enjoy for some time to come!

Stand-Up Ballcano
Before I had kids, I loved buying toys for other children in my life toys that had balls. What child doesn't have a ball with balls?! Yes, pun intended!  This toy is an interesting variation of similar toys with balls that are on the market. And, it is one that my husband will out-rightly say that he enjoys - he loves the music especially, in comparison to most other children's toys.

Lyla is still learning and discovering with this toy. She seems to enjoy the sensory opportunities in the Physical enrichment activities that this toy offers, for example, listening to the music as the balls bounce over the sides of the centre area or watching the flashing lights. This toy also allows her to use fine motor skills, such as catching the balls and putting them back in the containment area, as well as spinning the rattle.

As Lyla gets older, I imagine that this is a toy that she will continue to enjoy playing with.

Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo  
Given that I am a huge fan of Disney, this toy was a great surprise and a very welcomed addition to our toy collection for Lyla!  This toy is absolutely adorable and the baby Disney characters are too cute!

I love that this toy allows Lyla to work on developing many of her developmental milestones. Even though this toy has sounds, which is great for sensory development, we often forget to turn on the sounds and Lyla has just as much fun (although I do love the Disney tunes). Some of the cognitive skills that I've noticed Lyla discovering with this toy include curiosity and discovery through just playing with the toy and learning what different parts do (for example, the arms and legs of each of the characters move and that the train moves because it has wheels.). Or, thinking and problem solving; she is discovering that the train has different pieces and to make the train move all together, they have to be latched a certain way. She is also discovering that some of the animals are bigger than the others and fit in some train cars better than the others; this is also an academic skill.

Trains are classic and one that can be fun for years and years to come. We are so happy to have the Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo as part of our toy collection!

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.