Lucas has a rainforest play gym by Fisher Price...and it continues to be pretty awesome. This gym has lights and music in addition to the hanging toys and colorful playmat. He has loved his gym since the first time we put him in it. As a parent it can be a little overwhelming deciphering what "developmental" toys to invest in, especially when you know how important playing is (without underlying development pushing). Actually, there is a ton of research about the benefits of child-led play and the need to foster imagination. In fact, there is a huge stink about how recent federal mandates about education accountability has had a direct and negative impact on kids in grade school who no longer get recess. Bottom line - Play is important and child-led play is even more important! I have taken a few play therapy courses and simple toys can help children express themselves so much more than a toy that is linked with a character. So...I guess what I am trying to say is that I carefully evaluate every toy that comes into my home for multiple reasons.
The Fisher Price rainforest gym is great because as Lucas's perspective changes, he explores the rainforest and finds new things. At first he would just lie on his back and look at the lights and hanging toys...then he began reaching for the toys (which I am able to move around, add and subtract, etc)...next he began kicking the toys and arches to make everything move (and the music continue)...Now he will be on his tummy and playing/talking to the fish and animals on the mat...and he sits in the rainforest and tries to mouth the hanging toys. I like that the gym has continued to delight him into his 6 month!
I don't necessarily think this is the be all end all of gyms - there are countless other versions out there by different companies that I have not even seen in person. When choosing a gym for your baby, I would recommend laying down and sticking your head where his/her head will be and decide if it something that sparks your imagination. If it plays music - listen to the music and decide if you like it (because trust me you will soon have this little ditty memorized). Explore the different options you have with the gym, can you add other hanging toys or move the ones in it around?
When he was younger he would lie on his back in the gym 
Lucas's view
I added the orange elephant after a few months because it has a lovely little tinkling bell - he likes to kick it, hold it, and talk to it! 
There is a bug under this crinkly leaf! How cool! 
Since you are on this note...the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn House has been hands down the best baby/toddler toy that we own. This was given to me at my shower for Gretchen, I didn't register for it and never would have even known it existed. And have been so glad we got it. It literally kept Gretchen occupied from 6 months and still today at almost 3 (and if I had known how cool it was I would have busted it out pre-6 months but you know how it is as a first time mom you follow all the recommended age guidelines). It is the one toy we never put away as she grew up and when we moved it was one of the items, along with her crib, that we made sure was expedited to our temporary living house because she loved it so much. It grows with the child, now Wes is starting to enjoy it and Gretchen still plays with it and loves encouraging Wes to play with it. It's hard to describe but it has some skill development toy for each level of play as she grew. Might be a good thing to ask for for Lucas's birthday. It is a big item though and takes up space, but totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same activity playmat for Holden and we loved it too! We just now put it away at 9.5 months. His favorite thing to do was pull the leaves off the top:)
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