Don’t be fooled by the “make your baby smarter” claims. There is no
research that shows that these products boost a child’s brain power. In fact, safe household items — such as plastic bowls for filling and dumping, pillows for climbing or making a cave, and old clothing
for dress up — are great learning tools. Classics like blocks, dump trucks, stuffed ani- mals, and objects that imitate “real life” such
as toy hammers and play kitchens are great for developing the imagination. And don’t forget about books! The more a child has to
use his mind and body to problem solve and develop his own ideas, the more he learns