The Avenlur Blog

Baby & Toddler

Baby & Toddler · 5 min What Are Good Hanukkah Gifts for Toddlers and Kids? Eight nights without a living room buried in plastic: a night-by-night plan with one big gift, small surprises, a giving night and a family night for toddlers and... Baby & Toddler · 4 min What Is a Good Outdoor Playset for a 3-Year-Old? At 3, kids want to keep up with the big kids, but their reach and grip are still catching up. Here’s what a 3 year old can handle... Baby & Toddler · 5 min Wooden Playpens: Do Montessori Families Use Them, and How to Choose One Cage or safe yes space? The honest case for and against playpens, what makes a Montessori playpen work, and how to choose a wooden playpen, with or without... Baby & Toddler · 5 min Are Hammock Swings Safe for Babies and Kids? Hammock swings can be a cozy, calming spot or a real risk, depending on how they're used. Here's what's safe at each age, from a baby's first swing... Activities · 5 min What Is a Sensory Table, and What Do You Put in It? A sensory table gives kids one spot to dig, pour and scoop. What it is, what to put in it each season, which fillers suit which ages, and... Activities · 5 min What Are Fine Motor Skills? Examples and Activities by Age Fine motor skills are the small hand movements behind feeding, dressing and writing. Here's what they look like at each age from 6 months to 5 years, and... Baby & Toddler · 6 min What Is a Busy Board, and What Does It Do for Toddlers? Toddlers head straight for latches, switches and zippers. A busy board puts them all on one panel. Here’s what it builds, which activities fit each age and what... Baby & Toddler · 6 min Is a Busy Board Montessori? Almost every busy board is sold as Montessori, but not all of them fit. Learn where busy boards come from, what makes one truly Montessori and how to... Baby & Toddler · 5 min When Can a Toddler Play With a Car Ramp? From drop and watch to racing and building: when toddlers are ready for a car ramp, what they learn at each stage, and three kinds of ramps to... Baby & Toddler · 5 min Play Couch or Pikler Triangle: Which Is Better for Toddler Climbing? A foam play couch and a Pikler triangle both promise climbing, but they do very different jobs. Here's what toddlers learn on each, how to choose and why... Baby & Toddler · 5 min What Do Toddlers Learn From Stacking Toys? Knocking down comes first, and that's fine. How stacking skills grow, what each kind of stacking toy teaches, and simple ways to play along without taking over. Baby & Toddler · 5 min What Is the Best Step Stool for a Toddler? A good toddler step stool is low, wide and non-slip. Here’s what to look for, the age most children are ready for one, and when a kitchen tower...