A developing mat for children is an excellent tool to not only keep your baby busy for a while, but also to help him develop mentally and physically. In a safe and comfortable environment, he explores the world through touch, learns to move and control his hands. All these tasks will be helped by a mat specially created for this purpose. Today, HouseChief experts have prepared for you an overview of all the most useful information on this topic and a master class for making educational toys with your own hands.
Read in the article
- 1 What tasks should a developing mat for children perform
- 2 What kind of development rugs can be found on sale: types and their features
- 3 What are developing rugs made of
- 4 Manufacturers and models of development rugs
- 5 Mat selection criteria: what to look for
- 6 How to make a development mat yourself
- 6.1 DIY master class on making a developing rug
What tasks should a developing mat for children perform
The very name "developing" speaks of the main purpose of this subject. If we reveal this concept in detail, then it is worth noting that this accessory has the following functions:
- the development of fine motor skills in the child and familiarity with tactile sensations;
- development of coordination of movements of arms and legs;
- acquaintance with different forms and properties of materials;
- formation of vocabulary and initial knowledge about the world around;
- development of communication skills and the manifestation of curiosity.
A simple device will help your child learn to focus, memorize objects and understand the relationship between them.
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What kind of development rugs can be found on sale: types and their features
Rugs can be divided according to age and design characteristics.
By age, you can indicate the following differences:
- From birth to 3 months. These rugs have soft sides that prevent babies from accidentally rolling, and are equipped with arcs with hanging accessories that the child can look at and reach with their hands.
- 3-6 months. Hanging elements are placed at a distance accessible to the child, and bright applications are made around the edges of the rug, which stimulate the baby to crawl.
- 6-9 months. The rug is additionally supplied with musical and noise devices, and also contains applications of various shapes and colors.
- 9-12 months. Such a rug has different applications, movable parts and a soft base on which you can safely try to get up on your feet.
- 1 year and older. Such a product is additionally equipped with a canopy so that the child can play in the "house" and independently engage in it with toys.
If we talk about the design features of this developing subject, then the following options can be distinguished here, which are presented in the photo.
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What are developing rugs made of
Such devices are made from textiles, polyethylene foam or soft rubber.
For completeness of tactile sensations, natural fabrics with pile, terry of different density and smoothness are used. The most interesting are the models in which textiles and porous rubber are combined, as well as oilcloth, plastic, leather and foil parts.
The rug usually comes with plastic rattles, tweeters and rustlers, a small mirror made of safe shatterproof material, rag books with bright applications, rubber teethers for teeth, numbers or letters from fabric for children older.
Manufacturers and models of development rugs
On sale you can find many different options for such devices. Making a choice in this rich assortment is not so easy. The most important criterion, of course, is safety for the child. Well-known brands use quality certified materials. Which manufacturers can you trust without fear?
Fisher price Is an American manufacturer whose musical models have gained particular popularity. The series of models "zoo", "friends from the rainforest" and "piano" contains not only musical toys, but also light and music.
developmental mat for children "Piano" from Fisher Price
Balio Is a Chinese brand that produces a variety of electronic toys. In addition to rugs with hanging musical accessories, this company has many different products.
developing mat for children Model PB05 from Balio
Infantino Is another American company specializing in the production of soft puzzles. The most popular model of this brand is called Growing Together. It is a soft playpen with colorful accessories.
developmental mat for children "Turtles" from Infantino
Bright starts - an innovative company with a range of 13 options for developing rugs with different filling and design.
developing mat for children "Africa" from Bright Starts
Smoby - a large concern for the production of gaming products. The development mats of this company are inflatable. They are made of fabric and plastic.
developing inflatable mat from Smoby
Taf toys - manufactures children's accessories from simple ones to those equipped with bumpers and arches, pillows and various additions.
play mat by Taf Toys
Lider Kids offers very beautiful rugs of an unusual shape from materials of natural origin.
mat for children "Africa" from Lider Kids
Tiny love - these are 20 options for soft playgrounds for children of different ages with musical design, limiters, arcs and a variety of accessories.
developing mat "Sunny day" from Tiny Love
developing mat "Sunny day" from Tiny Love
Mat selection criteria: what to look for
When choosing a rug, a child needs to pay attention to a number of essential points.
One of the most basic is the quality of the materials. Preference is given to natural and synthetic fabrics that are resistant to moisture. It is important that the textiles are hypoallergenic and do not have a pungent odor. The matter should not be slippery, and the paints should be durable and not poisonous bright.
Reliable build. All accessories and appliques must be well secured so that the child cannot tear them off.
For the smallest children, it is imperative to choose rugs with durable rigid sides.
The size of the product matters in relation to the age of the child. The older he is, the more space the baby needs to play. Platforms can be from 1 to 2 m in size.
As for the components, quality materials and their safe execution are important here. It is better to choose models with toys that can be removed. All parts should not be too small, otherwise the baby may swallow them.
And most importantly, such goods must have an appropriate certificate. Demand it at the point of sale, it must be provided to you.
How to make a development mat yourself
Find the right materials before taking on this task.
For filling, it is better to purchase a synthetic winterizer or non-thick foam rubber. Textiles should be chosen so that they do not give off static discharges. Therefore, when choosing synthetics, be careful.
Mat accessories can be selected from common items, but make sure they are securely attached and so large that they cannot be put into your nose or mouth. Be especially careful with the buttons. It is better not to use beads at all.
Draw a sketch before starting work. This will make it easier to decide on the pattern. Go shopping and browse online catalogs. Perhaps you will choose especially important details for yourself.
Consider the gender of your child when planning your rug. Girls are more interested in pink tones and a variety of pockets, while boys are more interested in blue-green colors and moving parts.
The creation of such a rug is an extremely exciting process; you need a sewing machine to work.
DIY master class on making a developing rug
And here, for example, an algorithm for creating a similar structure:
| Illustration | Description of action |
 | Find suitable materials and prepare applique patterns |
 | Use zippered pockets. For example - here is such an apple, inside which a soft caterpillar stuffed with padding polyester will hide |
 | An interesting option is a bunny with a garland of carrots. Carrots are mobile, they can be moved along a string, and the ears of the bunny are stuffed with cereals or beads |
 | This girl's hair on the applique is made of a strong thread. The kid can touch and lay them out |
 | The chest of a funny penguin is made with a pocket - you can get a bright braid from it, but each rope is fixed inside the pocket and will not go anywhere |
 | On this applique, the boat is movable. If you pull on the rope, it will move to the sides. There are bright stones in the net. They are large enough that a child cannot pull them out through the net, but he can easily touch them. |
 | The highlight of this owl is in the breast of movable sequins. They are not only shiny, but also change color if you run your hand over them. |
 | The baby elephant has a movable trunk stuffed with padding polyester. There is a ring on the tip of the trunk that you can pull on |
 | The house on this applique has an interesting lacing and a button with a loop. Have something to do |
 | The dial phone has raised buttons, and the dial itself can be rotated thanks to the movable mount |
 | The more different options you pick, the more interesting the rug will be. Put all the pieces together like a patchwork quilt |
And in addition, another interesting master class on this topic, but already in the video:
As you can see, there is nothing difficult in making a developing rug. Anyone who knows how to sew on a sewing machine can handle this task. This process is truly creative. And how much joy you will bring yourself and your child!
If you already use such a rug - recommend a good model or share your experience in creating it in the comments!
