Toy apparatus and method of using same for promoting gross motor development in children

A toy, comprising:

• a base;
• a support having an upper end and a lower end and coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom;
• a spiral track, said spiral track being coupled to said support;
• a plurality of handles coupled to said support and spaced between the upper end and the lower end of said support, each of said plurality of handles being disposed on said track and including an opening formed in said spiral track;
• and
• an activity platform coupled to the upper end of said support and having an object disposed thereon.

A toy, comprising:

• a base having an interior and an exterior;
• a support coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said support having a passageway disposed therein extending from an upper end of said support to a lower end of said support and communicating with the interior of said base such that an object placed in the upper end of said support travels along the passageway from the upper end to the lower end and enters the interior of said base;
• and
• a track coupled to said support and extending between said upper end and said lower end, said track including a gripping region disposed on said track and an opening disposed in said track adjacent said gripping region, whereby an infant user can grasp said gripping region by placing a portion of a hand of the infant user through said opening and around the adjacent gripping region.

A toy, comprising:

• a base having an interior and an exterior;
• a support coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said support having a passageway disposed therein extending from an upper end of said support to a lower end of said support and communicating with the interior of said base such that an object placed in the upper end of said support travels along the passageway from the upper end to the lower end and enters the interior of said base;
• a top coupled to said support and having an opening formed therein in communication with the upper end of the support passageway such that an object placed in the opening of said top travels through the opening into the support passageway;
• and
• a track coupled to said support and extending between said top and said base, said track being in communication with said passageway, said track including a gripping region having an opening disposed in said gripping region, whereby a user can use said gripping region in said track to pull up and reach said top.

A toy, comprising:

• a base having an interior and an exterior;
• a support coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said support having a passageway disposed therein extending from an upper end of said support to a lower end of said support and communicating with the interior of said base such that an object placed in the upper end of said support travels along the passageway from the upper end to the lower end and enters the interior of said base;
• a top coupled to said support and having a first opening and a second opening disposed therein configured to allow passage of an object therethrough, said first opening in communication with the upper end of the support passageway such that the object travels through said first opening into the support passageway, said top having a gripping region disposed about the perimeter of said top adjacent said second opening;
• and
• a spiral ramp coupled to said support and extending between said top and said base and forming a plurality of descending levels, said ramp configured for guiding an object from the upper end of said support to the lower end of said support and for communicating with the interior of said base.

A method of using a toy having a base, a support coupled to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper gripping region coupled to the support, a spiral track coupled to the support, a lower gripping region disposed on the spiral track and disposed between the upper gripping region and the base, the lower gripping region including an opening in the track, and an activity area coupled to an upper end of the support and disposed at or above the upper gripping region, the method comprising the steps of:

• grasping the lower gripping region;
• grasping the upper gripping region to reach a standing position and the activity area;
• and
• performing an activity in the activity area while in the standing position.