Toddlers are curious little explorers who learn by doing. Play gives your kid a wonderful opportunity to learn and practice new skills at her own speed while pursuing her particular interests. The toys and games that your child has access to can have a significant impact on how she develops.
Even though it would seem that choosing toys for toddlers should be simple, the only thing that is simple when you enter a toy store nowadays is feeling overwhelmed. For the toddler market, a wide variety of toys have been created. Which ones are best for your child, and how do you decide? How can you know which products are durable and high-quality? Which will keep your kid’s attention for more than a few days or weeks? The following suggestions will help you choose toys for your kid that will challenge her, grow with her, and support her overall development (thinking, physical, verbal, and social-emotional skills).
Guidelines for Picking Toddler Toys
Select Playthings That Can Be Used In a Variety Of Ways.
Toddlers enjoy taking apart, putting back together, taking out, adding to, and building things. Pick “open-ended” toys for your child so that they can play a variety of games with them. For instance, a road, a zoo, a bridge, or a spaceship can be constructed out of large interlocking wooden or chunky plastic pieces. These kinds of toys encourage your child’s imagination and aid in the development of his capacity for logic and problem-solving.
Children should learn while they play, therefore educational toys that teach fundamental concepts like counting, colors, shapes, and alphabet are perfect. There are several excellent solutions available that will allow your youngster to learn while playing.
- Examples: Blocks, interlocking blocks, nesting blocks or cups, and toys for sand and water play
Look For Toys That Will Grow With Your Child.
Everybody has had the experience of purchasing a toy that their child uses for two days and then never again. By looking for toys that can be enjoyable at various developmental stages, you can prevent that. Small plastic animals, for instance, are entertaining for a young toddler who might create a shoebox home for them, while an older toddler can use them to act out a made-up story.
- Examples: Plastic toy animals and action figures, toddler-friendly dollhouses, trains and dump trucks (and other vehicles), stuffed animals and dolls
Choose Toys That Promote Investigation And Problem-Solving
Children have the opportunity to repeatedly practice new abilities while playing. Toys that allow children to solve problems independently or with some guidance help them develop their capacity for logical thought and help them become persistent problem solvers. Additionally, they support the growth of children’s spatial connections abilities, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills .
- Examples: Puzzles, shape-sorters, blocks, nesting blocks or cups, art materials like clay, paint, crayons or play-dough
Allow Your Toddler To Play With “Actual” Objects Or Toys That Resemble Real Objects
Your toddler is getting better at figuring out how everyday objects, such as television remote controls and light switches, operate. She wants to be strong and capable like you, therefore she also enjoys playing with your “real” things, like your cell phone. These kinds of toys assist kids in problem-solving, learning spatial relations (how things go together), and developing their fine movement skills .
- Examples: dishes and food, toy keys, toy phone, dress-up clothes, musical instruments, child-size brooms, mops, brushes and dustpans
A few “Reading Readiness” Toys Should Be Included:
Your child may learn the basics of writing and reading with the aid of books, magnetic alphabet letters, and art tools like markers, crayons, and fingerpaints. Your youngster will enjoy looking at and playing with “real-life” props like takeout menus, catalogs, or magazines while also becoming more accustomed to letters, text, and print.
Look For Toys That Motivate Your Child To Move About:
Due to their growing strength and body confidence, toddlers are capable of performing a wide variety of physical stunts. It’s your responsibility to be a proud spectator of your child’s most recent playground accomplishment! Look for items that will both assist your youngster practice and learn new physical abilities.
- Examples: Include balls of all sizes and shapes, tricycles or three-wheeled scooters, plastic bowling sets, kid-sized basketball hoops, pull-toys (such as toys that your child can pull on a rope), wagons to fill and pull, gardening equipment to rake and dig with, and moving boxes.
Recommend Buying Toys That Promote Multigenerational Play:
While practically every game can be played by adults and kids together, some toys are made specifically for adult participation. Early board games, which include using one’s memory or straightforward board games without reading requirements, are enjoyable for players of all ages as your child approaches age 3 and beyond. Starting a “family game night” where you all play together would be a good idea.
Playing board games helps kids develop their counting, matching, and remembering skills as well as their listening and self-control (as children learn to follow the rules). Additionally, they foster communication and interpersonal skills. Teaching youngsters how to accept defeat and be gracious winners is another significant benefit.
Children can learn to share, communicate, and cooperate by playing with toys that promote social interaction. These include constructing toys, board games, and puzzles. Look for activities, toys, or equipment that may be used in a group environment, such as water pistols, ball games, or tag. Team sports are a fantastic approach to promote collaboration and social engagement.
The effects of each toy may vary depending on the type of youngster. Because of this, the toyfort offers three feet of amusing sliding play equipment that can be used both indoors and outside. You must select a variety of toys to promote your child’s cognitive, emotional, and motor development. Children need to play, thus toys should be utilized to keep them occupied while encouraging learning. You are now prepared to go toy shopping after reading our advice on selecting toys for toddlers.
These skilled tips should have assisted you in selecting the best toys for your child. You’ll spend many hours amusing them while also supporting their growth and development.
