The Ideal Toys for Toddlers

Just as there are ideal ways to choose children’s clothes (they need to be comfortable and allow movement), there are also the right methods to pick toys for toddlers. Playtime gives your child a great opportunity to develop and practice new skills and the toys you offer him/her can shape their development in different ways.

You may think that choosing toys for toddlers is easy, but as soon as you walk into a toy store you will see that the only easy thing is feeling overwhelmed with the huge array of toys that have been developed for the toddler market. How do you know which toy is right for your child? How to tell which ones are good quality and which ones will engage your child’s interest for more than a few days or weeks? Here are some suggestions of toys that will grow with your child, challenge him/her, and nurture his/her overall development (physical, thinking, language and social-emotional skills).

Toddler Play Mats

Aside from offering a soft and safe environment for babies and toddlers to play and explore the world around them, toddler play mats also provide protection against cold hard floors, dust, germs and bacteria. And thanks to their portability, you can use the mat at home or on the go.

There are many benefits that come with a playmat. One of them is being able to put your baby on for tummy time. Tummy time is encouraged for young babies to prevent the development of a flat head and to promote the development of their neck and shoulder muscles. Strengthening the neck and shoulders is important because it allows babies to crawl when they grow older. This is considered one of the most important developmental milestones. And because most play mats for kids are brightly coloured, they are also a good way to improve a baby’s visual acuity.

As babies grow into toddlers, toddler play mats offer them a clean and safe surface to play with their favourite toys. You can put your toddler on the play mat and play games that help develop his/her hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. For example, you can dangle a soft toy like a plushie or a doll in front of your toddler and have him/her reach for it or kick it. Fine motor skills are some of the essential skills that should be developed at a young age. These skills will help your child perform purposeful movements and actions when he/she grow older.

And when your toddler starts to crawl, you can place a few educational toys that are soft on the mat and allow him/her to crow towards the toys. This will give your child a sense of freedom and allow him/her to freely explore his/her surroundings. Plus, toddlers fall several times before they could learn how to sit or stand. The play mat provides a cushion, preventing them from getting hurt.

As for how long should baby play on activity mat, it can be for as long as your child is contented. From tummy time to playing and crawling and walking, a play mat will offer hours of fun for your child.

Blocks

Blocks are one of the best toys to foster the imagination and cognitive development of toddlers. They can be stacked into spaceships or castles, arranged into mazes or whole worlds. They help toddlers engage in problem-solving and 3-D design. Plus blocks can be knocked down with abandon only to be reborn again. Pick blocks with different but basic shapes that can be built into anything. Toddlers enjoy simple, colourful squares, but as they get older they might enjoy more advanced sets with columns and arches.

Board Books

Experts highlight the benefits of reading as much as possible to children. Board books with simple graphics will engage your toddler and help develop a lifelong reading habit. Look for books that play with language and rhythm, such as rhyming books, or books with flaps, tabs and tactile textures that will engage your child on multiple levels.

Toddler Craft Kits

Nowadays, it’s common to see parents resorting to technology as a way to keep their kids occupied and entertained, completely forgetting the benefits of arts and crafts. While technology is useful, and children should be introduced to it, it can’t be compared with children playing and making things with their own hands. There are numerous benefits of playing with toddler craft kits that go beyond simply allowing your child to express him/herself in a more creative way.

For toddlers, grabbing a crayon or paintbrush helps them develop the muscles that will later help them tie their shoes, button their coat, write and more. Toddler craft kits containing stringing beads is a great way to learn patterns and practice counting. Those are skills kids will use later on in algebra. Toddlers can also learn shapes and colours with craft kits that require them to find and identify all of the different shapes and colour of pieces necessary to make the picture them want from the idea book. This same process happens while your child is doing something as simple as colouring.

Being creative builds your child’s confidence to try new experiences and activities, build their patience and persistence and help them develop their own ideas. Developing your child’s own ideas and turning them into something they can hold in their hands, promotes deep pride, satisfaction and self-worth. This allows your child to gain confidence in their abilities to develop their thinking, something that can also help with separation and with making choices. Plus, children love spending time with their parents and doing arts and crafts is a great way to do this. You get to spend quality time bonding with your child and at the same time, you are creating lifelong memories to cherish.