Your baby has grown into a toddler and is exploring everything in site! Make sure his toys are still appropriate, engaging, and challenging for him. It's probably time to check the toy box and make sure you have the best learning toys for your toddler. What follows is a Top 10 list of toddler toy must haves: 1. Stacking & Nesting Blocks:
Toddlers are learning to use their small motor skills to stack and balance objects as well as how to nest things inside each other. That's why a set of nesting blocks (or stacking blocks) is a perfect toddler toy.
2. Blocks - ABC & Building Blocks:
Blocks are fascinating for toddlers because they can be stacked but make great noise when they're knocked over too! Building blocks stimulate a child's imagination into creative action! First, the idea in the mind and then the reproduction outside the child's mind. Blocks stimulate imagination while honing small motor skills. Blocks are the classic open ended play toy.
3. Push Toys:As you know, toddlers are very mobile! They also love to be able to control their environment. A push toy allows them to move their toy around with them. This is very exciting for your toddler and a skill he will explore for years to come! Additionally, toddlers (as the name implies) are learning to excel at walking and larger push toys help them balance while being mobile.
4. Pull Toys:
Just like with push toys, pull toys are great fun for toddlers. Even when a toddler is young and only crawling he can already play with pull toys. You'll see his joy on his smiling face as he pulls his little wooden toy behind him!
5. Puzzles:
Toddlers are learning so much every day, sometimes it's shocking what they can learn in just a week! There are many kinds of wooden puzzles appropriate for toddlers. Puzzles help develop hand-eye coordination, matching skills, fine motor skills, and problem solving skills! All of these puzzles are wonderful for toddlers:
jumbo knob puzzles
peg puzzles
chunky puzzles
sound puzzles
6. Vehicles/Cars:
Ok, these are not wooden but they're RUBBABU! Pretend play may just be emerging in your toddler. One thing toddlers like to do is play "cars". They love pushing cars around,
over, under, and through anything they can. Encourage pretend play while your toddler develops small and large motors skills with his cars.7. Ball Tracks:
Your toddler is learning cause and effect and is fascinated by it! He will love watching the balls travel in a mesmerizing pattern...and then do it again!
8. Shape Sorter:
Shape sorters get those chubby little fingers working on small motor skills while getting their brains working on color and shape recognition, and matching skills! You'll see their sense of accomplishment when they've correctly sorted all the pieces and then want to do it again right away!
9. Pounding Toys:Yes, toddlers love noise - when they're the ones making it! Imagine what a hero you'll be when you actually give them something they're supposed to bang with a hammer! Once they get over the shock they'll have great fun improving their hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
10. Bead Mazes:
The beads slip, slide, rotate, and move along the wire frame making interesting sounds. Toddlers love bead mazes because of the bright colors, texture of the beads and fun sounds. Don't tell them how great bead mazes are for their small motor skills and problem solving skills!
