During the toddler years, children try out and master new skills, concepts, and experiences. Toddler’s playtime is their primary key to developing these skills. When they grab a hold of toys to play with, they are not merely playing. Toys play a big role in the development of a toddler’s social, emotional, and intellectual aspect.
The problem arises in the 21st century when both parents and children are busy with their own things to do. Toddlers are left to watch TV because parents are too busy to play with them or can not even face to buy them good toddler learning toys. Toddler toys are replaced by video games or toys linked to TV programs or movie characters. Old time toys like blocks, dolls, children’s play sets, and puzzles have been ignored.
Comparing highly-structured and media-linked toys to classic toys, toddlers learning toys are still the best when a child’s development is in mind. Toys are meant to be tools for learning and not a source of violence like what most videogames promote. Toddler Toys are supposed to be educational and not merely entertaining. Take a look at what good toys can do and why they are important.
What Toys Can Do
Experts agree that toys are essential to a toddler’s development. Even from their infant years, toys like rattles, mobiles, teethers, and shakers help them develop their sense of sound, sight, taste, smell, and touch. These toys introduce colors, shapes, texture, the alphabet, sounds animals make, and simple things about the world.
Toddler learning toys are tools for learning because:
- Toys help toddlers exercise their muscles. Every time they shake the rattle, crawl to catch a rolling ball, or ride on a rocking horse, muscles are stretched and used.
- Toys can enhance a child’s eye-hand coordination. Take a look at a child who tries to fit the pieces of a puzzle together. He looks at the shape of the piece he is holding and tries to find the right spot with the use of her little hands.
- Toys help toddlers practice their balance. Ride-on toys, pushcarts, pull toys, soft balls, and toddler slides help a child keep his balance.
- Toys invite children to use their imagination and creativity. Children usually love to play pretend. Take for an example children’s play sets. With a kitchen set, a child pretends to cook, clean, and wash the dishes. With play foods, he pretends to slice vegetables and mix them with meat to come up with an exciting meal.
- Toys help kids gain confidence. Every time a toddler finishes a puzzle or master the use of a certain toy, they develop a sense of self esteem. They feel that they have accomplished something great. At this point, it is important to recognize their accomplishment.
- Waiting room toys can teach children to make friends, share, and cooperate with others. During toddler years, tots prefer to play alone. But with the help of toys, they learn to share and cooperate with other kids.
Choosing the Right Toddler Toys
It is a good idea to think ahead about the toys you wish to buy or invest in. There are millions of toys in the market and more are coming every now and then. When choosing a toy for a toddler, it is important to make sure that you got your money’s worth.
Before buying your toddler a number of toys, consider his stage of development. Toddlers are active and they enjoy running, climbing, crawling, and jumping. They like to work with their hands allowing the muscles of their fingers to develop. Though toddlers are very active, toys at their age still needs to be simple and require only a little coordination.
Toddlers are very artistic and they like to play around with paint, play dough, chalk, crayons, and paper. At this point, all they want to do is to scribble and mess around with colors. Remember to appreciate what they have created. Take time to really take a look at it and encourage them to do more.
Remember that toddlers like to swallow things. They put almost anything in their mouth. When buying toys, watch out for small parts. Check for buttons used as eyes for stuffed toys; make sure they are not loose. Always keep your tots safety in mind.
Having enough knowledge of the stage of toddler-hood, here are a number of ideas to consider when choosing toddlers learning toys:
- Wooden toys are durable and can teach children about shapes and geometry.
- Books and recordings can help toddlers appreciate words, sound, and music.
- Art materials can encourage a child to be creative.
- Blocks contribute to muscle strength and toddler’s balance.
- Musical instruments appeal to children’s senses.
- Pretend play toys like dolls, children’s play sets, and stuffed animals gives children the chance to use their imaginations.
As a general rule, good toys are:
- Appropriate for the child’s age
- Interesting to the child
- Suitable to a child’s learning style
- Free from any hazardous or toxic material
Toy Suggestions for Toddlers
Having the right toddler’s toys on hand can make a big difference in the development of a child. With great toys at the tip of their fingertips, they are happily playing and at the same time learning. You may want to consider these toy suggestions appropriate for toddlers:
- Wooden toys like blocks and puzzles
- Books with large pictures
- Dolls and Dollhouses
- Children’s play sets
- Play food
- Puppets
- Plush toys
- Stuffed animals
- Balls
- Riding toys
- Wagon
- Toy telephone
- Musical toys
Toddlers’ toys are powerful tools for learning. Match toys to meet children’s language, thinking, skills, and emotions. When buying toddler learning toys, choose the ones that encourages children to play, think, develop, and learn.
Tags: Toddler Learning Toys | Toddler Learning Toys | Children’s Play Sets | Children’s Play Sets | Waiting Room Toys | Waiting Room Toys | Toddler Toys | Wooden Toys | Wooden Toys
