What are the Best Toys for Toddlers?

If you are a parent of a toddler, you know that finding the right toys and gifts for toddlers can be a challenge. It might be tough to determine which toddler toys are educational and enjoyable when there are a wide range of toddler toys on the market.

In this post, we’ll go over some of the greatest toys for toddlers! We will talk about educational toys, outdoor toys, and bath toys. We’ll also show you how to pick out the best toys for children.

Why toys are so important for toddlers

Toys bring children hours of fun. But aside from that, there are also essential skills they can develop while playing to prepare them for preschool like:

Fine Motor Skills

One of the benefits of toys is that they can help your child develop their fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are the ability to use small muscles in the hands and fingers to write, hold a pencil, turn a doorknob, or thread beads. Some of these toys include wooden blocks, fidget toy, building blocks, or anything that appeals to a baby’s sense of touch.

Improve hand-eye coordination

Hand-eye coordination is the ability to coordinate the eyes and hands to perform tasks such as drawing, catching a ball, or using a fork and knife. Toys that require your child to use their hands and eyes together can help improve this type of coordination.

Increase imagination and creativity

Toys also encourage children to use their imaginations. When they are playing with toys, they can create their own little world and be anyone they want to be. This helps them develop their creativity.

Math Skills

Toys that enhance their math skills involve sorting, matching, and counting which are essential for your child’s developmental stages.

What to look for in toys for toddlers

With a wide variety of toys available, it can be overwhelming to try to choose the right ones for your child. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make the right choice for toddler toys:

Age Range

Make sure the toy is appropriate for your child’s age. They may not get as much pleasure out of it if it’s too young or too old. And if the toys contain small parts, they might pose a choking hazard for children below three years old.

Safety

Of course, you also want to make sure the toy is safe for your child to play with. Avoid toys with sharp edges or small parts that can be swallowed. Also, avoid toys that shoot projectiles. These can be dangerous if they hit them in the eye.

Interests

Ensure that the toys you choose are in line with your child’s interests. If they are interested in animals, look for toys that feature animals. If they like to build things, look for construction toys. If they like to dress up, look for dolls or pretend to play toys.

Price

Toys don’t have to be expensive. There are several low-cost choices that will still provide hours of enjoyment for your toddler. However, if you do want to splurge on a toy, make sure it is something that will be well-loved and played with often.

Material

The type of the material also matters in choosing toddler toys. Some materials are more durable than others. Choose the toys with the finest materials so ensure their safety while playing.

Educational Toys for Toddlers

Educational toys are the best way to help your child learn and grow. They are designed to help children develop specific skills such as problem-solving, math, and literacy. Here are some of the best educational toys for toddlers:

Shape Sorter

If your child is still mastering the shapes, this is the perfect toy for them. The shape sorter helps children learn to identify and match shapes. It also helps with fine motor skills as they have to lift and insert the shapes into the correct slots.

Floor Puzzle

This puzzle is ideal for children who are learning their alphabet. They can put the puzzle together to spell out simple words and phrases. They will surely have fun fitting the pieces together while they learn.

Stacking Blocks

Stacking blocks help with hand-eye coordination as your child has to stack the blocks on top of each other. By figuring out how to balance the blocks, they are also able to solve problems.

Board Books

Board books are durable and made especially for toddlers. It has a solid cover and these pages that are perfect for their little hands can help your child learn about a variety of topics such as animals, numbers, and colours.

Matching Games

These are great for helping children learn to match shapes, colours, and objects. It also helps with memory and concentration.

Musical Instruments

Toddlers love music! Musical instruments are a fantastic tool for teaching children how to hear and create music. They can also develop their fine motor skills as they have to hold and play the instrument.

Art Materials

This is the perfect gift for your little Picasso. Art supplies like crayons, paint, and clay help children express themselves and develop creativity. Drawing also aids in fine motor development by requiring children to handle and utilise implements.

Outdoor Toys for Toddlers

Children love to play outside during fine weather, and the best accompaniment for them to have the right amount of fun are these outdoor toys:

Slides

These are the ultimate outdoor toy for toddlers. They can climb up the steps and then slide down again and again. It’s a fantastic way for them to burn off energy while having fun.

Trampolines

Children love jumping, don’t they? Gift them a trampoline and see how much fun they have. Just make sure it is properly set up and safety is your top priority. Also, ensure that there is an adult present when they are playing.

Sand and Ball Pits

For some toddler games outside, ball pits are a great option. They can play catch or simply sit and enjoy the sand. It’s a fantastic approach for children to explore their senses while having fun.

Inflatable Pool

Cool down with your toddler on a hot summer day with an inflatable pool. They can splash around and have a blast. You should empty it and store it away when your children are finished playing.

Outdoor Swing

What’s more fun than playing on a swing? If you can’t go to the park, just bring the park to your backyard and let your toddler have a swing right in your own home. Choose the size that is perfect for your toddler’s age and make sure it is installed properly.

Play Tunnel

This is perfect for toddlers who love to explore. They can crawl through the tunnel and you will wait for them on the other end. Children are surely excited to see what’s on the other side. It’s also great for their gross motor skills.

Playhouse

This toy is ideal if you have more than one child so they can pretend to play and have a good time together by being in their own little house. It’s also great storage for their outdoor toys when they are done playing.

Bath Toys for Toddlers

Who says bath time is just for getting clean? It can also be a fun time for your toddler with these bath toys:

Rubber Ducks

This is the most common and inexpensive bath toy you can find. They are great for squirting water and your toddler can also pretend to feed them.

Bath Books

Books made of waterproof material are perfect for bath time. Make bath time educational and fun with an educational book. You can read to your toddler their favourite book while they are in the tub and they will surely love it.

Plastic Boats

Let the boat sail with them as they bathe. Their imagination will take them to the high seas as they take command of a ship. Tell your toddler to never let their boat sink!

Beach Balls

Beach balls without the beach? Still possible with these bath balls. They can throw it around or just let it float in the tub. Either way, they’ll have a good time.

Buckets

Feeling like a pirate today? Give them a bucket and let them scoop up water and pour it over their head. Just make sure the bucket isn’t too big for their age so they can carry it easily.

Bath Squirts

These are great for bath time or even when you’re outside playing on a hot day. They can squirt each other or you can squirt them. Just make sure they are not squirting water in their eyes.

Make toddler play exciting

From the different educational toys to the outdoor and bath toys, there are a lot of options to choose from other than Peppa Pig, Sesame Street and Melissa and Doug. Just remember to pick the right toy for your toddler’s age so they can have the most fun while playing. And always supervise them when they are playing, especially with bath toys. With the right toy, your toddler is sure to have a blast!

Okinja ELC promotes educational, fun and safe toddler play. It is our goal to help your child achieve their full potential at our learning center.