Choosing Age Appropriate Toys for Toddlers

                                 As your child grows, their play style evolves. During infancy, they primarily explored the world through their senses. However, as a toddler, they now engage with toys to construct, mimic the real world, and develop new skills.

                At 8 months old, your child might have enthusiastically banged a toy hammer on the high chair tray, simply to revel in the loud noise it produced. Now, at the age of 2, they have developed a desire to skillfully pound golf tees into a Styrofoam block because:

        👉He enjoys exercising his hand-eye coordination.

     👉 He likes to do things he has seen adult do.

         👉 He wants to complete a task.

                   

          Additionally, it's important to note that your child is becoming increasingly aware of the distinctions between girls and boys. You may observe this awareness reflected in their toy preferences. Girls often lean towards dolls and crayons, while boys tend to gravitate towards playing with blocks and toy cars.

     👪      Matching toys to your child Preference

        Prior to introducing a new toy into your household, consider these five questions

    👉  Is this suitable for the child's age?

            Take into account your child's developmental stage, skill level, age, as well as the safety and dimensions of the toy. It should be sufficiently large to pass a safety test, ensuring that neither the toy nor its components can fit through a toilet paper roll (to prevent choking hazards).

    👉  What abilities will my child acquire through this?

            When it comes to imaginative play, the most suitable toys are those that are open-ended, permitting your child to use them in their own creative ways. Pretend-play items can also aid your child in envisioning real-life scenarios, such as going to the doctor or operating a restaurant.

    👉 Is this something my child will enjoy?

            Consider his interests and temperament. Additionally, provide toys that offer versatile uses, for instance, stacking blocks can double as cooking pots or serve as mountains for toy cars during imaginative play.

    👉  Does this suit our home    environment?

        If it's a substantial item, like a playhouse, do you have the space to keep it assembled constantly? Is the toy designed for cooperative play with siblings or friends, or is it intended for single-child use? If the toy generates noise, might it become bothersome? Additionally, if it consists of numerous pieces, is there a risk of them becoming misplaced?

    👉  Is this toy built to endure over time?

            The toy should exhibit high quality, durability, and the ability to withstand repeated use.

  

👧 Toys for Enhancing Developmental Abilities

  ❀  Language 

      Creating a language toy for toddlers can be a fun and  educational way to support their language             development. Here are some ideas for language toys:

 🏀 Flashcards:

•   Create colorful flashcards with pictures of common objects, animals, and shapes.
•   Write the names of the items on the cards.
•   Use the flashcards to introduce new words and encourage vocabulary development.

 🏀  Alphabet Blocks:

•    Provide wooden or soft alphabet blocks.
•    Each block can have a letter of the alphabet along with  pictures of objects that start with that letter.
•    This helps toddlers associate letters with sounds and objects.

   

    🏀  Puzzle Play: 

•   Choose puzzles with large, easy-to-handle pieces.
•   Label the pieces with words or letters and encourage the child to say the names as they complete the               puzzle.

     🏀  Story Cubes:

•    Create story cubes with different pictures on each face.
•    Roll the cubes and encourage your toddler to create a simple story using the images that appear.

    

 🏀 Interactive Books:

•   Choose interactive books with textures, flaps, and sounds.  
•   Read together, pointing to pictures and encouraging your toddler to repeat words.

     🏀  Rhyme Time:

•   Use rhyming toys or games to introduce basic rhymes.  
•   Sing nursery rhymes and encourage your toddler to join in.

    🏀 Picture Bingo:  

• Create a simple bingo game with pictures instead of numbers.
•  Call out the names of the pictures, and the child can place a marker on the corresponding image.

      🏀  Language Stacking Cups:

•   Stackable cups with letters, numbers, or pictures.
•   Encourage your toddler to stack the cups in the correct order and say the letters or numbers out loud.

     

    🏀  Color Matching Cards:

•    Create cards with different colors and corresponding objects or animals.
•     Ask your toddler to match the colored cards with the correct images.

1     🏀 Lacing Cards :

•     Create lacing cards with letters or simple words.
•     Your toddler can practice threading a string through the holes while saying the letters or words.

                 Remember to choose toys that are age-appropriate and safe for toddlers, and always supervise playtime. The key is to make learning enjoyable and interactive for them.

 ❀  Intellectual

     When selecting intellectual toys for toddlers, it's essential to focus on options that promote cognitive development, problem-solving skills, creativity, and sensory exploration. Here are some suggestions:

     

     🏀  Building Blocks:

•   Choose large, colorful building blocks that toddlers can stack and knock down.

•     This helps develop spatial awareness, motor skills, and creativity.

    🏀 Shape Sorters:

•  Introduce a shape sorter with various shapes and corresponding holes.
•  This helps develop spatial awareness, motor skills, and creativity.

    🏀  Puzzles:

•  Select puzzles with large, easy-to-handle pieces and vibrant images.
•  Puzzles enhance cognitive skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

     🏀  Nesting and Stacking Toys:

•   Offer toys that involve nesting cups or stacking rings.
•    These toys help with size and color recognition, as well as fine motor skills.

 

      🏀  Musical Instruments:

• Provide simple musical instruments like a xylophone, drum, or shakers.
• Introduces toddlers to different sounds, rhythms, and promotes sensory exploration. 

    🏀  Art Supplies:

•    Offer washable crayons, finger paints, and large paper.
•   Art activities stimulate creativity, fine motor skills, and sensory experiences.

    🏀  Educational Apps for Tablets:   

•   Introduce age-appropriate educational apps designed for toddlers.
•    Look for apps that focus on letters, numbers, shapes, and basic problem-solving.

    🏀  Matching Games:  

•  Use cards or tiles with matching images or patterns.
•  Matching games enhance memory, concentration, and visual discrimination.

    🏀 Interactive Learning Toys:

•       Choose toys that respond to touch or interaction, such as talking dolls or animals.
•       These toys introduce cause-and-effect relationships and engage the child's curiosity.

    🏀  Nature Exploration Kit:

•    Provide a magnifying glass, binoculars, and simple field guide for observing nature.
•    This encourages curiosity about the world around them and supports early scientific exploration.

    🏀  Play Kitchen or Tool Set:

•    A miniature kitchen or tool set allows imaginative play
•   This type of play promotes creativity, role-playing, and problem-solving.

    🏀 Memory Games:

•    Use cards with matching pairs and play simple memory games.
•   Memory games enhance cognitive skills and memory development.

             Always ensure that the toys are safe for toddlers, free from small parts that could be a choking hazard, and appropriate for their developmental stage. Additionally, engaging in playtime with your toddler can enhance the learning experience and strengthen your bond.

❀  Social Emotions

     Toys that focus on social and emotional development can help toddlers understand and express their feelings, build empathy, and develop social skills. Here are some toys that can support social-emotional development in toddlers:

    

    ⚽  Dollhouse: 

•   A dollhouse with figures can encourage imaginative play and storytelling. 
•   Toddlers can act out different scenarios, helping them understand social roles and emotions.

    ⚽  Emotion Cards:

•   Use cards with pictures of facial expressions showing different emotions.
•   Encourage toddlers to identify and express their own emotions using the cards.

     ⚽ Feelings Board Book:

•   Choose board books that explore different emotions. 
•   Reading these books together can help toddlers learn about and discuss various feelings.

    ⚽  Puppets: 

•   Finger puppets or hand puppets with different facial expressions.
•   Toddlers can use these puppets to role-play and express a range of emotions.

   ⚽ Emotion Cubes:  

•  Cubes with different facial expressions on each side.

•  Roll the cubes and ask toddlers to mimic the facial expression or talk about when they feel that way

     ⚽  Social Skills Board Games:

• Select age-appropriate board games that involve taking turns and following rules
• Games can help toddlers learn patience, cooperation, and good sportsmanship.

   ⚽   Dress-Up Clothes:

•  Costumes that represent different professions or characters.
•  Dress-up play allows toddlers to explore different roles and emotions.

    ⚽  Mirror:   

•   Child-safe mirrors that allow toddlers to see and express their own emotions.
•   Talking about their reflections can help them develop self-awareness.

  ⚽  Social Stories:

•  Create or use books that feature social stories about sharing, taking turns, and making friends.
•  These stories can provide examples and discussions about positive social behaviors.

1    ⚽  Emotion Stickers:  

•  Stickers with different facial expressions that toddlers can use for art or as a tool to express their emotions.
•  Stick the stickers on a chart to discuss and identify feelings. Behaviors.

  

                Remember, the key is to use these toys as tools for open communication and exploration of emotions. Encourage discussions, ask questions, and actively engage with your toddler during playtime to enhance their social and emotional development.