Toys for Toddlers

Toys for Toddlers

Once babies become mobile, they are ready to explore the world around them in full force. Toddlers are full of curiosity and energy. They love to discover how things work and will use their new physical abilities to play. Your toddler will imitate you and will want to help with everyday tasks like cleaning. The toddler years are a lot of fun for both parents and children. Provide your little one with a variety of age appropriate toys to enhance their learning adventures.

Toys that roll have always been favorites at this age. Your child loves to investigate cause and effect relationships so toys that produce sounds or lights when they are pushed or pulled are fascinating to her. Stacking, dumping, and filling are still popular play activities at this age as well. The Galt Baby Walker features a sturdy push handle to encourage your baby's first steps and the wagon like bin includes an array of wooden blocks. Toddlers love placing the blocks inside the walker, dumping them out, and putting them in again.

Your baby will take a bigger interest in pictures and reading at this age. Soft cloth books or solid board books are best for toddlers. Provide her with a large selection of baby-safe books for her own independent play and continue to read to her each day. During the toddler years, your baby will begin recognizing pictures of common objects and will point them out in books. She will also enjoy helping to turn pages during story time.

Music is an important part of your toddler's life. Toys that shake or rattle to produce musical sounds will thrill your little one. She will now press keys or buttons to create sounds and will bang various things together just to see what sounds she can make. Simple tambourines or kitchen utensils are well-loved playthings during this stage of development.

Toddlers are discovering the fun of water play. Bath time has turned into a splashing play time event. Squeaky rubber toys are perfect for water exploration. Cups and containers of various shapes and sizes will allow your child to pour and scoop the water. Lightweight balls are fun in the tub and out. Toddlers are developing many of their large muscles at this time. Rolling, throwing, and catching are great activities to help this development and young children are delighted at chasing the ball across the room.

Small motor skills are just beginning to emerge during this stage of development. Toddlers can start to scribble with crayons now under your supervision. Wooden puzzles with large pieces or plastic shape sorters will not only enhance your child's logical thinking, but will allow her to use her fingers and aid small muscle development. These small muscles are the same ones your child will use to write and to cut with scissors later in life.

Toddlers are easy to amuse and are sure to explore and investigate everything they see. Provide your little one with a variety of simple toys that invite her to discover new things through play. Remember to include plenty of books and music, as well as toys that will help as she is learning to walk and run.