By Ingrid Lee

Toddler educational toys can have many definitions. To put it simply, educational can mean that they are also developing skills. It could also refer to a child expanding their creativity and also exploring their imagination. That is the ultimate goal, your toddler learning while playing.

There are some really great games and toys on the market today for toddlers that are highly educational. I think these are fantastic for your child. Just always keep in mind that you want your toddler to have FUN while learning.

If toddler educational toys can encourage your toddler to become interested in letters and Math skills, then they will carry that interest with them throughout the rest of their school years. It is about starting good habits to last a lifetime. I talk about this often. You start your child out young learning good habits.

Toys can make learning FUN. If your toddler is excited and having FUN while playing, they are going to want to play more there fore learn more.

That is why it is important as parents to make the proper choices even in their toys. Kids had just as much FUN when he played with their toys, or when they played video games. Just as much FUN but was learning at the same time. It just doesn’t get any better than that. I have a few tips and advice that will help you know what to look for when choosing toddler educational toys.

What to look for when choosing Toddler Educational Toys:

1. Age Appropriate.You do not want to pick a toy that will be to difficult for your child to master. You do not want your toddler to become frustrated. You also do not want a toy that is too easy because then they may become bored. Again read the reviews on a toy before you purchase it. You know your toddler and know what their capable of.
2. The toy should be so much FUN that they want to play with it repeatedly. You know you have a winner when they keep going back to it and playing with it over and over. You just do not want your toddler getting bored. So keep that in mind when choosing toys.

You can always do your research and ask other Moms and see what they may suggest. The ability to learn is one of the best gifts you could ever give your child, the ability to want to learn and have FUN while doing so. So I realize how important toddler educational toys are to my child’s development. We want the best for our children. When your toddler has FUN while learning, you will be happy with the end result. We have to start them out learning good habits early, especially with their education.

You may want to check out my other guide on Lightweight Strollers for the Family on the Goand Bumbleride Stroller Reviews.

By : Chris Peace

Educational Toys

Playing is the most important activity for a toddler. This particular stage in a toddler’s life is all about exploration, imitating, experimenting and most of all setting their own rules to help them understand how things work. All of these go a long way in developing physical, mental, language and social skills of toddlers. Some of the toddler toys and activities one could use are: blocks, music, puzzles, puppets etc. Here’s a look at how play helps a toddler grow :

Development of Physical Skills

Physical skills in toddlers are developed as they learn actions like crawling, reaching out, grasping and balance, running and climbing. These motor skills further help in the development of finer motor skills like the use of fingers as the toddler begins handling objects. Toddler toys play a very important role in the development of these very basic physical skills. Push and pull toys encourage walking, running and grasping. While toys like maracas encourage grasping. Smalltime Child has a variety of these toddler toys to choose from.

Development of Mental Skills

Problem solving is the easiest way for toddlers to develop their mental skills. Toddlers also need to understand cause and effect. Toddler toys that encourage this are activity sets like peg boards, blocks, interlocking objects, shapes etc. Interacting with objects such as these toddlers learn to recognise and understand different objects with respect to their shape, size and colour.

Development of Language Skills

Language skills develop as toddlers interact and play with others, be it their parents or peers. Development of these skills don’t necessary develop from toddler toys. They can also be developed from simple games that are played between parent and child or between child and child. These simple games can be further developed into activities like story telling. These can be in the form of puzzles that are illustrated; e.g. with pictures of animals, birds, everyday objects, numbers, the alphabet etc. Toddlers are encouraged to speak as they recognize the various shapes. Smalltime Child stocks such puzzles that one might find useful.

Development of Social Skills

Toddlers’ social skills develop mainly through interaction. Skills like cooperating, following instructions, taking turns, negotiating, playing fair are all learnt during play and interacting with others. Sharing play time experiences and toys are the most important aspect of developing socials skills. You must remember that toddlers at their age are very imaginative and can be moulded the way you want them to be. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that these playtime experiences have a positive impact on the child. This in turn leaves the child with a feeling of success. Positive feelings leads to the stimulation of imagination and creativity and help toddlers expand their thinking of the environment that they live in.

Also, check out my other guide on Lightweight Strollers for the Family on the Go and Baby Strollers – Frequently Asked Questions