What Kind of Toys Toddlers Need the Most and Why
Your toddler is full of energy and curiosity and it can be quite challenging to choose toys that satisfy and stimulate your child. At this age, children are just discovering their abilities and the things around them; they love climbing, running, jumping, and maneuvering objects with their developing motor skills and muscles. They are also becoming interested in sensory stimulation, and in imitating grown-up activity.
When choosing toys appropriate for your toddler, it is important to keep their needs and interests in mind, and to think about what skills a toddler needs to develop as he or she grows up.
At this age, toddlers need:
Sensory stimulus: They learn more about themselves by exploring myriad things and deciding what they like and what they don’t. Puzzles, dough, chalk and other such playthings are recommended.
Creative outlet: At this age, children are not interested in painting a specific object or solving a puzzle in the correct way. Ask them open-ended questions to describe their paintings, choices or feelings.
Freedom: It is important to let your child express their choices when it comes to toys. Not all girls like to play with dolls, and not all boys love GI Joe. Do not judge your child’s choices or play projects.
Supervision: Toddlers love to put things in their mouth! Keep a watch when they are playing, especially when it is with paints, crayons, balloons, etc. The safety of young children is a foremost concern; remember that even safe toys can be hazardous when misused, and toys safe for an older age bracket may be inappropriate for a younger child.
Companionship: For young children, toys can be a great way to develop social skills, have fun with their family, and make friends.
Challenges: Get involved with your child’s play and participate at their level. Once a level of trust is established in the play, you can gently guide your child to a slightly higher level of difficulty or challenges.
Some age-appropriate toys for toddlers are climbing structures, books, water toys, dolls, stuffed animals, dress-up materials, boxes, swings, climbing structures, building blocks, crayons, paints, play-dough, and push-pull toy wagons. All these toys can be used in creative, stimulating and safe ways, whether alone under supervision, or together with parents and friends.
