The toddler years of a child are very important years for development. It is during this time that your child will experience everything first hand since he can now walk and do things on his own. The skills develop during these years affects future development therefore it is best to start early. The only way that toddlers will learn is through play. Therefore, as parents, you have to provide your toddler with appropriate toddler toys for his optimum development.
You might be wondering what type of toys you should provide your toddler in this crucial stage of his development. Basically, you should give him toys that are age-appropriate and allows the development of his physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and language skills. Toddlers develop in stages, which is why you have to be very precise when giving them the toys that will make them enjoy without compromising their safety.
Melissa Doug
The toddler age is the time when children are able to walk on their own. Thus, a toddler will be more curious about the world around him and will become more active and independent than before. The heightened preference for physical activities such as running, crawling, and jumping improves the gross motor skill of a child. For physical development, toys that allow free movement such as push/pull toys, climbing toys, slides, rocking toys, and balls are perfect for your child.
You shouldn't really worry so much if the hand-eye coordination of your toddler isn't that fine tuned yet because with the right toddler toys, it will be developed eventually. Stacking toys, blocks, construction toys, and other art and craft activities are some of the toys that will develop fine motor skills.
The toddler age is also the time when your child will prefer to play alone or in parallel to other children of his age. You can encourage him to share his toys though so that he will be able to improve his social skills. Toys like cars, trains, and stuffed toys are those which can be shared with other kids.
Language development is another milestone in your child's toddler stages. The good news here is that any toy can be used for language development since the success of which primarily lies on you as a caregiver. You have to spend enough time with your toddler to talk to them during play. Story books are perfect for this endeavor although plastic figures, i.e. animals, can also be used to tell a story.
Construction toys should also be provided to encourage your child's creativity and imagination. When a child is playing with these toys, it is best to leave them alone so that they can be in their own imaginative world. Brain development is also ideal at this age which is why it can really be helpful to provide your toddler with educational toys. These educational toddler toys will help the child to master certain concepts and skills needed for the future. Stacking rings, jigsaw puzzles, shape sorters, and building blocks are some of the toys that can be given for this undertaking.