With all the toys out there for toddlers, it's hard to know what toys are empty fun and what toys aid children in the vital development they experience at the age of one and two years old. As a parent, it is your role to ensure that your child's toys benefit them developmentally as much as possible. Luckily, many toys on the market can help your toddler develop the vital physical, social and mental skills he needs.
Toys for Mental Development
At her age, your toddler's mental skills are improving. Play needs to cater to the improvement of problem-solving skills and the demonstration of cause-and-effect. Play should also include shapes, colors and sizes, as toddlers are quickly learning these concepts. Try toys such as puzzles, pretend tools and building blocks for problem-solving and cause-and-effect skill boosters. Try large crayons, play dough and simple books to help improve color recognition, and try shape-sorters to learn colors and shapes. You can also use pop-up books and the like to help your child learn new concepts, like "in" and "out" and "up" and "down." Make sure to interact with your toddler, saying the words as you point to them on the toy. Doing so will help her remember the words and encourage the understanding of language concepts, says the Fisher Price Web site.
Toys for Motor Skill Development
Toddlers are also learning large motor skills, which involve running, jumping, climbing and balancing, and fine motor skills, such as grasping with their fingers. Try small tricycles or other pedal toys, wagons, climbing structures and other push-pull toys that allow the toddler to fine-tune his large motor skills and broad physical abilities. For more fine motor skills, try blocks, hand puppets, small trucks, dolls and clothes for dress up. During the toy-selection process, try to make sure that you aren't enforcing gender stereotypes; your child's exploration is normal and it is his way of understanding the world around him, says The Creative Institute Web site.
Toys for Social Skill Development
At this stage, toddlers are interested in playing with you and with others. Their social skills will increase during play as they learn vital concepts such as cooperation, taking turns and following the rules. She'll also forge bonds with those she plays with and learn certain concepts about the roles of society. Balls and bean bags---1 3/4 or larger---are versatile toys that allow your toddler to interact with other children to learn these social skills. Child-size toys and chairs provide a forum for children to read with each other, do arts and crafts, or play dolls or blocks together. Play sets, play houses and other climbing structures are great ways for children to interact as well.
