A child’s comprehension and response expand simply by looking, feeling, and taking in their surroundings. Since playful things bring excitement to children, educational toys assist them in learning a variety of abilities that they will need throughout their lives.
But among the pool of educational toys for children, have you been wondering what toys can help a child’s development prosper, enhance cognitive behavior, and stimulate creativity?
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>>>You might like the best books for learning to read? Check our top 20 books reviewed for 2022.
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What Toys Can Help a Child’s Development?
Toys aren’t just for playing or entertaining kids by creating games — they play a BIG role in your child’s healthy development. As every toddler makes her or his way from blocks to teddy bears, to crayons to books; the child in this process is building pre-academic skills.
The best educational toys help children learn through play. The moment they start manipulating the toys, it helps them discover the world they live in. Problem-solving skills, for instance, will prepare them to analyze how cause and effect work.
What you probably don´t know is what exact toys they need and how these toys continue to improve their abilities over the years. The following abilities are normally developed using the most suitable toys.
1) Sensory Stimulation
One of the most important fundamental skills to develop as a child is exercising the basic senses of the body. Each of these senses is used on a daily basis. In this regard, playing with a toy is one way to stimulate a child’s sensory receptors and train more than just one or two senses. Sand and slime are among the perfect toys that allow your child to play while nurturing his or her senses.
Toys that specialize in this aspect are called Sensory Toys. You can actually incorporate these educational toys into classroom playtime for a more wonderful learning experience.
Try these toys:
- Vision Development Toys (sense of sight) – Visual Cards, Pattern Puzzles, Colorful Cubes, Building Blocks
- Olfactory Sensory Toys (sense of smell) – Scented Pencil & Crayons, Aroma Panels, Scratch N Sniff Stickers, Scented Bubbles
- Tactile Feeling Toys (sense of touch) – Textured Play Bags and Mats, Squidgy Toys, Fidget Toys, 3D Puzzles
- Auditory Toys – (sense of hearing) – Rattle Shakers, Squeaky Toys, Musical Toys, Whistles
There are more sensory toys you can find. The ones listed above are but the most common items available in stores.
2) Social Intelligence
When a child enjoys playing with toys alongside other children, she or he will learn to initiate conversations and interact with them. Developing social skills in childhood helps prepare a growing child for interpersonal communication, healthy relationships, and the ability of comfortable with self-expression. It may seem hard to achieve at first, but there are toys that work for this purpose — we call these toys Multiplayer Toys.
Below are the most popular:
- Card Games – Slapjack, Go Fish, Skip-Bo, and Exploding Kittens
- Board Games – Candy Land, Snakes & Ladders, Monopoly Junior, Mouse Trap
- Playtime Kits – Doll or Tea Sets, Bath Bomb Bonanza, Slime Kit, Water Lab
- Puzzles – Snoopy Puzzle Journey, Cube Duel, Froggit, Tetris App
- Online games – Mario Brothers, Lego Worlds
3) Language Skills
Improving language and speech is closely related to social intelligence where multiplayer toys and social interactions work together. But even though this plays a part in language learning, it does not necessarily mean the only way to develop this skill is by socializing. There are a lot of ways to promote this development and one is through the use of certain toys.
Another item that helps develop a child’s language and speech is Children’s Books. Don’t worry if your child does not engage right away, there are tons of creative books that they are bound to love. Not only that, but there are also different kinds of toys for language and speech as well such as talking toys and puppets such as the Talking Hamster and Disney Moana: Hei Hei.
We’ve got a great list of educational toys for learning how to read. Pick the best you think suits your child’s likes and begin from there.
4) Cognitive Development
Cognitive thinking is the ability to understand and process information. In this process, a child will grow trillions of brain-cell connections that naturally become more complex as the child grows. Toys that provide different thinking exercises during playtime give them the space to think of scenarios, conflicts, and resolutions that progress into good decision-making and problem-solving.
The most popular all-around toy in terms of cognition is the famous playhouse. It allows children to do not only what they want but what they need in order to establish a more realistic house. This is where Cognitive Development Toys are needed.
The following are ideal toys:
- Magic Moves
- 6-in-a Town Center Playhouse
- Button Size Sorting Box
- Super Safe Magnifiers
- Count & Play Washable Activity Book
- Roll & Race Activity Ramp
- Safari Chunky Jigsaw
- Colors & Shapes: Match It
- Magnetic Number Maze
- Puzzle Globe Pre-school Geography Toy
5) Motor Skills and Physical Dexterity
Of course, the physical health of children should be considered just as important. It is one of the crucial factors that need to be correctly developed. One way to do that is by providing toys that help improve their gross and fine motor skills.
Toys like shape sorters and stackers encourage kids to use their fingers in order to move and make the pieces fit. Toys in this category also teach kids about sizes and sequencing, as well as problem-solving. Focus on ride-on toys as these require the movement of big and small muscles such as standing, sitting upright at the table, walking, running, and jumping, as well as climbing. Children here develop strength, balance, and dexterity.
You will love:
- Wooden Rainbow Stacker
- Wood Building Block Set
- Little Electric Cars
- Ride-on Wagon
- Scooter for Kids
- Bicycles & Trikes
- Rollerskates for kids
- Foam Jumper
- Mill Side
- Power Wheels
6) Creativity
Creativity is something that every child should be able to properly express. It paves the way for new ideas, unconventional thoughts, and artistic self-expression to manifest and help them cope with new experiences as they grow up. When a child shows a boost of creativity, there are toys designed to help them channel this ingenuity into something tangible.
There are two major types of toys to encourage imagination:
1. Art toys consist of drawing materials, play dough, and craft kits. These are a bit on the messy side.
- Drawing Sets
- Coloring Books
- Light-Up Tracing Pad
- Spirograph Design Set
- Drawing Stencils
2. Musical toys, on the other hand, are just as great in channeling creativity as the art toys but only sound and melody producing. This consists of toy instruments like the xylophone, drums, and maracas, to name a few.
Kids will love:
- Record & Learn
- Guitar Toys
- Toy Drums
- Otamatone Unicorn
- WolVol Electric for Toddlers
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All in all, this goes to show that various kinds of toys are educational and each toy has its own values to teach. Every single one can help progress a child’s overall growth in their little way. Playtimes can have a long-term effect on children and it is your prerogative, as a parent, to carefully choose the kind of toys for your child’s proper development.
Did you know that most of these toys also help in the development of a child with autism?
FAQ
1) What impact do toys have on a child’s development?
Play is essential to a child’s growth in every aspect. It has an effect on cognitive development, as well as social and emotional development and linguistic development. When kids start to manipulate their toys, it helps them discover the world around them. They learn to analyze, solve problems, feel the situation, and feel the value of what they are doing.
2) What are open-ended toys and why are they best?
Open-ended toys are playthings that can be enjoyed without instructions on how to play. Examples of these are dolls, cars, blocks, or a ball. These toys can also be played by 2 or 3 children at a time so they learn how to share, pretend, understand, solve problems while having fun.
The process helps them develop fine motor skills by allowing them to create their own ideas on how to play with a doll, or how to drive a car. Since open-ended toys are not pressuring them with steps to do, their brains are in a better situation to understand and learn with ease.
3) Are there negative effects of toys?
The only “downside” of toys is when they distract children from focus. Too many toys can intervene in a child’s concentration to study, sleep, and enjoy meals. All these can harm children’s concentration and impede creativity, mental health, social relationships, life skills.
4) Why are you suggesting these 60+ toys on your list?
The toys on my list are what most parents have proven to develop sensory stimulation, social intelligence, language skills, cognitive development, motor skills, physical dexterity, and creativity. I have explained above each of these natural skills that they develop while playing.
5) Where can I find these toys? Are they available online?
Yes. All the toys above are available online. Look for them on Amazon. You will find most of the toys are the store’s choices for positive feedback and happy buyers.
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In Conclusion
It is a universally accepted truth that toys are to entertain children. While it’s safe to say that toys are educational, there are items that can efficiently enhance a child’s sensory skills, social intelligence, and language know-how.
Select toys that match a child’s interests. Age-appropriate playthings are challenging for children without them getting bored. When children focus their attention on a toy and start to play with it, they slowly understand life and the feelings that come with it.
Is there something I missed? Share your wonderful thoughts. We would love to hear your comments below.
