Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Of course, your toddler will probably still want to play with most of the "baby toys" for a while but now she's also ready for some more "sophisticated" playthings. These toys will encourage your toddler to develop her new motor and mental skills!  I consider any good toddler toy to be an "educational toy" because young children learn through play.

Dolls: At some point during most toddlers' development, they will show an interest in a companion that looks more like a human baby. They'll still drag around their favorite plush puppy or bear but will also want to care for a baby doll--just like mommy and daddy take care of them. This stage may be even more exciting for toddlers who are expecting or who have a new sibling. I seemed to have skipped this phase but both my children love to change, feed, and cuddle their dolls. Doll play allows children to process their own emotions and also develop greater empathy--definitely worth encouraging!

Alphabet Toys: Toddlers will initially realize that letters have something to do with those neat stories you read them. Eventually they will connect letters to the letter names and then it is just a hop, skip, and a jump to the sounds letters make. The best way to encourage pre-literacy skills is to create a print-rich environment. This means that your toddler will have plenty of opportunity to interact with letters and words in multiple ways and formats. One of my favorite letter toys is the LeapFrog Fridge Words Magnetic Word Builder. Along with the ever-popular refrigerator magnet letters, you get three modes of play for a toy that will grow with your child.

Ride-ons: What toddler can resist the allure of a ride-on? Self-powered locomotion is pure toddler excitement. We've purchased or been gifted or tested out so many ride-ons at our house but I can honestly say the kids have loved them all. My favorites are the sturdy ones and ones that adults or older siblings can push (without bending over--my aching back!) for younger toddlers or toddlers who just feel like a free ride. The kids love the ones that are shaped like any sort of car, train, or truck.

Counting Toys: Another basic skill toddlers begin to acquire is counting and number recognition. Every kid learns these things at his or own pace but fun exposure to the idea of counting will make it easier once your toddler is ready to embark on her first math adventure. We count everything--stairs, buttons, blocks--and numbers are everywhere! Toy telephones, like the LeapFrog Chat & Count Cell Phone build number recognition while allowing your toddler to play with an all-time favorite, the phone...without accidentally using up the minutes on your plan.

Kitchens: I have yet to meet the toddler who doesn't enjoy play kitchens. If you cannot afford a fancy new one, you'll probably be able to spot one at a garage sale. Or, go green and recycle yours out of cardboard boxes or wooden crates. Just the basic outline of some stove top burners, a bowl for a sink, and a few cutouts for a refrigerator and oven and your kids will be junior chefs in no time.

Shape Sorters: Older toddlers will begin to recognize shapes and maybe even correctly identify them. Shape sorters, boxes with holes for various shaped blocks, encourage spatial skills as well as shape recognition. Many of these also have brightly colored pieces that help children learn colors, another toddler skill.  The LeapFrog Fix & Learn Speedy is an interesting twist on the classic shape toy--this little race car is a push toy, tool set, and shape toy all in one. Following instructions, kids twist or press the correct shape-coded buttons to get vrooming again.

Play Tents: Now that your toddler knows you are not actually vanishing when you aren't visible (Thank you, object permanence! Mommy can shower alone again!), he will love his own hiding spot in a play tent. My mom would always get out the dining room chairs and a spare sheet--still an excellent and frugal option. I also love the convenience of a one-touch or pop-up play tent. My kids will play for hours in their "club house"--exploring caves, taking a rocket ship to the moon, or just relaxing and reading.

Role Playing Toys: Tool sets? Vacuums? Telephones? Mini laptops? If your toddler sees you using something, he is going to want to use it (or a reasonable substitute), too. The most popular option will probably be whatever you spend the most time with in the house. Just remember--he's going to copy EVERYTHING... not just the behaviors you want him to mimic.

More Books! Okay, you are going to see this on my list for every age group. Tag Junior is a great toy/book hybrid that will engage your toddler and encourage her love of reading. Books open up a whole new world and develop that skill that makes all play (and learning) possible--the imagination!
Just like their slightly younger peers, 2-year-olds continue to be extremely curious about the world. In addition to improve motor skills allowing them to walk, crawl, run, jump and climb, many children at this age are equipped with blossoming language skills. They can now begin to ask questions, listen to stories and follow some very simple instructions.

With a more sophisticated mind, 2-year-olds are ready to explore some basic academic skills such as colors and shapes, as well as learn simple words and phrases. The best toys for 2 year olds will entertain and engage them while teaching basic skills, fun and educational.

Emotionally, toddlers are developing a sense of self and independence while still enjoying praise and encouragement from their parents. To support them, look for toys that allow them to master and show off new skills.

Shopping Guide Best Learning Toys for 2 Year Olds

Active Play Toys

Two-year-olds are constantly on-the-move, so the best toys are ones the can pull or tug behind them (bonus when they can give “rides” to their other toys!). As they become increasingly confident walkers, a whole new world of ball-based play patterns can emerge. Simple educational games that involve tossing or kicking a ball can provide hours of fun while building motor skills and coordination.

Pretend Play Toys


Toddlers are learning words that will help them communicate about common experiences in their environment. Dolls or stuffed animals they can “talk” to as they go about their daily routines, or familiar objects like kitchen utensils, will help children incorporate these first words and phrases into their ever-growing vocabulary.

Math Toys

Shape sorters, colored blocks and count-along toys further enhance a toddler’s vocabulary as they lay the foundation for important math concepts.

Social Play Toys

While play can be largely solitary at this age, you might see toddlers making small gestures or attempts to socialize with others. Children might begin to “share” by offering toys or objects to another child. Toys such as tea sets or train sets that allow multiple kids to play in parallel in a small group but do not require coordination and communication amongst them can provide room for early social experiences. When your child is ready, these same learning toys become materials to help foster more sophisticated and coordinated play among peers.

Creative Play Toys

As they grow, pretend play toys that inspire more elaborate scenarios can foster children’s budding imaginations. They may use a plastic stethoscope to listen to their teddy bear’s heartbeat, pull out the tea set to plan a party for their stuffed animals or write their aunts and uncles emails from their toy laptop. Creativity can bloom as children use crayons, stamps, and colored paper to design birthday cards for loved ones or pieces of art to adorn the refrigerator.