How to Choose the Best Learning Toys for Toddlers

There are a lot of things that people don’t think about when they’re shopping for toys. They may not know what to look for or how to find the perfect toy. But there’s no need to worry because this article has some great tips on finding the best learning toys for toddlers!

You’ll be able to pick out any one of these items and know it will be good, which is more than you can say about most products out there today. And who knows? You might even learn something new in the process.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an educational gift, a birthday present, or just want something new and fun- we’ve got you covered on all fronts with our list of recommendations. All you have to do is read on and then you can shop with confidence.

Let’s start by taking a look at some of the things that make a good toy for toddlers.

Things that make a good learning toy for toddlers:

1. Should be designed to help them develop cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and creative skills.
2. It should be engaging and interactive
3. It should be “customized” for each child, or at least have some way to adjust the difficulty level.

There are a lot of different types of toys on the market today. That can make it even more difficult for you to figure out which one is going to be the best choice. But there are some things you should consider before making your final decision.

Some good learning toys for toddlers are ones that only cost a few dollars, but still have tons of educational value. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quality products.

It’s not just about the toy, either. It’s about how you spend your time with them. I’m sure you’ve heard that before, but it really is the truth! Toys are just one part of that equation. You can have a bunch of toys in front of your child, but if you’re not spending quality time with them then what’s the point?

Toys should be fun but also educational (e.g., puzzles)

Toys should be fun, but they also have to be educational. Find toys that help your child learn. Toys that teach them things are good, like puzzles. But you can also find toys that are just for fun!

Cognitive skills: These are about knowing and understanding the world around you. For cognitive development, look for toys that help with memory, logic, spatial perception, language skills, and abstract thought. Examples of these types of toys would be blocks of any kind (i.e. building blocks), puzzles (with knobs and dovetails), and pattern blocks.

Social skills: These are about knowing how to behave around other people, and understanding your place in a social situation. Examples of toys that develop this would be dolls (or action figures), dress-up clothes, playhouses or shops with multiple roles, backpacks and carrying cases so kids can take on different roles during pretend play, and puppets.

Emotional development: This is about being able to identify how you’re feeling, and what the people around you might be feeling. For this type of development, look for toys that help children learn how to manage their own emotions (like puzzles that have fewer pieces but take longer to complete) or toys that encourage pretend play (like dress-up clothes).

Physical development: These are about understanding the laws of physics, discovering how your body works, and learning to control it. For this type of development, look for toys that help kids learn about their own bodies (like having dolls or action figures that stretch), encourage movement (like balls or building blocks with building designs that require balancing), or are just plain fun to move around (like parachute toys, hula hoops, and jump ropes).

Creative development: These are about being creative! Look for toys for toddlers that encourage pretend play or artistic expression. Children might enjoy coloring books, dress-up clothes so they can take on different roles during pretend play, dress-up accessories, modeling clay, craft projects, or art easels.

Avoid toys that only provide entertainment or sensory stimulation

Avoid toys that only provide entertainment or sensory stimulation. If you want to choose a good learning toy for your toddler, look for an educational toy that provides the opportunity for them to use their problem-solving skills and learn what they can do.

Here are some recommendations for toys that will provide a good learning opportunity:

A toy cooking set with a child-safe stove and preparation surfaces. This is a great way to help children practice measuring ingredients, pouring them into pots or pans, mixing them together, and following instructions to get the food prepared for cooking. Learning how to read recipes and follow them is very important as well.

A playhouse with a telephone for children to pretend to call their parents or friends. This will help children practice using the phone, learning how to speak politely, and recognizing what it means when someone answers the phone.

A toy cash register that can scan items and provide change on a small amount of money. This is a great way for kids to learn how to count cash and understand value when shopping at the grocery store.

A toy garage with a lift that can be raised and lowered. Many toddlers enjoy pretending to drive cars around their garages, so this provides an opportunity for children to practice holding onto steering wheels, pressing buttons, and following someone else’s directions.

Bottom line

When it comes to choosing the best learning toys for your toddler, there’s no shortage of options. However, not all educational toys for toddlers are created equal and you want a toy that will be fun but also provides some sort of education or cognitive stimulation. The types of things we looked at in this blog post should help you get started thinking about what is going to work well with your child’s needs and level of development. If you have specific questions related to any particular type of learning toy, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We hope our guide has been helpful so far.