One of my favorite things to shop for is kids toys. But there’s so many cute and educational toys out there, it’s so hard to not go overboard! Really, how many play food sets can one child really use? So for this gift guide, I’m splitting up my recommendations into categories as opposed to individual gifts. Each of these categories of toys serves an educational purpose and is especially targeted for toddlers and preschoolers, but most of all, they’re fun!
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1. Pretend Play Toys
It’s pretty well known that play is great for kids; in fact, it’s how they learn! Pretend play is especially great because it helps kids understand the concepts of symbolism and taking perspectives. Within the category of pretend play, I like to look at toys that promote role play – like a play kitchen, baby doll and accessories, or dress up costumes. If you’re feeling like doing a DIY, make sure you check out how we upgraded Jemma’s IKEA play kitchen.
You can also look for toys that show a familiar scene with manipulable characters – like a barn with animals, dollhouse with family members, etc. A nativity set is great for a Christmas gift!
When we play blocks, Jemma actually likes to create a McDonald’s drive thru and pretend to order french fries.
2. Books
You can never go wrong with books! Things I like in books for infants and toddlers:
– pictures that aren’t too busy
– stories about familiar, everyday scenarios
– useful vocabulary
– encourages interaction (lift the flap, etc.)
Jemma has LOVED the Llama Llama board books since she turned one, especially the ones about waking and nighttime routines. She’s got them both memorized now!
If you feel like your child isn’t interested in books, or you’re not sure how to read to them, check out my post about how to read books to your infant!
For toddler books, I’m moving away from “100 word” type books that are only about labeling, and I’m starting to look for stories that have simple sequences of events.
Two of my favorite series that appear to be lesser-known are the Little Rabbit and the Cook in a Book series:
3. Puzzles
The late toddler/preschool years are a great time to introduce puzzles! You can do the wooden block puzzles to work on numbers, letters, or vocabulary building.
Or you can start introducing large jigsaw or floor puzzles for a different cognitive flex.
4. Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts toys are really great not just for encouraging kids to play creatively, but they usually allow them to practice their fine motor skills as well. Getting a different variety of art supplies can help introduce your child to different textures and how to hold pens, crayons, or brushes.
5. Physical Activity Toys
Whereas arts and crafts toys naturally promote fine motor practice, large activity toys, like slides, naturally encourage gross motor development! Plus, they’re a great way to burn off some of that toddler energizer-bunny energy. I’ve seen a family build a whole jungle gym inside their living room. It was awesome.
So what toys do you think you’ll be gifting the toddlers in your life? For more ideas, you can check out my recommended toddler toys for language development.
If you liked this post, make sure to pin it to Pinterest to save these ideas! My friend Christina at Lazy Momming also has a post reviewing toddler toys that her kids loved! Happy gifting!