Best developmental toys for early childhood

Choosing the best developmental toys for early childhood is an important decision, as these toys can have a significant impact on a child's cognitive, physical, and emotional development. We will review some developmental toys and evaluate how they contribute to your child's development.

LEGO DUPLO provides larger-sized blocks that are perfect for small hands and encourages creativity, gross motor (bodily movement), and fine motor (hand, finger, wrist development) skills. Mega Bloks is similar to LEGO DUPLO and promotes cognitive development, such as questioning skills, spatial relationships, problem-solving, imitation, memory, number sense, classification, and symbolic play.

Puzzles support the development of problem-solving skills, cognitive skills, visual-spatial awareness, fine motor skills, and eye-hand coordination. Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles come in various themes and help develop problem-solving skills and eye-hand coordination. Knobbled puzzles encourage additional development of the pincer and tripod grasp which strengthens the fingers and develops coordination that fosters the early development of fine motor strengthening needed later for coloring and writing. Ravensburger Puzzles are good for the development of cognitive functioning skills for children three years old and older. Ravensburger Puzzles or any jigsaw puzzle for two to three-year-olds should consist of approximately eight to 20 pieces. Ravensburger Puzzles are known for their high-quality jigsaw puzzles that come in different difficulty levels.

Art and craft supplies encourage creativity and the development of fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Crayola Washable Crayons and Play-Doh offer sculpting and imaginative play, aiding in developing tactile skills. Many art and craft supplies come scented to provide an olfactory experience that can encourage language development and can help regulate behavior.

If you want to build eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and an understanding of size relationships, educational toys, such as the Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) will support those developmental domains. This developmental toy focuses on sorting, size, sequencing, and building. Shape sorters, such as the Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cylinder enhance shape recognition, color recognition, and problem-solving skills.

B. Toys by Battat B. Symphony Musical Toy Orchestra features 15 songs in different genres with 13 instruments that support creativity and the development of cognitive skills for the musical enthusiast. This developmental toy supports learning for children 36 months to eight years.

Role-playing and pretend play supports early language and social and emotional development. The KidKraft Wooden Play Kitchens encourage imagination, creativity, and the development of social skills through imaginative play. Dress-up clothes and costumes and accessories let kids explore various roles and engage in imaginative play.

Board books are sturdy books that provide colorful pictures and simple text to promote language development and early literacy. Interactive sound books engage children with sound effects, enhancing the auditory senses.

Outdoor toys, such as tricycles and balance bikes improve the development of gross motor skills and coordination while providing outdoor exercise. Sand and water sets foster sensory exploration, creativity, and the understanding of basic physics.

Educational games help improve memory and concentration skills, and they come in various themes for different interests. Math and counting games like "Count Your Chickens!" by Peaceable Kingdom teach basic math concepts. Tinkertoy sets and magnetic tiles by Picasso promote creativity, spatial reasoning, and fine motor skills with the construction of various structures. Keep in mind that these toys contain small parts and are manufacturer recommended for ages three and older.

The best toys for early childhood development are those that encourage hands-on exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction. It is also important to choose toys that are age-appropriate and safe for your child's developmental stage and needs. Always supervise playtime, and consider your child's individual interests and preferences when selecting toys.

Download the Interactive Story Board: Five Little Monkeys for toddlers 12-36 months.