I Love Toddlers ; Toys for Toddlers

I love toddlers. Toddlers have passed infancy but are still preschool age. They are aware of their world and are exploring everything. They are tenacious – they walk and stumble, then laugh or cry and go at it one more time.Toddlers start to imitate adults in their life; they may be using child sized mops and brooms to be like their parents. They are practicing fine motor skills by piling blocks and using large wooden puzzles and shape sorters. They may be trying to use child safety scissors. Everything is new and novel and exciting. I once took my toddler to a fireworks display and was disappointed when he wasn’t particularlyenthralled. My friend pointed out that everything is a fireworks display at that age. So how can we support this amazing age of discovery? What are the best toys for 1 year old? Which toys will help develop fine motor skills for toddlers?

Some of the best toys for one year olds will be enjoyed right up to preschool age and beyond. They are great for fine motor skill development and so much more. My favourites are wooden alphabet blocks and large sized stringing beads of different shapes. Also, pegboards designed for this age group ensure success and enjoyment without frustration. The jumbo sized pegs are easy to grasp, twist, turn, push and pull – all these are fine motor skills for toddlers to practice. 

Counting bears and matching sorting cups are excellent for fine motor skills for toddlers. (The bears are not recommended for children who are still putting things in their mouth; other objects such as large beads or pegs can be used instead.) I have watched toddlers playwith this toy for ages, sorting by color, lining up the bears or using the bearsin pretend play. Picking up and placing the bears uses fine motor, planning and eye hand coordination.

Construction sets for toddlers are particularly good for fine motor skills. Interesting sets like nuts and bolts, with wheels and interconnecting pieces are just the right size for toddler hands. Sets with tubes and pipes and cross pieces are another suggestion. Construction sets that challenge the toddler but don’t overwhelm are appropriate. My older son was extremely creative (if I do say so myself), but his fine motor skills didn’t coincide with his imagination. There were several instances where the interlocking bricks were thrown across the room in frustration. If I had known better, a different size of bricks may have been a simple solution; a construction set designed particularly for toddlers would have been a better choice.

I look back and see my boys as toddlers; they are now in their forties. It is a cliché, but enjoy your children while you can as they grow up so quickly. And if one phase is particularly frustrating, just remember, this too shall pass.