How to Choose an Activity Toy for your Toddler
The best toddler activity toys are engaging and encourage interactive play. Toddlers can be tough on their toys, so durability is important as well—look for quality items that will withstand rough handling. A tea party set is a great toy for a toddler, as long as it is made from wood or tough plastic. A set made from delicate porcelain won’t last an hour, and could even injure your child when it breaks.
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Toddlers love to imitate everything they see adults doing, so the best activity toys are ones that help them to do just that. Toy cell phones, tool kits, kitchens and cars, not only give children the ability to do everything they see you doing, but offer a great way for them to express themselves as well. Using miniature versions of the items they see in use every day helps them feel older and more grown up. Offering toy versions of common household items might even keep your toddler from trying to play with the “real” thing.
When you are choosing an activity toddler toys, pay close attention to the suggested age ranges. As your child gets older you will have a better sense of what they can and cannot handle. It is okay to choose something that is a little above their age range in order to give them a bit of a challenge or help them develop in an area they may be a little behind in. Be careful, though. If you choose a toy that is too advanced, it can really lead to frustration and condition them to dislike whatever activity that toy is promoting.
Multifunction toys are great for this age group, as they allow the game or method of play to be different every time your child approaches them. Building blocks, for example, can become just about anything your child wants. Stuffed animals, dolls, and “people” play sets allow your child to engage in imaginative and creative “pretend” play.
One of the biggest mistakes when choosing an activity toy for toddlers is overlooking the value of board games or interactive toys. While you may be looking for a toy that can hold your child’s interest so you can focus on other things, it is important to include toys that allow you to play along as well. Children get bored very quickly of playing alone, so buying toys that encourage and even require group interaction are great ways to hold their interest.
Above all, choosing the best activity toy for your toddler has to be a personalized choice. A child who has recently become fascinated with animals would probably love a toy vet kit, and one with a flair for finger painting is probably ready for other art supplies. You know your child best, so consider his abilities and interests when you choose an activity toy for him. You will both be glad you did!
