After learning about general tips for choosing smart toys for your kids, we focus on toys for your toddler.

Your toddler plays not only to have fun, but to learn and perfect fine motor skills like controlling his hands and rotating his wrists.  Good toys to give your kid at this stage are as follows:

• toys that unscrew
• toys with interlocking pieces that can be put together and apart
• construction games
• puzzle pieces that he has to manipulate to fit into shapes (pegboards)
• soft balls
• play dough
• hammering benches
• sand box where he plays with sand using plastic shapes, shovels, scoops, jars,  and others
• arts and crafts supplies

Your toddler also loves moving games so he can perfect walking, balancing, and other gross motor skills.  Take him to a playground and let him play with a small slide or a toddler gym.  These develop his muscle and agility.  Indoor toys that also develop your child’s strength and coordination include:

• cars or wagons that he can push
• low rocking horses
• riding toys
• safety trikes and wagons

Simple musical instruments are also excellent toys as this will introduce your child to the world of music making and playing an instrument.  Playing a musical instrument is shown to have beneficial effect on children’s intelligence.  Musical instruments include:

• piano
• drums
• xylophone
• musical hammers
• his voice (singing)

Toys that stimulate your child’s imagination are some of the most enjoyable, and they develop his creativity.  They also helps him identify with adults as he imitates his father fixing the car or her mother cooking, for example.  Any object can be a creative toy.  The following are examples:

• towel that becomes a super cape and transforms him into a super hero
• old clothes and costumes
• cardboard boxes
• toy trucks, trains and cars
• stuffed animals, character toys and dolls
• puppets
• toy tools, doctor's instruments, cooking utensils
• paper, pencil, crayons, arts and crafts supplies

Many educational toys are also beneficial to your toddlers, including those that familiarize him with letters, numbers, and names of objects.

Looking for Holiday Toys and Gifts? Click here for:

Educational Toys and Gifts to Make Your Kid Smart

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