Engaging Sensory and Educational Toys for Toddlers Under Two
As a parent, finding the right toys that are both fun and educational for your toddler can be a challenge. However, studies show that multi-sensory toys significantly increased children’s engagement and learning outcomes compared to traditional toys. Additionally, a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics highlights that developmentally appropriate play with educational toys promotes social-emotional, cognitive, language and self-regulation skills. Sensory toys, designed to stimulate one or more of the senses such as touch, sight, or hearing often feature different textures, sounds, or require manipulation, making them an excellent choice for your child’s development.
Sensory and educational toys can play a significant role in a child’s development and are important for several reasons:
Cognitive Development: These toys help children grasp essential concepts like colors, shapes, numbers and letters. They also enhance memory recall, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
Motor Skills: Many educational toys require children to use their hands and fingers in specific ways, which helps improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Social Skills: Playing with educational toys with others encourages cooperation, communication, and sharing.
Independent Learning: Allows children to explore and learn on their own, fostering independence and self-confidence.
Creativity and Imagination: These toys often have multiple uses and can be used in various ways, encouraging creativity and imaginative play.
Here are some great sensory and educational toys that my 21-month-old daughter really enjoys. Each toy is designed to stimulate her senses, encourage learning, and provide hours of entertainment.
1. moonkie: silicone stacking cups
These colorful silicone stacking cups are perfect for little hands. They come in various sizes and colors, making them ideal for stacking, nesting, and even teething.
Benefits
Fine Motor Skills: Helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Cognitive Development: Encourages problem-solving as toddlers figure out how to stack and nest the cups.
Safe for Teething: Made from food-grade silicone, they are safe for teething babies.
Find it HERE
2. Wooden music set
This beautifully crafted wooden music set includes a variety of instruments like a tambourine, maracas and a xylophone. It’s perfect for introducing your toddler to the world of music.
Benefits
Sensory Development: Enhances auditory skills through different sounds and rhythms.
Creativity: Encourages creative expression and musical exploration.
Social Skills: Great for interactive play with parents or other children.
Find it HERE
3. dimple fidget silicone press toy
This toy features a simple yet effective design with nine silicone buttons that can be pushed and popped, each with different shapes and numbers, including digital Braille on the back.
Benefits
Sensory Exploration: This toy stimulates multiple senses, including touch and hearing, through its textured buttons and popping sounds.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Manipulating the buttons helps improve this fine motor skill.
Emotional Regulation: The repetitive action of pushing and popping the buttons can have a calming effect, helping children manage stress and anxiety.
Inclusivity: The inclusion of digital Braille makes this toy accessible for visually impaired children, promoting inclusivity and diverse learning experiences.
Find it HERE
“Educational and sensory toys can provide your child with a rich, stimulating environment that supports their overall development and prepares them for future learning and social interactions.”
4. sound drum
This percussion instrument is designed to produce soothing, ethereal sounds for a calming auditory experience. It comes with a set of drumsticks, a music book, and a convenient carrying bag, making it easy to travel with.
Benefits
Auditory Development: The clear, melodious tones of the steel tongue drum help enhance toddlers’ auditory skills, allowing them to distinguish between different sounds and pitches.
Motor Skills: Playing the drum with sticks or hands improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Cognitive Skills: Learning to play different notes and rhythms can boost cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Emotional Well-being: The calming sounds produced by the drum can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of peace and emotional stability in young children.
Find it HERE
4. marlowe & co.: fishing set
This eight-piece set includes two wooden fishing rods and six colorful silicone fish, all crafted from high-quality, food-grade materials.
Benefits
Fine Motor Skills: Using the fishing rods to catch the fish helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination which are crucial for tasks like writing and self-feeding.
Problem-Solving Abilities: Encourages toddlers to think critically and solve problems as they figure out how to catch the fish, enhancing their cognitive development.
Imaginative Play: This playset fosters creativity and imagination as toddlers engage in pretend play, creating their own fishing adventures and stories.
Emotional Development: Successfully catching the fish can boost toddlers’ confidence and self-esteem, while the calming activity can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Find it HERE
5. konges slojd stacking boxes
These stacking boxes come in various sizes and feature beautiful illustrations. They can be stacked, nested, or used for imaginative play.
Benefits
Spatial Awareness: Helps toddlers understand size and spatial relationships.
Cognitive Skills: Encourages problem-solving and logical thinking.
Imaginative Play: Can be used in various ways, fostering creativity and imagination.
Find it HERE
6. startcan spanish-english talking cards
This interactive talking card set introduces toddlers to both the English and Spanish language through several topics. The set includes 258 double-sided cards, covering 31 topics such as letters, numbers, animals, colors, shapes and more. Each card features words in both languages along with corresponding images. The set comes with a card reader that reads the words aloud and makes realistic sounds, enhancing the learning experience.
Benefits
Language Development: Promotes bilingual language skills from an early age.
Auditory Learning: The talking feature of the cards helps toddlers associate sounds with words and images, which is crucial for language acquisition.
Fine Motor Skills: Handling the cards and inserting them into the reader helps improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Cultural Awareness: Exposure to a second language at an early age can foster cultural awareness and appreciation, broadening a child’s understanding of the world.
Emotional Well-being: The interactive and engaging nature of the toy can make learning enjoyable, reducing stress and promoting a positive attitude towards education.
Find it HERE
These toys not only keep your toddler entertained but also support their developmental milestones - providing your child with a rich, stimulating environment that supports their overall development and prepares them for future learning and social interactions. If you’re curious about how to incorporate these toys into your home, take a peek at my post How to Design Your Child’s Room for Sensory Play