Best Toys for Infants 

Right after birth, babies are known for spending more of their hours snoozing the day away. While your little one may be asleep a lot of the time, that's because it's tiring being a baby! Babies are going through a ton of physical, mental, and emotional development during these early stages of life. Parents can help during this time by engaging their infants in play activities and playtime with toys. 

What To Look for in Infant Toys 

So, what should we as parents be looking for when it comes to toys for our infants? Well, the answer is more simple than you may think. We want to look for things that get and keep baby's attention and introduce them to new experiences within their world. Now, this can sound complex at first, but when you think about the things your little one has yet to experience or take notice of (think textures, colors, shapes), you'll find that there is a huge variety of educational toys for 6-month-olds that meet your little one's need for discovery. 

Toys Designed for Infant Fingers To Hold

Babies are born with an innate grasping reflex, although their dexterity is extremely limited early on in life. Look for toys that will be easy to grip and grasp, like lightweight, soft toys with holes in them big enough for your baby's hand. 

Toys With Soft Textures and High-Contrast Colors

While experiencing different types of textures or seeing different colors may not seem like the most exciting or interesting thing in the world, it may very well be for your baby. Babies are still strengthening their eye muscles, and their skin is still getting used to the feel of different textures, so exposing your little one to as many different textures as possible, along with high-contrast images that allow their eyes to properly focus, is a great way to keep them entertained while promoting positive development. 

Mouth-Safe Toys 

Babies are known for putting just about everything they can reach in their mouths. This is how they explore their surroundings and make discoveries about the objects around them early in their development. Because of this tendency, it's important that parents purchase and use toys that are safe for their little ones, avoiding choking hazards, uncomfortable or dangerous textures, and toys that contain toxins. 

Best Toys for Toddlers 

As your little one ages, they will inevitably lose interest in the toys they loved as a baby. At this point, their taste in toys will likely have developed beyond the simple toys they previously played with, and parents will be faced with the task of obtaining new and exciting toys. Children of toddler age are more equipped to play with toys that are more complex. Their coordination and spatial awareness and ability to participate in what most people consider play have improved. What toys should we look at now that our little ones are older? 

What To Look for in Toddler Toys 

Toddlers are much more mobile, more adept at using language, and have increased motor control and critical thinking when compared to infants. The increase in these skills allows them to take advantage of toys that are much more complex in nature when compared to the toys of infants. Toys for toddlers should engage their bodies and minds at their level of development while allowing them to explore in a safe environment. 

Toys that Encourage Pretend Play and Creativity

Children are just learning how to use their imagination during their toddler years. Imaginative play is incredibly important for young children. It helps them build character, understand perspectives, learn empathy, and practice problem-solving. Toys like dress-up clothes, child-size furniture and play sets, and other pretend play supplies are great options for allowing play that strengthens your child's development. So, what are the best educational toys for 18-month-olds or older toddlers? 

Toys to Engage Muscles

From the time your little one is learning to lift up their head, roll over, crawl, sit on their own, walk, and finally run, they're strengthening important muscles that they'll need as they grow older. Whether for play, completing life tasks, or just remaining healthy, staying active is hugely beneficial for children, so purchasing toys that enable them to use and build muscle is a great idea. 

Toys that Improve Fine Motor Skills

Once children reach their toddler years, they've done quite a bit to develop their gross motor skills. However, their fine motor skills are still relatively elementary. They're still learning how to use utensils properly, hold crayons and markers, and use their fingers and toes to complete tasks. 

Toys that Encourage Simple Problem-Solving Skills 

Toddlers are able to comprehend simple problem-solving issues using critical thinking and trial and error. Parents can encourage the development of these skills through the use of toys like wooden puzzles, sorting toys, and toys with buttons, hooks, or other buckles. 

Playing With Your Kids: More Than Just Fun

We all know that spending quality time playing with our children is fun for everyone involved. We get to watch our little ones grow and come into their own as individuals, see them overcome obstacles, and create memories with one another. But playtime is actually even more important than we might assume as parents. It gives our children a chance to develop, learn skills, and lay the foundation of their life experience. Determining the best types of play, and yes, the best toys, for your children is one of many beneficial things we can do as parents to foster positive growth within the ones we love most.