Top 10 Xmas presents that will grow with your toddlers
Don’t let the new toy gather dust. Pick one of these toys to make sure it engages your growing little one. Please your picky toddler with gifts that will delight them when they open them and will continue to be favorite playthings as they grow.
As you shop for the best gifts for toddlers, it's important to consider several aspects of each toy. A young child really experiences the world with all of their senses. It's important to factor in the colors, textures and even the smell of a toy. Versatility and longevity are also critical to selecting the most interesting options. Ask yourself if it can be played with in a wide variety of ways.
So let’s get started:
1. Tools
In addition to developing fine motor skills, pounding tools and toy tool sets can help build logic skills, such as the understanding of cause and effect. They can also be used for open-ended pretend play and for making plenty of noise, a favorite toddler activity.
Could be found in plastic and also wooden simulations
2. Kitchen Toys
Play kitchens offer toddlers the tools for many pretend-play scenarios, from shopping and cooking to running a restaurant. Encourage imaginary play with goodies such as pretend food, especially the kind you can 'cut' apart with a plastic or wooden knife.
Could be found in plastic and also wooden simulations
3. Hands on toys
Wooden cylinders are one of my favorites here. Toddlers start playing with them at the age of 1 and are able to play with them at the age of 3 as well. You can build towers with them, learn basic colors, practice pincer grip and later visually discriminate between dimensions (height and diameter, tall, wide, thin).
It engages the senses of touch and sight. The material is comprised of different cylinders with 'knobs' used to hold each object using the pincer grip. Later on they can be replaced by colorful cylinders and children try to distinguish where each cylinder fits in.
4. No messy coloring and painting
For anyone who doesn’t know, it’s drawing or painting with water instead of pens. The water makes the mat/board change color and then dries out within a couple of hours or less if it’s warm, and can be reused again.
It’s an ingenious idea for avoiding mess, pen marks and stains on furniture and floors, and perfect for taking to people’s houses and on holiday for the same reason.
It’s designed for children aged 18 months and over.
It can be found in different variations as:
Mats
The pen, paintbrush and stampers are perfectly sized for little fingers. It folds away neatly for easy storage, which meant it was ideal for taking to the grandparent’s house without fear of causing a mess.
Boards
Comes in different variations- Animals, Alphabets, Vehicles, Make up, Fairy tales, Bible stories, Shapes, Numbers and more.
Papers
This activity is a bit messier but still great. You need only a paintbrush and water. Paper changes color as you paint. It is just not reusable. Great for children 2+.
https://najhracky.sk/omalovanky-pre-deti/7785-malovanie-s-vodou-farma-5999548058404.html
Coloring pads
These markers color only on these papers and nowhere else.
https://najhracky.sk/omalovanky-pre-deti/7779-magicka-omalovanka-farma-5999548058695.html
5. Quiet books
I have always loved quiet books. The quiet book is quite literally – quiet. It is a book that is made of fabric (typically felt). Each page is focused on a different skill. They are colorful, provide a new platform for learning, and inspire independent play and creativity. These books are great for travel or moments when you might need to keep your child occupied and quiet/focused. They are great for fine motor skill development and you can tailor them to your own child preferences and needs.
This book is actually great for children of all ages, but is best geared towards children 1-5 years old. The possibilities for page ideas are endless. If you can think it up, it can be created. Here are some of the more popular pages that are included in the typical book:
- Color identification/matching
- Shape identification/matching
- Using snaps, buttons, buckles and zippers
- Matching and sorting activities
- Spelling words
- Counting
- Nature/Animal exploration (picking apples, fishing, seasons )
- Games (tic tac toe, checkers, memory)
You can either make it yourself:
- no sew one - https://www.powerfulmothering.com/how-to-make-a-quiet-book-includes-11-inside-pages-all-no-sew/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Y7a-VNs68, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21mlaeeDj3c,
- sew one- https://sk.pinterest.com/pin/453808099934660911/?lp=true, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvEhw0eyu-8,
or simply buy one.
There are few options here. If you prefer price vs quality ratio, I like https://www.piqipi.com/ books. They are really nice, come in 5 different variations and include all the basics your toddler will learn till the age of 3 (colors, shapes, counting, animals and more).
If you prefer a tailored one, I like https://www.sashe.sk/handmade?od=najpacivejsich-rok&hladat=quiet%20book. You can find here many different moms, who are eager to sew you one just according to your needs. The price is a bit higher but they are handmade.
6. Books
All kids love books. It is up to the parents to have fun reading them. That is why I prefer books that are not only fun for kids but also for parents. Few tips:
The very hungry caterpillar
Including a special feature, dye cuts, this beautiful board book edition, perfect for teaching the days of the week, offers readers an interactive experience.
A fun way how to learn about life cycle- for more teaching ideas visit https://curry.virginia.edu/go/wil/Caterpillar_Lesson.pdf
https://www.pre-kpages.com/activities-hungry-caterpillar/
Splendid spotty snake
It’s a marvel! Every time you turn the page the little snake grows bigger. And it’s a book that teaches colors: with every page his spots change color. Amazing! And how does it work?
Using a unique Magic Ribbon format invented by the authors, The Splendid Spotted Snake follows the adventures of a little spotted snake made out of sturdy, polka-dotted cloth ribbon.
That’s not my…
That's not my… is a multi-award winning series of over 50 touchy-feely books that teaches children many adjectives and improves eye-hand coordination. Touchy board books with simple, repetitive texts, tactile patches and bold illustrations suitable for babies and toddlers.
https://usborne.com/browse-books/catalogue/subject/1/TNM/thats-not-my-books/
Gross motor skills toys
7. Bilibo
The multi-award winning Bilibo is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and versatile open-ended toys. Deceptively simple and magically attractive, Bilibo's iconic shell shape and bright colors immediately appeal to children. It can be used from babies (rocking chair) all the way up to 7 year olds. Bilibo arouses curiosity, engages the imagination and playfully trains basic motor skills and balance. Both boys and girls find unlimited ways to play with it – using it to rock and spin in, hide under, sit on, tote with and peek through. It provides hours of fun, indoors and outdoors - all year round.
http://www.moluk.com/bilibo.php
https://buggies.sk/bilibo-zelene
and how to play with it
https://sk.pinterest.com/bilibo/bilibo-play-ideas/?lp=true
8. Pikler triangle
Pikler triangle is a baby gym - a foldable triangle that is safe enough - simply where a child can satisfy her climbing needs, develop gross motor skills, physical strength and agility, encouraging free movement and free play. In short - all babies want to climb, and it mostly is not safe to climb on furniture etc., so we should offer them safe ways to do it. Pikler triangle is supported in Montessori and found in Montessori inspired places. I tis a great tool that your toddler can use from the age of 1 all the way till the age of 6.
https://www.montoy.sk/piklerov-triangel-piklerovej-triangel
https://www.sashe.sk/Danko_stolarik/detail/piklerovej-triangel
And later on it could be a part of something bigger
http://www.lemonsport.sk/index.php?pid=8&cid=125&iid=776
9. Rainbow rocker board
The rocker board help kids to train their stability and agility, it helps straighten their muscle system and develop their motor skills and, most importantly, engages them in game for a long time. It could be used as a bridge, boat, balancing board, slide, counter, dolls cradle …. endless possibilities.
https://www.montoy.sk/farebna-hojdacia-doska-montoy
https://www.sensa-shop.cz/variabilni-oblouk/
https://www.hojdaciadoska.sk/e-shop/natur-a-farby/
10. Push toys
The Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon is a favorite among parents for the classic look that reminds them of their own childhood. Yet this wagon-shaped push toy is more than just a walk down memory lane—it’s smartly designed with push-resistant controls to help your walker-in-training build the balance and confidence they need to take those first steps. Little ones can load the wagon up with toys and push them across the room.
The push and pull toys support your child’s understanding of cause and effect through movement. Children love to be active and benefit greatly from push and pull along toys that are bright, colorful and engaging. From about six months of age infants will be active and wooden pull along will assist in their development and education. Push along toys can be introduced when your child is up and walking.
https://www.prenasedeti.sk/obchod/cid/73/category/hracky-na-tlacenie-tahanie.xhtml