Back to school season is here but toddlers aren't quite old enough to head to class. It may be no surprise that parents around the Valley are working hard to ensure their tots are being engaged and working those little brains. By birth, a newborn’s brain is 25% of its adult size. By the age of three, it will grow to be 80%. This means that parents must prioritize their child’s brain development for long-term growth and health.
As a mom, I know how challenging it can be to find toys that evoke fun yet are stimulating to our growing tots many senses. We’ve put together a list of top products that are sure to add fun to your little one’s day and also aid in their growth and development. Although we are often inundated with toddler toy options, there are a few companies that are dominating the scene with creative and fun options that are also great tools for learning.
LAKE SHORE LEARNING – Since 1958, Lakeshore has been dedicated to creating innovative educational materials that spark young imaginations, instill a sense of wonder and foster a lifelong love of learning. With materials for infants and toddlers through the 6th grade, they help children reach developmental milestones and achieve educational goals—while still having fun! www.lakeshorelearning.com
Mix & Match Farm Animals : Tots just connect the matching pieces to create lots of fun farm friends. Designed to boost fine motor control in little fingers. 6 mos. - 3 yrs old. $16.99
My First Attribute Blocks: Children explore shapes, sizes and colors—as they place our fun wooden blocks into 8 bright and exciting scenes! The chunky, lightweight blocks are perfectly sized for little hands…and the scenes printed on the activity mats feature bold, color-coded outlines of each shape. 12 mos. - 3 yrs old. $29.99
Big Knob First Puzzle Set: Little hands have no problem piecing together these adorable puzzles! Each simple puzzle has 4 wooden pieces with giant, easy-grip knobs—so they’re a cinch for kids to grab and fit into place. Four 9" x 9" puzzles come in a handy wire rack. 12 mos. - 4 yrs old. $49.99
VTECH KIDS- VTech is a world leader of age-appropriate learning products. Since 1980, VTech has been developing high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development through fun and smart play. www.vtechkids.com
Go! Go! Smart Friends Busy Sounds Discovery Home fuses technology and traditional play, keeping kids engaged for hours as they learn. It’s the perfect playset for indoor play for little ones. Your child will learn to navigate the toy as Miss Norah teaches your tot important lessons. 1-5 yrs old. $45
Disney Doc McStuffin's kids electronic clipboard has 4 learning activities and 30+ playful melodies and sounds. Kids drawing toy comes with 3 detachable stencils paired with letter recognition technology that teach letters, numbers, writing skills and health topics. Doc McStuffins and her friends engage and encourage your child as they play and learn; magnetic drawing board is a great early education center. 2 to 5 yrs old. $15
What are your tots favorite educational toys? Let us know!
