FLOOR MOBILES: Toys hanging within easy reach of the child. I usually ask the family to suspend them just above the shoulder initially, then as reaching is more directed, move them to midline.
SOFT ACTIVITY TOY: The toy should be soft, have many colors, have various textures, and can be grasped in a variety of places.
EASY GRASP RATTLES & CHEW TOYS: These toys have small cylindrical shafts and are safe for mouthing/chewing
CLOTH BOOKS: Infants will put books in their mouth. Cloth books are safe, offer texture, and can be washed. They also allow for easy grasp.
CAUSE AND EFFECT TOYS: These are toys that require the child to do something for it to work. Examples are spinning a spin toy, shaking a rattle, hitting a knob or button to start music.
YOU!!
You are a child's favorite plaything!
Engage in social play as much as possible. Hugs & tickles, touching hands and counting toes, exploring the environment indoors and outdoors. Going on walks and singing. Your baby will love the interaction only you can provide.
SIMPLE TOYS WITH PIECES AND PARTS: Toys that promote putting things in/out, require the child to reach "in" to re-acquire a toy, has various flaps/doors.
RINGS & SPINDLE: These toys are good for purposeful release, but also help teach direction of pull. Rings pull up to come off and can be placed back on the spindle to work on eye-hand coordination.
NESTING AND STACKING CUPS
BLOCKS: Chewers may do best with soft plastic blocks like this. Children who have more difficulty with knowing where their body is in space may do better with heavier wooden blocks.
BOARD BOOKS: These books have thick cardboard pages, so they don't tear, are easier for a baby to turn, and have simple pictures and a repeating verse if possible.
Examples of books with repetitive / predictable text:
YOU!!
SOCIAL PLAY
The experiences you share with your little one help them learn about their world. Explore everything! Their little brains are like sponges soaking it all up and learning every minute of the day.
CLIMBING AND SLIDING:
At this age, I am beginning to challenge my motor skills and I love to be active. Take this child outside often and for longer durations to let them "get their wiggles out".
PUZZLES:
Use simple chunky puzzles with a matching picture on the board.
May need help early on to arrange and nest it into position.
BALLOONS AND BALLS: I love activities that encourage movement. You can throw, catch, roll and kick balls (some great action words to target), but more than that, you can do funny things with balloons by modeling the blowing with exaggerated expression to get joint attention or letting the air out to make a high-pitched squeaking sound, or don't tie it and offer it to the child and watch it fly all
SEE AND SAY: This is a real blast from the past. The new ones have a handle while the one I used as a child had this string to pull. A younger child may still enjoy this but handling with both hands will really be most effective with this age group.
BABY DOLLS: These are great for boys and girls. Have all the accessories too, little ones love to feed, change, brush hair, swaddle, and put babies to sleep.
TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES: This is not just for indoor play, take these babies outside and get them dirty! Show them how to be creative in play like you did as a child.
CRAFT MATERIALS: Written communication is part of literacy. Teaching a young child to enjoy and appreciate using their hands to make things allows their hands and fingers to get ready for handwriting. This includes determining hand dominance, hand strength, control/coordination of tools, and grasp patterns needed for various tasks. Introduce things like:
SCISSORS: Breath in, breath out...Yes, the thing you have been keeping them away from is now in their wheelhouse. Teach them to be cautious, how to hold, the effort needed for use, where their elbows relative to hands should be, and build the strength needed to open / close the blades. Start with loop scissors, progress to small pre-k scissor. If the child has motor control issues, try using a tab
BIKES AND TRIKES: Pictured is a Yvolution 4 in 1 Flippa Toddler Trike. It is highly versatile and will support progression from a ride on toy that you push, to learning to pedal a tricycle, then to a balance bike and 2-wheel bike with a handle for training.
PLAYDOH: Stop! Take a look and listen...I highly encourage use of doh and clay and slime. They are super textures to explore and get creative with and are great for hand strengthening. However, your child will not know or understand that smashed in the carpet or left open to dry out make for limitations in access. Use with them then pick it up. If you model the right behavior, they will learn how
KINETIC SAND: Playing in the sand with scoopers and buckets and little plastic characters and loading trucks is tremendous fun. Again, this is a toy that requires play training. I usually keep mine in a bucket as pictured and put a blanket or plastic tablecloth on the floor for me and child to sit on so that it makes for easy clean up.
AGE-APPROPRIATE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT: Two to three year olds are getting taller and certainly more refined in how they move. The toddler climbing items you had are likely too small, not a challenge anymore, and the child wants "more adventure". Take them to parks that offer slides, balance beams, swings, climbing equipment and jump houses or trampoline parks.
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