Children and toys are almost inseparable. Where there is a child, there is a toy.
Well, this is because toys provide entertainment and enjoyment to children.
All humans are attracted to things that provide enjoyment to them.
So it is normal for children to like toys.
Although all toys may benefit children’s development, some bring many more benefits and impacts than others.
These toys are perfect as gifts or rewards for children.
Here are the best toys that have an excellent effect on children’s development:
1. Construction Toys
Construction toys are any toys that encourage children to create and build.
Construction toys mainly help children develop the following skills:
- Fine motor skills ( fine movement and use of hands)
- Eye-hand coordination (simultaneous use of hand and eyes)
- Spatial skills (understanding of object’s position, space & orientation)
These toys also stimulate children’s imagination, creativity, and cognitive skills.
Examples of construction toys:
(a) Mega Bloks (Aged 18 months+)
(b) Magnetic Tiles (Aged 3+)
(c) Meccano Junior (Aged 5+)
2. Creative Toys
Creative toys, as the name implies, are any toys that encourage children to be creative.
Although the core of creative toys is for stimulating children’s creativity skills, these types also contribute to developing motor skills, such as fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination skills.
Creative toys are usually associated with arts and crafts.
Examples of creative toys:
(a) Animal Crafts (Aged 3+)
(b) Rock Painting Kit (Aged 4+)
(c) Kids Sewing Kit (Aged 6+)
3. Sensory Toys
Sensory toys stimulate children’s senses, such as touch, sight, and sound.
These toys can help children better learn about themselves or the world around them.
Some sensory toys can also be helpful to children, especially those with sensory processing issues.
Examples of sensory toys:
(a) Mini Xylophone (Aged 1+)
(b) Play-Doh Slime (Aged 3+)
(c) Liquid Motion Bubbler (Aged 5+)
4. Role-play Toys
Role-play toys encourage children to use their imagination to represent a role, such as a chef, cashier, or doctor.
These toys are perfect for stimulating imagination, communication, and storytelling skills.
Examples of role-play toys:
(a) Toy Kitchen Equipment (Aged 1+)
(b) Supermarket Playset (Aged 3+)
(c) Doctor's Kit (Aged 3+)
5. Cognitive Toys
Cognitive toys are toys that challenge children’s knowledge and ingenuity.
These toys stimulate children’s cognitive skills, including problem-solving, attention & concentration, memory, and decision-making.
Apart from that, these toys also stimulate children’s visual perceptual skills, the brain’s ability to interpret what the eyes see.
Examples of cognitive toys:
(a) Simple Puzzle Set (Aged 2+)
(b) Jigsaw Puzzle Set (Aged 3+)
(c) Memory Game (Aged 5+)
Play is considered a basic necessity and essential for every child because it helps their overall development. Click here to learn more about the 5 reasons why play is so important for children.
You can also learn about how to choose suitable toys appropriate to a child’s age by clicking here.
I hope this article is helpful to you, and if you like it, you may check out my other articles from this blog. Thanks for visiting my blog!
