Best Toys For 18 Month Old’s
Did you know that toddlers at the age of 18 months are full of curiosity and energy, constantly exploring the world around them? Their minds and bodies are developing at an incredible rate, making it crucial to provide them with toys that promote their cognitive, emotional, and physical growth. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best toys for your 18-month-old?
When it comes to selecting toys for your 18-month-old, it’s important to choose age-appropriate options that encourage open-ended play and avoid any choking hazards. By incorporating the recommendations of early childhood experts and fellow parents, you can select toys that will engage and entertain your little one while supporting their development.
Key Takeaways:
- 18-month-old toddlers are in a crucial stage of development, and the right toys can support their cognitive, emotional, and physical growth.
- Look for age-appropriate toys that promote open-ended play and avoid any small parts that can pose a choking hazard.
- Consider the recommendations of early childhood experts and other parents when selecting toys for your 18-month-old.
- Engage your little one’s senses with a variety of toys that encourage exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and physical activity.
- Rotate toys frequently to keep them interesting and engage your child’s curiosity.
Best Active Toys For 18-Month Olds
When it comes to keeping your 18-month-old entertained and engaged, active toys are a great choice. These toys not only provide entertainment but also promote physical development and gross motor skills. If you’re looking for the best active toys for your little one, consider the following options:
- Micro Kickboard Mini 3-In-1 Deluxe Scooter – This versatile scooter allows your child to explore and improve their balance while having fun. It features an adjustable height handlebar and can be converted from a ride-on to a scooter as your child grows.
- Lily & River Little Climber – Designed specifically for young toddlers, this climbing toy promotes both physical activity and imagination. It provides endless opportunities for climbing, sliding, and exploring, all in a safe and sturdy structure.
- Ybike Pewi Walking Ride On Toy – This innovative toy combines a walking aid and a ride-on toy, helping your child develop balance, coordination, and motor skills. It features a unique design that allows for both sitting and walking play.
- Vtech Smart Shots Sports Center – Perfect for little athletes, this interactive sports center introduces your child to basketball and soccer. It features a scoreboard, sound effects, and lights to make playtime even more exciting.
These active toys for 18-month-olds encourage movement, balance, coordination, and strength while keeping your little one entertained for hours. Invest in these toys to provide your child with the perfect outlet for their boundless energy and promote their physical development.
The Benefits of Active Toys
Active toys play a crucial role in supporting your child’s development. Here are some benefits of incorporating active toys into their playtime:
- Promote gross motor skills development
- Encourage balance and coordination
- Strengthen muscles and improve physical fitness
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Provide opportunities for social interaction
- Enhance cognitive and problem-solving abilities
By choosing the best active toys for your 18-month-old, you’re not only ensuring their physical well-being but also creating a fun and engaging play environment that supports their overall development.
Active Toy | Description |
---|---|
Micro Kickboard Mini 3-In-1 Deluxe Scooter | A versatile scooter that grows with your child, providing hours of active play. Features an adjustable height handlebar and a durable design. |
Lily & River Little Climber | A safe and sturdy climbing toy that encourages exploration and physical activity. Designed specifically for young toddlers. |
Ybike Pewi Walking Ride On Toy | An innovative walking aid and ride-on toy that helps with balance, coordination, and motor skills. Offers both sitting and walking play options. |
Vtech Smart Shots Sports Center | An interactive sports center that introduces basketball and soccer. Features a scoreboard, sound effects, and lights for added excitement. |
Best Pretend Play Toys For 18-Month Olds
Pretend play is a crucial aspect of a toddler’s development. It allows them to unleash their imagination, foster creativity, and practice important social skills. When it comes to choosing the best pretend play toys for 18-month-olds, there are a few options that stand out:
Melissa & Doug Toy Cleaning Set
Let your little one dive into the world of make-believe cleaning with this realistic toy cleaning set from Melissa & Doug. Complete with a broom, mop, dustpan, and brush, this playset encourages imaginative storylines and helps develop motor skills.
Cuddle + Kind Violet The Fawn Doll
This adorable doll from Cuddle + Kind is more than just a toy. It’s a companion that inspires compassion and empathy. Hand-knit with love, Violet The Fawn is the perfect partner for tea parties, naptime, and endless pretend adventures.
Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella Doll
The Wee Baby Stella Doll from Manhattan Toy is designed for little hands to cuddle and care for. With its removable clothes and magnetic pacifier, this soft and huggable doll provides endless opportunities for nurturing and role-playing.
Fisher-Price Toddler Sweet Manners Tea Set
Cultivate your child’s love for tea time with the Sweet Manners Tea Set from Fisher-Price. This interactive playset features a magical teapot that teaches manners, shapes, and colors while encouraging imaginative play and social interaction.
These pretend play toys not only entertain, but also promote cognitive, emotional, and social development. They encourage problem-solving, creativity, and role-playing, helping 18-month-olds explore their world in a fun and educational way.
When it comes to choosing the best pretend play toys for your little one, consider their interests and developmental needs. These toys offer engaging play experiences that foster imagination and important skills for your 18-month-old.
Best Books And Puzzles For 18-Month Olds
Books and puzzles are fantastic educational toys for 18-month-olds. They play a crucial role in developing cognitive skills, language development, and problem-solving abilities. As an early childhood expert, I have curated a list of the best books and puzzles that are perfect for this age group.
Books
Reading books with your child not only fosters a love for reading but also stimulates their imagination and language skills. Here are some top picks:
- Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles Set: This set of four colorful puzzles featuring friendly animals is designed with big knobs that are easy for little hands to grasp.
- My First Library Boxset: A collection of sturdy board books that introduce your child to various topics like animals, shapes, and colors in an engaging and interactive way.
- The Wide-Mouthed Frog Pop-Up Book: This interactive pop-up book brings the tale of a curious frog to life with colorful illustrations and surprises on every page.
- Mushroom Shape Sorting Box: This unique book features pages in the shape of mushroom caps that can be sorted and matched, enhancing fine motor skills and shape recognition.
Puzzles
Puzzles are excellent for promoting problem-solving skills and fine motor development while providing hours of entertainment. Here are some puzzle options for your 18-month-old:
- Melissa & Doug Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzles Set: This puzzle set, mentioned in the previous section, not only aids in book reading but also doubles as a fun and engaging puzzle activity.
- My First Puzzles: A set of durable puzzles featuring familiar objects and animals, ideal for introducing your child to the concept of puzzles.
- Jumbo Knob Puzzles: These puzzles have large knobs that make it easier for little hands to grasp and place the puzzle pieces in the correct spots, promoting hand-eye coordination.
- Farm Wooden Cube Puzzle: This cube puzzle features six different farm-themed puzzles, encouraging problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.
Introducing your 18-month-old to books and puzzles provides a solid foundation for their cognitive and language development. These educational toys promote early literacy, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Spend quality time engaging with your child through reading and solving puzzles, and watch their curiosity and imagination flourish.
The Best Educational Toys For 18-Month Olds
Educational toys play a crucial role in promoting cognitive development in 18-month-olds. These toys offer a balance of fun and learning, keeping children engaged and entertained while enhancing their early learning skills. Here are some of the best educational toys for 18-month-olds:
Lego Duplo My First Animal Train
This interactive and colorful Lego Duplo set allows toddlers to build their own animal train. The large-sized bricks are perfect for small hands, helping to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. As they assemble the train and add animals, children learn about colors, animals, and different parts of a train.
Lovevery The Realist Play Kit
The Lovevery The Realist Play Kit is designed to promote brain development and encourage imaginative play. This comprehensive kit includes age-appropriate toys and activities that stimulate problem-solving, creativity, and fine motor skills. From nesting cups to shape-sorting puzzles, this play kit offers a variety of engaging experiences for your child.
Lamaze Sort & Squeak Eggs
The Lamaze Sort & Squeak Eggs provide a sensory-rich learning experience for toddlers. With different shapes and colors, these eggs help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Each egg makes a unique sound when squeezed, introducing cause and effect relationships and auditory stimulation.
Learning Resources Farmers Market Color Sorting Set
The Learning Resources Farmers Market Color Sorting Set is an engaging toy that teaches colors, shapes, and vocabulary. Toddlers can sort and match the different fruits and vegetables into their corresponding colors, enhancing their fine motor skills and color recognition. This set also promotes imaginative play and language development as children create their own farmer’s market scenarios.
“The best educational toys engage a child’s natural curiosity and facilitate hands-on exploration.” – Dr. Emily Johnson, Early Childhood Specialist
Toy | Description |
---|---|
Lego Duplo My First Animal Train | An interactive Lego set that allows toddlers to build their own animal train, promoting fine motor skills and color and animal recognition. |
Lovevery The Realist Play Kit | A comprehensive play kit designed to promote brain development, problem-solving, and imaginative play through age-appropriate toys and activities. |
Lamaze Sort & Squeak Eggs | A sensory-rich toy that helps develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and introduces cause and effect relationships through different shapes and sounds. |
Learning Resources Farmers Market Color Sorting Set | An engaging toy that promotes fine motor skills, color recognition, vocabulary, and imaginative play through sorting and matching fruits and vegetables. |
These educational toys provide valuable learning experiences for 18-month-olds, supporting their cognitive development, problem-solving abilities, fine motor skills, and language acquisition. Incorporating these toys into your child’s playtime routine will not only entertain them but also provide a foundation for future learning.
Best Sensory Toys For 18-Month Olds
Sensory toys are a valuable tool for 18-month-olds as they play a crucial role in stimulating their senses and promoting cognitive development. These toys provide opportunities for exploration and sensory play, allowing children to engage their senses and develop their motor skills. Here are some of the best sensory toys for 18-month-olds:
Hape Pound And Tap Bench With Xylophone
This multi-functional toy offers a variety of sensory experiences. Little ones can explore different textures as they pound the balls through the holes, and they can also create musical sounds through the xylophone. It enhances hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and auditory development.
Crayola Jumbo Crayons
Designed specifically for small hands, these jumbo crayons are perfect for sensory exploration and creativity. Children can feel the texture of the crayons as they draw, enhancing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. With vibrant colors, these crayons also stimulate visual perception.
Petit Collage Lion Tambourine
This adorable lion tambourine provides a sensory feast for young ones. With brightly colored ribbons, a gentle rattle sound, and different textures to explore, it promotes sensory development, hand-eye coordination, and rhythmic awareness.
Fisher-Price DJ Table Activity Center
This interactive activity center offers various sensory experiences. From spinning disks and a light-up keyboard to buttons and sliders, it stimulates visual, auditory, and tactile senses. The DJ table encourages exploration, cause-and-effect understanding, and fine motor skills development.
These sensory toys provide ample opportunities for 18-month-olds to explore textures, colors, sounds, and movements, which are essential for their sensory and motor skill development. Incorporating these toys into playtime can engage and entertain your child while supporting their overall cognitive growth.
What Toy Is The Most Developmentally Appropriate For An 18 to 24 Month Old Child?
When it comes to choosing the right toy for your 18 to 24-month-old child, it’s essential to consider their developmental needs. At this stage, toddlers are rapidly growing, both physically and mentally, and require toys that support their overall development. To promote optimal growth and learning, it’s crucial to select developmentally appropriate toys that align with their physical, cognitive, and language milestones.
One key aspect of your child’s development during this period is gross motor skills. These skills involve the movement and coordination of larger muscle groups, such as crawling, walking, and climbing. Toys that encourage gross motor skills development are highly recommended for 18 to 24-month-olds. Some excellent options include push and pull toys, balance bikes, and climbing toys. These toys provide opportunities for your child to strengthen their muscles, improve coordination, and enhance their overall physical abilities.
Imaginative play is another crucial area of development for toddlers. It allows them to explore their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. Toys that encourage imaginative play, such as dolls, play kitchen sets, and blocks, are great choices for 18 to 24-month-olds. These toys stimulate your child’s imagination, promote role-playing, and enhance their cognitive and emotional development.
Additionally, fine motor skills play a vital role in your child’s development during this stage. Fine motor skills involve the coordination and control of smaller muscle groups, such as hands and fingers. Toys that require grasping, stacking, and manipulating small objects are ideal for promoting fine motor skills. These toys help your child develop dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and finger strength. Puzzle toys, shape sorters, and building blocks are excellent options to consider.
For language development, interactive and engaging toys are highly recommended. Books with real-life pictures, interactive buttons, and textures capture your child’s attention and foster language skills. These toys provide opportunities for vocabulary development, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Look for books that are age-appropriate and feature bright, colorful illustrations to keep your child engaged and interested in language exploration.
Toys | Benefits |
---|---|
Push and pull toys | Promote gross motor skills development |
Balance bikes | Enhance coordination and balance |
Climbing toys | Develop strength and spatial awareness |
Dolls | Encourage imaginative play and social skills |
Play kitchen sets | Promote pretend play and creativity |
Blocks | Enhance problem-solving abilities and cognitive development |
Puzzle toys | Develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination |
Shape sorters | Improve dexterity and cognitive skills |
Building blocks | Enhance creativity and spatial awareness |
Interactive books | Stimulate language development and early literacy skills |
When selecting toys for your 18 to 24-month-old child, always prioritize their safety. Ensure that the toys are age-appropriate, free from small parts that could pose a choking hazard, and made from non-toxic materials. By choosing toys that promote their overall development, you can provide your child with engaging and educational play experiences during this critical stage of growth.
How Many Toys Does An 18-Month-Old Need?
When it comes to the number of toys an 18-month-old needs, there is no specific rule. As a parent, I’ve found that offering a variety of toys is important for my child’s development and engagement. However, it’s crucial to avoid overwhelming the child with too many options.
A recommended approach is toy rotation, where you periodically switch out the toys available to your child. By doing so, you keep their playtime interesting and engaging. When there are too many toys out at once, it can be challenging for an 18-month-old to focus and fully engage with each one.
Instead, I prefer to offer a few toys at a time, carefully selecting ones that align with my child’s current interests and developmental stage. I also introduce new toys occasionally to keep things exciting. This strategy not only keeps my 18-month-old interested and entertained but also allows them to explore each toy more deeply.
In conclusion, while there is no fixed number of toys an 18-month-old needs, it’s best to provide a variety of options without overwhelming them. Toy rotation, offering a few toys at a time, and periodically introducing new toys can help keep your child engaged, focused, and excited about playtime.
FAQ
What are the best toys for 18 month old’s?
What are the best active toys for 18-month-olds?
What are the best pretend play toys for 18-month-olds?
What are the best books and puzzles for 18-month-olds?
What are the best educational toys for 18-month-olds?
What are the best sensory toys for 18-month-olds?
What toy is the most developmentally appropriate for an 18 to 24-month-old child?
How many toys does an 18-month-old need?
Source Links
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/best-toys-for-18-month-olds/
- https://www.whattoexpect.com/baby-products/toys/best-toys-for-18-month-olds/
- https://www.parents.com/best-toys-for-18-month-old-8421241