8 Must-Have Toys for Child Development in 2024
Your little one's healthy physical, emotional, and cognitive growth can be greatly aided with toys for child development. But which toys should you be looking at? And what areas of child development do they support?
This blog will help parents to choose toys that will best support their kid's development - so, continue reading to find out more!
What are toys for child development?
Developmental toys are engaging play equipment designed specifically to aid your child's growth and development, whilst offering hours of fun and excitement.
In their early years, play is a young one's main channel for learning, understanding, and physical growth, which is why developmental toys are so important.
There are several areas of development that these toys target:
Fine motor skills
Fine motor skills refer to your child's ability to grasp and manipulate items, such as holding crayons, drawing and writing, and pressing buttons. Building these skills involves the strengthening and development of the small muscles in the hand, wrists, and fingers.
Fine motor skills are essential for children when it comes to feeding themselves, tying their shoelaces, and writing at school.
Gross motor skills
An integral element of your toddler's physical development is the advancement of their gross motor skills - this centers around the activation of their large core, leg, and arm muscles to complete basic movements such as crawling, walking, and lifting.
Physical activity is the best way to boost muscle strength, which enables participation in sports and team games.
Balance and coordination
Balance, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness are fundamental abilities that will support your little one's growth and development. Alongside their motor skills, this area of development is essential when it comes to walking, climbing, and playing activity games.
Balance also ensures they can remain upright and steady by engaging the core muscles.
Coordination includes the seamless movement of various body parts at the same time, and spatial awareness is essential as it prevents children from bumping into objects while moving.
Social, emotional, and language development
These skills are crucial for children when it comes to connecting and communicating with others. Social, emotional, and language skills enable the healthy formation and functioning of relationships, from their peers to new acquaintances.
What's more, this area of a child's development will encourage the healthy processing and regulation of their emotions and thoughts. Building social and emotional skills, such as turn-taking and playing harmoniously are important, especially as your special one reaches their school years.
Cognitive and intellectual
This area of development focuses on logical thinking, cognitive skills, and your child's problem-solving abilities. Children learn through play, which is why developmental toys that promote early learning are a useful addition to any playroom.
Cognitive and intellectual skills may include shape and pattern recognition, memory recall and understanding of sounds.
We've handpicked a selection of the best toys to aid your child's physical development, as well as their cognitive skills and emotional processing. You can explore them below:
1. Baby play mats
Although they're not developmental toys per se, a baby play mat is an excellent addition to your baby's space and helps to enhance their growth.
With a super soft play mat, babies can comfortably lie down on their stomachs and experience essential tummy time - being on their tummy encourages them to activate the muscles in their neck and shoulders, strengthening them in the process.
This time also helps to prevent flat head syndrome which involves a baby's head flattening on one side and looking asymmetrical, caused by too much pressure on one section of the skull.
2. Ball pit and plastic balls
If you're looking for a toy that boosts development and is also super exciting, look no further than a foam ball pit, complete with colorful plastic balls.
Made from soft and durable foam, ball pits are small enclosed cushioned pits filled with a selection of smooth plastic balls. Children have a whale of a time playing in their ball pits, splashing among the sea of vibrant colors.
Ball pit balls are fantastic at helping your little munchkin's fine motor skills. By using their hands to grasp smaller objects (the plastic balls), your tot is actively strengthening the small muscles in their hands.
Ball pits are also sensory toys, meaning they can help your child learn more about the world around them through touch and sight. By stroking the soft foam cover of the pit and the smooth plastic balls, kids are introduced to new senses, broadening their understanding of different textures, shapes, and colors.
3. Foam playgrounds
Another must-have toy for child development, foam playgrounds are excellent for physical growth and gross motor skill enhancement.
Foam playgrounds are an extension of ball pits, but with more elements. As kids grow, they need more challenging environments - foam playgrounds enable ball pits to be used as your child grows. They consist of several soft foam play elements that your kid must overcome by utilizing their muscles, problem-solving skills, and coordination.
For example, when faced with foam steps, children learn how to plan their next move, coordinate their foot placement to ensure they make their next step, and develop strength by activating their core and leg muscles.
Aside from using their indoor playground as an exciting obstacle course, it can also be used for imaginary play - their foam ramp or tunnel could be transformed into a stunt ramp for their toy cars or a gateway to a magical kingdom.
Ultimately, your child can transform this developmental toy into anything by using their imagination and creativity.
4. Walkers
Highly recommended for older babies and toddlers, a walker is a supportive frame on wheels that children can use to steady themselves while learning to walk. Your tot's first steps are a huge milestone in your child's development, and an activity walker is the best way to help them reach it!
Walkers also feature a selection of simple puzzles and interactive elements in their frame to entertain your young and stimulate their minds and senses, too!
Spinning colorful cogs is a fantastic demonstration of cause and effect and supports their fine motor skills. There's also a counting frame for a simple yet engaging introduction to numbers - plus many other features for your treasured one to explore!
5. Rockers
With a children's rocker, your kids gain a physical workout and imaginative play experience in one! Whether you choose a wooden or foam style, rockers can aid your tot's advancement in several ways.
Firstly, the rocking motion your toddler must make to activate the rocker requires the use of their gross motor skills, helping to strengthen them further.
The rocker can also be used during pretend play, helping to develop creativity and character. Your special one could decide to become a cowboy, riding the fastest horse in the west - the next day, they could be riding a dragon, or sailing a pirate ship towards a legendary land! It's entirely up to them.
6. Slides
Slides are an entertaining and thrilling toy for child development that kids find exhilarating, guaranteeing endless fun! But aside from the excitement, slides are also a top choice if you're looking for a toy with developmental advantages.
A wooden slide will aid physical growth, as your toddler has to climb and pull themselves up to the peak of the structure, and push themselves down the slide itself.
7. Wooden climbing frames
One of the most beneficial physical development toys for older toddlers is a wooden climbing frame. Crafted from rounded wood, climbing frames are play structures featuring several wooden bars for children to climb up - and can also feature a small smooth slide!
Climbing frames provide a fun physical workout for children, who have to climb and lift themselves up using their large muscles and core strength. But there's more to these developmental toys than physical growth.
Tots engage their coordination skills to conquer the climb, ensuring they meet the next step, and adjust themselves correctly when making their next move.
What's more, they learn persistence, build resilience, and actively have to problem-solve if their first attempt doesn't go to plan, standing them in great stead for the challenges they'll face at school.
8. Wooden balance boards
Perfect for balance training, building core strength, and keeping your tot entertained, a balance board is one of the most beneficial physical development toys you can buy.
This toy is made from smooth curved wood and rocks sidewards when your little one is leaning side to side.
In attempting to rock sideways while standing up, your children develop critical coordination and balance skills that they'll need in later life!
On top of this, playing on a slide with friends will encourage children to play nicely, share, and take turns, which is essential to their emotional and language expansion.
Speak with a team member
Here at Kiddymoon, we offer a diverse selection of toys for child development to increase fine motor skills, boost their physical advancement, and help them grow emotionally.
Whatever your total age, we have something suitable in our range! To speak with us for customized recommendations, you can email us today at contact@kiddymoon.co.uk .