I Love Toddlers; Toys for Toddlers

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Title I Love Toddlers Toys for Toddlers I love
toddlers. Toddlers have passed infancy but are
still preschool age. They are aware of their
world and are exploring everything. They are
tenacious - they walk and stumble, then laugh or
cry and go at it one more time.Toddlers start to
imitate adults in their life they may be using
child sized mops and brooms to be like their
parents. They are practicing fine motor skills by
piling blocks and using large wooden puzzles and
shape sorters. They may be trying to use child
safety scissors. Everything is new and novel and
exciting. I once took my toddler to a fireworks
display and was disappointed when he wasn't
particularlyenthralled. My friend pointed out
that everything is a fireworks display at that
age. So how can we support this amazing age of
discovery? What are the best toys for 1 year old?
Which toys will help develop fine motor skills
for toddlers?
Some of the best toys for one year olds will be
enjoyed right up to preschool age and beyond.
They are great for fine motor skill development
and so much more. My favourites are wooden
alphabet blocks and large sized stringing beads
of different shapes. Also, pegboards designed for
this age group ensure success and enjoyment
without frustration. The jumbo sized pegs are
easy to grasp, twist, turn, push and pull - all
these are fine motor skills for toddlers to
practice. Counting bears and matching sorting
cups are excellent for fine motor skills for
toddlers. (The bears are not recommended for
children who are still putting things in their
mouth other objects such as large beads or pegs
can be used instead.) I have watched toddlers
playwith this toy for ages, sorting by color,
lining up the bears or using the bearsin pretend
play. Picking up and placing the bears uses fine
motor, planning and eye hand coordination.
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Construction sets for toddlers are particularly
good for fine motor skills. Interesting sets like
nuts and bolts, with wheels and interconnecting
pieces are just the right size for toddler hands.
Sets with tubes and pipes and cross pieces are
another suggestion. Construction sets that
challenge the toddler but don't overwhelm are
appropriate. My older son was extremely creative
(if I do say so myself), but his fine motor
skills didn't coincide with his imagination.
There were several instances where the
interlocking bricks were thrown across the room
in frustration. If I had known better, a
different size of bricks may have been a simple
solution a construction set designed
particularly for toddlers would have been a
better choice. I look back and see my boys as
toddlers they are now in their forties. It is a
cliche, but enjoy your children while you can as
they grow up so quickly. And if one phase is
particularly frustrating, just remember, this too
shall pass.