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Gifts to Say Thanks for Always Being There
Whether you can’t speak face to face with your mom on Mother’s Day or want to give the mother of your children something special this year, send her a gift to say thanks for always being there, even if you can’t be together. Pandora Jewelry is something she can wear to be reminded of exactly how much we appreciate her.
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“Toddlers want to do more for themselves and want toys that give them a sense of independence and mastery. Stacking rings, simple knob puzzles, chunky toy cars and trains, big balls, and push-toys they can move,” says Rebecca Parlakian, the senior director of programs at Zero to Three. “They learn about the world by watching their parents, so get them toys like medical kits, construction sets, or toy lawnmowers.”
And pick stuff that challenges them to solve problems, like wood blocks they have to learn to stack and more complex puzzles they need to figure out how to put together. One thing to keep in mind: Toys that light up, make noise, and provide a few minutes of entertainment. They’re usually one and done, because there’s no inherent work involved in pressing a button.
Hape Sunny Valley Adventure Dome
Hape's toys almost look like heirlooms, and this 3D dome magnetic maze lets kids use the magnet in the bird's beak to drop beads into the slides. This is a toddler toy that's great for group play. It also encourages open-ended play, and the development of fine motor skills as kids try to get the beads where they need to go.
Buy Now $39.71
Fisher-Price Wonder Makers Train Set
The post office gets a major makeover with this playset, which lets kids design, build, and create their own adventures mailing packages. The set includes 35 pieces, and a wooden track.
Buy Now $7.47
Learning Resources Doctor Play Set
Toddlers don't understand why they need to see the doctor. And a set like this one can demystify what can be a scary thing. It comes with a lab coat, of course, and a stethoscope.
Buy Now $15.99
PlanToys Wood Blocks
There's a reason kids have played with wood blocks for generations: There's absolutely no limit to what they can do with them. This set is best-in-class. Kids get 11 different shapes, made from sustainable rubber wood.
BUY NOW $57.00
Rock Blocks
These irregularly-sized blocks up the ante: Kids have to stack and balance them, thereby learning to problem solve while engaging in open-ended play.
BUY NOW $57.00
Melissa & Doug First Play Jungle Wooden Activity Table
This wood play table from one of our favorite brands has eight different activities to help kids develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It has colors, patterns, and attached pieces that turn, roll, flip, spin, slide, and just generally keep your toddlers engaged and happy.
Buy Now $33.99
Green Toys Shape Sorter
Sorting shapes is an integral part of child development. This set is made from recycled plastic, and the shapes are the perfect size for little hands to try and fit them into the correct slots. They learn color-matching, and without all the bells and whistles, kids are more likely to use their imagination.
Buy Now $15.95
Pewi Walking Ride On Toy
This isn't just a ride-on toy. Oh no. The Pewi YBike can be used for riding, pushing, sitting, and supported walking. It's great for kids nine months and older. It helps toddlers develop their balance, coordination, strength, confidence, and spatial awareness, all under the guise of having fun. And it works best on smooth surfaces, in the home.
Buy Now $46.74
Wooden Story Puzzle
Toddlers fit each shape into the right hole, thereby working on their problem-solving skills while also honing their hand-eye coordination.
BUY NOW $40.00
Battat Big Red Barn
Kids can pretend to be farmers, or animal caretakers, with this wonderful barn toy. Great for kids 18 months and older, this toy farm helps kids improve concentration and hone their hand-eye coordination as they move the animals in and out of the barn.
Buy Now $24.99
Melissa & Doug Solid Wood Workbench
Suitable for kids three and up, this toddler workbench is a treasure trove of education, entertainment, and stimulation. It's the perfect size for little builders, and includes a functioning vise, a tool rack, wooden tools and hardware, and a storage shelf. Your kid's imagination will run wild, and he and she can hone hand-eye coordination skills as well.
Buy Now $79.99
Hape Mighty Mini Band Wooden Percussion Instrument
Toddlers love making music and this melody-making music machine comes with a xylophone, a drum, a cymbal, a guiro, a clapper and drumsticks. No earplugs, sadly.
Buy Now $24.54
Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set
This is one dirty dozen you'll love. The eggs help toddlers learn to count, sort, and match. Each plastic egg contains a different color and number, with corresponding pegs and holes for little hands to explore. It's ideal for kids 18 months and up.
Buy Now $17.99
Hape Walk-A-Long Puppy Wooden Pull Toy
When toddlers take this pup for a walk, its tail moves. It also doubles a push toy for active babies who aren't yet walking.
Buy Now $21.05
Little Tikes Water Table
Great for kids two and older, this water table lets learn cause and effect, and enjoy the wonders of getting soaked in their own yard. Toddlers can turn the ferris wheel to scoop up balls.
Buy Now $44.99
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks
Ideal for kids ages two to five, these cardboard blocks provide endless opportunities for them to create castles and cities and forts and whatever else they dream up. The set includes 40 blocks in three sizes, with a wipe-clean surface for simple clean-up.
Buy Now $35.34
Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
This set is ideal for ages one to 99, and that's no joke because there's no limit to what kids can build. Plus, the manufacturer supports helping Honduran workers and keeping the rainforests healthy, so you can feel good about your purchase.
Buy Now $62.88
Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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The post The Best Toddler Toys, According to Child Development Experts appeared first on Fatherly.
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