Blocks
I love blocks! Building is such a wonderful activity for kids. They are learning how to create, understand cause and effect, engage in role play, and cooperate with others. An important word for parents and educators to use when using blocks with young children is “structure.” Often we say to children, let’s play with blocks and we encourage them to make a building, but to instead use the term structure allows for more creativity. A structure can be a zoo enclosure, a bed for a favorite toy, or a house. My favorite blocks for toddlers are these Mega Blocks. They are easy for even 1 year old hands to grab and put together. We also play with the Melissa and Doug wood blocks at my parents house.
Kitchen Tools
Some of my absolute favorite playtime memories with my kids have been them using kitchen tools. Just a couple of weeks ago, my oldest son made me a rainbow sandwich and it was adorable. We play restaurant and they love to make cupcakes with the little pan. They engage in the most cooperative play when they are cooking together. We somehow ended up with two sets of these Melissa and Doug baking tools and it’s great! We could definitely live with just one set, but they love to play cooking with their cousins, too, so I like that we have plenty for sharing.
Puppets
Anyone know of a good puppet theatre that isn’t too expensive?! My boys love to play with puppets. I think they are really important, maybe especially for boys who aren’t always drawn to playing with dolls and other gentle pretend play. It gives them opportunity tell stories in a calm way (You know, instead of flinging themselves around on the floor with one another as brothers often do.) For now, we just hide behind the ottoman to put on our puppet shows. Maybe a DIY will be in our future…… Again, we have the Melissa and Doug puppets, as well as some tiny knit finger puppets my mom got at the Pennsylvania Farm show like 7 years ago. (Yes, before I even had kids, she bought them toys.)
Animals
My kids enjoy playing pretend with their animals. The animals can be part of the setting in their play or the actual characters. These Little People zoo animals we have are a wonderful size for toddlers and are even great for long car rides.
Balls
Balls are so versatile! You can play so many different games with balls together. We probably have too many, to be honest, but it’s hard to part with a toy that you know they can use in so many ways! They are great for showing your kids how ramps work, great for practicing gross motor skills, and great for sharing. We have so many random balls, but we have had this Infantino ball set since my oldest was a baby and they were always a favorite!
Small Builders/Connectors
There are so many choices for cool small building sets! I loved Magna-Tiles when I was a teacher, but they are expensive. We have a cheaper version called Magformers and, honestly, they are pretty good! They are a tiny bit weaker than the Magna-Tiles and not as sharp cornered for building, but they are still a great option! I also like the B. Toys Bristle Blocks. Other builders that I’ve had as a teacher and were beloved: Waffle Blocks and Standard- Unit blocks.
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