(Mostly non-electric, you'll see what I mean)
Hello Everyone! I am so excited to share with you my favorite toys that you can find on Amazon for your toddler. If you are in the market for buying your kid new toys, or you are building a wish list for a LO's upcoming birthday, you have to read this post! If you want toys that support hours of independent play, don't drive you crazy with their loud noises, and help your child develop their growing brain, you are in the right spot.
This is my top 5 favorite toys that have entertained all three of my kids, but especially my two-year-old for whom they were purchased for. If we haven't met before, my name is Karli and I love sharing my opinions on everything baby and kid related. Whether it's car seats, pacifier use, or toys, I have an opinion and I do my research to back it up. I currently have three girls, two bonus and one bio ages eleven, one, and two respectively.
I am always one to put together a list for my two year old for birthdays and Christmas. I feel that by doing this, we get toys and items that our child is in need of at that time. Also, the toys will align with where they are at developmentally and we want to limit the duplicate toys we receive or already have. Of course, we add clothing sizes and other "need" items, but people love buying kids toys as gifts so giving them choices really helps!
The toys I'm about to share with you are great for toddlers about 18 months to 3 years and above. I will list the recommended age for the toys and will not tell you directly to break those rules. However, my two year old stopped putting toys in her mouth at about 20 months old so I allow her to play with toys well above her age recommendation for this reason. If it is causing her frustration, then I will try the toy again at a later age. Usually, though, she does just fine with them and plays independently for hours at a time (with me watching her and interacting with her from time to time). With that being said, let's talk a little about independent play and what it looks like and why it's important for you and your little.
Independent Play
Toys that promote independent play in our house is a must for me. I am admittedly one of those parents that has a hard time doing pretend play with my kids. And if you are the same way, it's okay! But solo playing time is actually really good for kids and toddlers for their growth and development. As an example in adulthood, I played basketball as a teenager but recently wanted to see if I was still any good. So, I went outside by myself to see what I could do. I didn't feel any pressure of people watching me or have the potential to be embarrassed when I wasn't as good as I thought! 😅 Instead, I just went for it and had fun and figured out what I needed to work on if I wanted to improve.
This is similar for kids. When they are playing by themselves and something doesn't go the way they want it to, they figure out a new way to play. They have the freedom to do the things that they want to without being interrupted or told how to do it "the right way." This builds problem solving skills and opens the creative mind. Sure, there will come a point where they get frustrated and need some adult assistance to guide them, but for the most part, they will figure things out for themselves.
Playing independently can even start at the baby phase for a short amount of time! And that's the great thing about the kids playing on their own... Mom or Dad always have something else they need to get done. Even though we're able to push chores off to play and interact with our children, the things that need done is always in the back of our heads taunting us, clouding our focus and sucking our souls. Okay, that was a bit dramatic. But, honestly, I do have a hard time focusing and really connecting with my kids when I have a sink full of dishes or I'm trying to remember to start the washer for the third time.
Having 15, 30, 60 minutes of nearly free-time to get things done (even if it's really quickly) can mean the world to your mental health. And that's exactly what independent play will get you. Now, it gets a little trickier when you have multiple kids, especially multiple young ones. For now, it works out that my 1yo and 2yo alternate when they take naps. So, while the 1yo is taking a nap, the 2yo plays independently, and that's when I get my "chores break." Our 11yo will entertain herself during this time as well.
The question arises of do the kids play "independently" with each other or completely by themselves? Well, the answer is tricky but for the most part, the children would play by themselves to really get that time alone for their own ideas to bloom. However, I do often sneak away (to the next room) to get things done if they are playing quietly and nicely together. It just so happens that with two toddlers, it never lasts very long! If they are a little older, you can set them up in separate rooms with a set of toys each.
Another great tip is to have toys set aside for independent play only. Something that your child doesn't always get access to so when they do get to play with it, the toy is new (to the daily routine) and exciting to support a little longer engagement. For older kids this can be something like a marble run or play dough. Younger toddlers would enjoy a different set of blocks than they are used to or one of the items I talk about below.
Now, let me briefly discuss mom guilt with you all because, man, is it real!
Mom Guilt
I know what you're thinking, does this really need its own section?! And no, it probably doesn't. But mom guilt is so strong sometimes that I feel it is important to discuss so that we are all on the same page.
Sometimes I will look at my 2yo while she is playing quietly by herself and I will feel a strong urge to interject myself into her play. Why do I feel this way? So many emotions run through my head at the same time. Maybe I didn't play with her enough today. Maybe I haven't played with her enough ever... Maybe she is sad and will think I am a bad mom for not playing with her all the time. Do other moms or dads play with their children more than I do? Was it really that important to do the dishes this very moment? Maybe I should just try to play with her now.
I often have to stop and remind myself that these are all normal feelings! And remember, I do admit that I don't like pretend play. I'll do it for short amounts of time but I can't handle it for long. But that's not the only way to play with your kids. We enjoy doing many other things together. We go for walks and talk about nature, we cook together and talk about measurements and mixing, we build blocks together and talk about structure. Pretend play is not the only way to connect so please don't feel guilty if it is just not for you. And kudos to you if you give it your best effort every once in awhile!
It also makes me feel guilty to admit that I want 30 minutes to myself even if it's just to scroll on my phone or watch a show that isn't Baby Shark. But filling your cup is important to be able to fill others' cups. If you feel like you never need alone time and you want every second to be spent with your kids, then you are apart of the 1%... maybe even less. And that's great! No judgement here. But the majority of parents do want a few minutes to just do whatever they want to do.
I also work part time at home and need time to accomplish the day's tasks. My toddlers are still pretty young and need my attention often. All of a sudden 30 minutes of peace and quiet becomes as valuable as gold somedays!
We all have something we need to get done without toddlers jumping into our faces, literally. But even when they are entertained it can still be hard to relax or concentrate on a certain task when the toys they are playing with are super loud and just mostly annoying. That's why this list is not only great toys to entertain your kids and support their independent play, but also toys that are not electric with loud noises and flashing lights. There are a couple exceptions to this that I will discuss later. But why not loud flashy toys? Let's talk about it.
Non-electric Toys
There are a group of people that take this to the extreme and do not allow any battery operated toys to reach their child's little hands. I believe in "to each their own" and if this is your approach then that's great! While I think electronic toys are a waste of money for the most part, I still think there is a time and a place for certain toys to enrich a child's learning and development.
So what is the actual problem with electric toys? The main cause for concern here is language development and socialization. When you hand your infant or toddler a battery operated toy that you press a button and the toy talks or says a word such as "blue" or "one", "on" or "off" they might be intrigued enough by the colors and sounds to play with this toy for a few minutes. And that is great! A few minutes to yourself? Sign us up!
The issue here is that since they are entertained with little to no involvement from you is that there is... no involvement from you. We are our little's first teachers. Without realizing it, we TEACH them how to talk and interact with others just by interacting with them and those around us. When we leave them to listen to "red", "red", "red" because they are pressing the same button over and over, there is no real interaction there. If you were playing with a toy with them that had different colors, you would naturally say something like, "Do you see this one? This color is red! Red is a great color!" The difference is the amount of conversation back and forth even if your baby/toddler isn't actually speaking.
The next issue is the amount of time it takes for the child to get bored with this toy. "Purple, one, two, on, off." Hearing this over and over is fun for a few minutes, then the repetition gets boring. Even the toys that will sing and dance will get boring after the fifth or sixth time that they have done the exact same thing.
I have experienced this time and time again with my kids. The electric toys will be left on the shelves and the non-battery operated toys will be played with over and over. They are more open-ended when they don't have batteries. Children get to decide how they play with them and use their imagination. There isn't imagination needed for toys with only two buttons to push.
Of course, there are always exceptions to all rules. I would say the exception here is electronic toys that aide in imaginative/pretend play. Such as a pretend phone or pretend pianos or musical instruments. My daughters have a battery operated music box and love it!
The last issue I have with electronic toys has little to do with the kids and everything to do with me. I sometimes cannot stand the loud noises they make. My 2yo has a Minnie Mouse roller-skating toy that she got for Christmas and that thing is so loud not only with the music, but with the roller mechanism and how often it falls over or runs into objects. It also makes my kids so excited because it moves so they are usually squealing along with it and all together, it is way too much for my already-overstimulated brain. I'll let them play with it while I do the dishes with my noise reducing headphones in, but other than that, the toy gets put up pretty quickly.
Of course, it really is a balancing act. I don't personally buy electric toys for my kids, but the family is allowed to buy them whatever they want. I give them a list they can choose to go off of, but ultimately they decide what they want to get my kids and I am totally cool with that. But, if you're here looking for recommendations on what toys you can get, here are my top 5 favorite Amazon picks!
The Toys!
Building Blocks
First, we will start off with the most basic toy that most children have as toddlers, building blocks! The ones I'm talking about is the Mega Bloks brand where they are very chunky, easy to put together, and rated for one year and up. You can also try Lego Duplos which are rated 1.5-5 years but they are a little more difficult since your toddler has to understand matching up all four(or more) circles to build. They are also a little more difficult to pull apart. There are several different types of magnetic blocks that are great as well, but our toddlers favorite are the Mega Bloks.
The Mega Bloks come in a couple different color options so those of you that are like me and don't love the primary color scheme, they also come in two other mixes of colors. You can also purchase a little table that has a small amount of storage space for the blocks themselves that your kiddo can build on. I am pretty far from a true minimalist, however, I do try to keep clutter to a minimum so I didn't find the need for the table itself.
Building blocks are great for your child's development. They teach cause and effect,
hand eye coordination, fine motor skills, and building skills. My 2yo loves seeing how high she can build them and will even start crawling on furniture to reach and build higher than she can stand. When the tower falls, we cheer if she's excited about it and we say, "awe, bummer! Now we can build them again!" if she's upset about it. This has prevented most tantrums on the subject unless, of course, her 1yo sister is the cause of the fall... then we have a whole other problem to deal with. For the most part though, she builds happily for a solid 30-45 minutes.
Blocks are the cheapest option out of the toys I will talk about today and your toddlers (and even big kids) will enjoy the heck out of them. They are currently listed on Amazon for $19.99! And my daughters play with them almost every day so they definitely are worth the money! I'm sure you can find some at your local thrift stores as well for an even cheaper option. Now onto another item you can usually find at thrift stores!
Play Kitchen
Our kids are constantly watching us and more times than not, we are in the kitchen making food or cleaning. Since our littles want to be just like us, they also enjoy "playing" in the kitchen like Mom or Dad does. Giving them their own toddler sized kitchen sets the scene for their imagination and enables them to act like Mommy and Daddy.
Along with the kitchen comes play food! Play food can be a great learning tool and exposes kids to the shapes and colors of their favorite foods and even some they might have never seen before. The set we have has grapefruit, dragonfruit, bell peppers, egg plants and so many others that my kids don't see on a day to day basis. But, when they see them in the store they have started to identify them and we have tried a few new things with this method.
Now, play kitchens can get very expensive or they can be pretty affordable. People in my town are always posting them on FB marketplace but they get snatched up so quickly! On Amazon, they can be around $90 at the low end and $200+ on the high end! Some are super elaborate and have running water for your kids to wash their hands or dishes or just for fun. Some have little mini washer and dryer units and they are so cute but also so spendy!
The kitchen is one of the exceptions to the "no electronic" rule. The one we got as a gift (not the one pictured) has a microwave with a start and stop button and sounds like a real microwave. It also lights up on the inside just like the real one would. This kitchen has burners that will turn red when turned on and a little "ice machine" on the front of the fridge door that will really spit out ice at you. I have no idea how much this particular kitchen was but when comparing to others on Amazon, my guess is anywhere from $130-$180.
All three of our girls love playing in this kitchen. Our 11yo loves organizing it and even playing with her sisters to "cook" meals. The toddlers enjoy putting food on plates and in bowls. They also like "cutting" all the foods and putting all the food in the sink which is cute and a bit odd. 😂 They watch me wash all their fruits and veggies, so maybe that's why they think it all belongs in the sink!
A play kitchen allows them to use their imagination and pretend play either by themselves or with each other. And the next toy can go right along with it!
Shopping Cart or Stroller
Kids, again, like to watch what we do and want to try it themselves. Pushing a real shopping cart at the store with multiple people around and obstacles isn't the most ideal place for your child to practice these skills. It is also really frustrating for Mom or Dad! What's the solution? A tiny cart for themselves to play with at home.
A shopping cart is a fairly inexpensive toy ranging from $25-$75 depending on how "cute" you want it to be. Melissa and Doug has a metal shopping cart that looks very realistic, however, it is kind of a pain to push and it is super loud on tile flooring which is throughout the majority of our house. I recommend a plastic one but pick whatever is best for your family and style!
Some of the carts come with pretend food and some even with a spot to put a baby doll which I think the kids really appreciate. Afterall, if they are trying to be like us, we are typically pushing around a cart with at least one kid in it. Regardless if it has a spot for the baby doll or not, your toddler will likely fill the basket with all sorts of toys and they will love being able to push their prized possessions all around the house!
Along the same concept, a pretend stroller can be just as fun and cheap. And it is not limited to just a baby doll that can ride in the stroller. They can use it the same way and push around anything they want. Our toddlers even have races with the stroller and cart which can get a little hectic but they sure do enjoy it haha.
The next toy might only be on my radar and those that love to build and fix things like I do. A tool bench was something I put on my 2yo's birthday list and we were lucky enough to get it!
Tool Bench
My girls watch me use a multitude of power tools to build or fix things and of course they want to do it too. A tool bench that comes with extra screws and bolts is a great way for them to pretend to fix things like Mom.
This is a toy that is marketed at 3 years and up, however, my 2yo does not put toys in her mouth and I feel confident in her ability to play with these toys. You know your child best, so make the right decision for them.
The Black and Decker set on Amazon has the highest ratings but I do have a warning for you! I have this exact set because it is really the cutest, let's be honest lol. But! What you are buying is basically a kit for your kid to build a tool bench. Meaning, the nuts, screws, and bolts are all basically used to build this item and there are not any left over to play with. So, I would recommend buying additional items to allow for pretend play with the bench. Or, you can just do what I did which is I decided to use the minimal amount of fasteners needed to hold the bench together and make it sturdy-ish and left the rest for my kids to play with.
My girls love organizing the bolts and nuts and seeing which holes they fit in and which they don't. There are two battery exceptions on this set as well. The tiny chop saw does spin the beads around on inside so it makes a bit of noise but not too loud. The bench light takes batteries as well and, well lights up of course.
This set is not the cheapest at $80 but not a bad price for the use it gets. Your kids will learn fine motor skills and work their imagination with the pretend play. We have one more toy to look at and I gotta say, it is my favorite!
Flower Garden
This flower garden is also played with on a daily basis when I have it out (we often do toy rotations to keep things interesting). I personally love the bright colors and my 2yo loves building the flowers however she wants.
Again, this set is marked for 3years and up, and we do have to put it away when her 1yo sister is around. The set comes with different pistils for the flower building which are pretty small and could definitely be a potential choking device. Our girl got this for Christmas and her 2nd birthday was the following March so she played with the set a little before 2.
This toy supports the developmental activity of posting. Posting for infants and toddlers is the action of placing one object inside another usually in the shape of a slot or circular hole. All of the pieces of the flower fit inside one another to create a whole flower with whatever colors and types the child chooses. Posting builds skills such as hand-eye coordination and dexterity. It can also challenge a child's patience and determination but usually in a good way.
This toy set is only $25 on Amazon and they come in a latching bucket to store safely while not in use. I love seeing the flowers my kids make! And of course, they enjoy making them! There are several options on Amazon and most of them are the same price and look. I linked the one that we have because it worked well for us and the company includes boys in their marketing which I appreciate. Even though I don't have any boys yet, I certainly never tell my girls they can't play with something because it is "for a boy." And my views will stay the same if I am blessed with boys.
Alrighty, I'll get off my soap box! These five toys have really entertained my kids for hours and the time I get to myself is undeniably necessary. These toys keep my anxiety level down to a minimum while allowing my kids to learn and grow.
I hope you enjoy this list of toys as much as I do and if you were here looking for ideas for gifts, look no further! If you have any comments or questions, please let me know below! And I would love to hear about your toddler's favorite toy as well!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission when you make a purchase through one of the links at no additional cost to you.
Yorumlar