Toys for 1 Year Olds

Toys for 1 Year Olds Buying Guide Once he gets on his feet, your toddler will always be on the go! His world is much bigger now that he can walk, run and ride. There will be a few spills and bruised elbows for the new pedestrian, but exploring is well worth the trouble. After reading the same books and watching the same TV shows together nearly every day, you might find yourself reciting Dora the Explorer episodes in your sleep. Repetitive, predictable activities give your toddler a sense of accomplishment; as does a consistent daily routine. Pegboards, blocks and simple puzzles have high play value at this stage, not only for developing motor skills and logic, but also because toddlers can use the pieces for imaginary play. Sometime just before his second birthday, your toddler will start using his imagination for pretend play, opening up a new and exciting chapter of childhood where anything is possible! Twelve to Twenty-Four Months Growing Developments Your toddler is beginning to understand the relationships between objects like spoons and bowls or pens and paper He often imitates adult actions in play He can use his feet to propel foot-to-floor-ride on toys Your toddlers' eye-hand movements are becoming coordinated He's able to grasp large crayons and color He is beginning to use toys and objects for pretend play

Guide to Toys

• Introduce push toys for holding onto—these to toys give wobbly toddlers a sense of security
• Look for pouring and filling activities—toddlers love the simple cause and effect
• Choose pretend play toys and chunky figures to enhance imaginative play
• Add books to play—she can participate in reading by pointing, making relevant noises and turning the pages

Best Play Value Toys for Ages Twelve to Twenty-Four Months

• Rockers and Rocking Horses
• Push Ride On Toys
• Bath Toys
• Toddler and Preschool Puzzles
• Sorting Toys

Top Brands for Ages Twelve to Twenty-Four Months

• Playmobil 1 2 3 Toys
• Melissa and Doug Fresh Start Puzzles
• Ambi Toys
• Corolle Tidoo Dolls
• Early Years
• Plan Toys Preschool Toys
• Baby Stella Dolls

Choosing Toys for 1 Year Old Girls and Boys

Kids need toys that interest them and stereotypes don't matter. Everyone can benefit from playing with dolls or blocks! But if you need some inspiration, or don't know what a child's specific interests are, shopping by gender can narrow down the options.

Although there is little gender differentiation between toys for 1 year old boys and girls, both genders will likely prefer playing with dolls and animals with which they can identify as their own gender. You can view our best selling toys for girls or boys by selecting the gender and "most popular" from the drop down menu on the green bar in the center of the page.

Ways to Play

Your toddler is beginning to recognize different emotions like anger, happiness, jealousy and sadness. You can talk about these new experiences through play! Help him understand what he's feeling by acting out different emotions together. Brainstorm times in the past when he felt angry or happy and think about future situations where those feelings might come up again. Let him know that the two of you share common feelings in many situations.

Toddlers love filling containers and dumping out the contents. Choose objects that he likes and let him put them in a bucket. When he's ready he'll probably dump them on the ground and start all over again! Activities like this will help him improve his dexterity, coordination and vocabulary.

Hiding is a favorite toddler game. Children usually develop object permanence, the understanding that people and objects still exist when they are out of sight, sometime between four and twelve months old. Like peek-a-boo, hide and seek games delight young children because they expect the hidden thing to be revealed. There are lots of ways to incorporate hiding into play. In the morning, you and your toddler can take turns hiding under the sheets and then popping out. You can wrap him up in a blanket or towel and carry him to another room for a surprise when he emerges. Another fun hiding game is, "Hot and Cold. To play, hide something and give your toddler clues like "warmer", "colder" and "on fire" as he draws near the objects or moves away from it.

Building blocks can be used for structured play. When you toddler is alert and relaxed, try setting up simple structures with blocks and ask him to copy them. Then let him set up some patterns for you to copy. This type of play will help him develop logic and problem solving skills.

Although playing together is fun and rewarding for both of you, it's important to give your toddler plenty of time for unstructured play so that he can make his own discoveries!