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Educational Gifts for Toddlers

Jul 21, 2009

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toddler education

Educational gifts for toddlers are more than just teaching tools.  Today they are colorful, bright and a lot of fun for the little ones just discovering the world.  These are the years many of the skill levels develop, and by getting baby learning gifts for your child, you can maximize that development.  Today there are so many new toys on the market aimed at filling that curiosity so typical of those first few years of life.

During these formative years, it is as important to feed the mind as it is the body.

During these formative years, it is as important to feed the mind as it is the body, so a so toy that teaches is at the top the list for toddler gifts.  The gifts do not have to teach reading, arithmetic or school subjects.  Some educational gifts teach other skills necessary for further mental and physical development.  Your toddler develops his brain overtime.

Just like circuitry, each new development depends on the previous.  The toys reinforce those brain circuits and form basic pathways for more advanced learning.  Hand-eye coordination, reasoning skills, spatial relationships, and other skills are all initiated from these early experiences.

The first year of life, most babies learn many skills that form the basis for later development.

Educational Gifts for Toddlers of 12 to 18 Months
The first year of life, most babies learn many skills that form the basis for later development.  For instance, the simple game of “peek-a-boo” teaches that just because they cannot see something, it does not mean it is not still there.  From the age of one to three, much of the foundation for higher learning takes place.  Word and object association, memory and even the concept of time, meaning past, present, and future develops.  Perfect baby learning gifts for the child age one to two include soft cloth large print books, puzzle boards with easy to manipulate large pieces, interactive books that talk or sing, and large building blocks and stacking toys.

Any toy, which helps the child to recognize and organize various shapes of the objects, is right for this age.  Educational gifts for toddlers include anything that helps them understand how things work.  Sorting and stacking games are quite popular and important for this age group.  Exposure to language and interaction is also important.  Many of the soft books made of cloth or foam, contain interactive pieces, large raised pictures for a hands on experience and words associated with the picture for increased vocabulary.  These books and stacking toys increase the fine motor skills, develop the cognitive skills, and encourage early reading skills.

Interactive types of educational gifts for toddlers provide hours of fun while teaching many different skills.

The Mozart Magic Cube-Munchkin set allows your little one to create tunes from five different instruments while it lights up with interaction.  Your little one can even simply listen to a Mozart composition as played on the French horn, flute, harp, violin, or piano and watch the cubes light up to the rhythm of the music.  These interactive types of educational gifts for toddlers provide hours of fun while teaching many different skills.

Educational Gifts for Toddlers of 18 to 24 Months
Baby learning gifts continue to become more intricate as the child gets older.  Fun gifts that also teach include simple tasks.  A plastic bucket and shovel at the beach is a perfect example of the type of gift ideal for this age group.  You do not have to go to the beach to teach your child these skills there are educational gifts for toddlers that include these skills.

Many of the table type toys have repetitive tasks for the child to complete.

Many of the table type toys have repetitive tasks for the child to complete.  Sand and water tables are available for the adventurous parent that wants to supervise young children’s play.  These tables have scoops, waterbeds, funnels, and movable parts when the water goes through the funnel.  They also have a side for sand and sand building tools.  If you would rather not have the mess in the playroom, look for similar items for the outside.  There are splash and sound tables that use batteries to move the objects on the table.  These are primarily dexterity toys but also help with teaching imagination.

Educational Gifts for Toddlers 24 Months and Older
The fun really begins as the toddler starts outgrowing the baby stage and begins to interact as a child.  The toys for this stage are fun for both your toddler and yourself.  They are no longer just baby learning gifts but interesting toys for children of all ages, even grandparents.

Tub toys are at the top of the favorite list for the two year old

Tub toys are at the top of the favorite list for the two year old.  There are interactive jungle waterfalls to put in the tub that teach the child the relationship between action and results.  Pouring water down the wheel and watching the moving pieces as it goes is a perfect lesson for your little one.  Since the toy is in the tub, you will have time to interact with your toddler as you play with him and teach the names of the various parts.  Tub time is a perfect learning area.  Parents or caretakers normally monitor the child anyway, so the interaction that takes place with these educational toys is a great way of teaching vocabulary and communication skills.

At the age of two, there are also educational gifts for toddlers that include simple computer programs.  This interactive software teaches a range of skills and offers different levels of difficulty.  Many of the programs are designed specifically for a skill or developmental phase.  The use of the computer at this age is also an important skill in itself.  These educational gifts for toddlers are a great introduction to the use of the computer as well as providing an opportunity to develop other areas.

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