I thought it would be fantastic to share some of the best imagination sparking toys and games you can buy to help your kids develop motor skills and stimulate their imagination.
It can be challenging when shopping for children, especially if you don’t know what to get, let alone what’s safe to give them.
For toys and games for kids younger than five, choose items that will enhance their motor skills, teach them basic skills, and encourage imagination and creativity. However, older children are more likely to need toys that will challenge them and stimulate their imagination than younger ones.
No matter how you choose to shop for toys and games for your kids. If you’re shopping for toys this Christmas or for other significant events. Pick toys and games that promote creative play, develops motor skills, teaches basic skills, and sparks their imagination. Kids will love them!
When choosing toys and games for your kids, what do you look for?
The vast array of toys developed for children in recent years may seem like it should be easy to choose toys for kids, but it can actually be quite challenging.
Then how do you select the one that is most suitable for your child? What is the best way of determining which one is high quality and which one will last? Which will keep your child’s attention for more than a few days or weeks?
Before buying toys and games you can trust, here are a few things to consider
Children’s toys and games are designed according to their age. So the first thing to look for is toys and games that fit your kid’s range. But, of course, you don’t want to find the perfect toy, then realize that it’s still a year beyond your kid’s age.
Next, you need to know if it’s safe for your kids
Toys are primarily safe. But check out the toy’s parts and see how it was put together. Is it safe for your kid to play with? Is there anything that might fall out? What if your baby drooled on the wood? Would the paint flake off?
In addition, does it encourage creativity?
It’s not fun for a kid to have toys that do everything for them. Children love to use their creative skills, so make sure you give them toys that promote this!
In your opinion, does it promote physical activity?
You’ll have plenty of time to get your kids into computer games in the future when they’re older. So why not start them off with more physical toys while they are young? There are some toys that require the kid move more than just lounging on the floor and playing, such as those that require walking and pushing.
Can it provide a multi-sensory experience?
Find toys for your infant that do more than just one thing. For example, kids are more likely to engage with toys that make noise, light up, and have different textures than toys that just light up. They have also proven that these toys help kids, especially those with special needs, stop behaviors, reduce stress, and give additional stimulation.
Finally, is it helpful for learning?
Be sure the toys you give your kids stimulate their minds when they make loud noises or light up. It’s so easy for them to pick up on things and learn fast, so take advantage of this! Also, invest in toys that require the youngster to think critically and solve problems.
Let’s now look at four toys and games for preschoolers and older kids with that in mind.
Here are our recommendations for toys and games that encourage creative play, develop motor skills, and teach basic skills to spark the kids’ imagination.
For preschoolers, 1 to 4 years old, we suggest stacking blocks and rocking horses as ideal toys and games.
Stacking blocks and construction sets.
Stacking things is one sign a kid is developing correctly. The act of stacking things is beneficial in several ways for youngsters. In fact, stacking things is an early form of geometry for kids. When infants play with blocks, they are learning geometry.
To establish your kids’ distinction between colors and geometry. Our set includes eleven different shaped foam stacking blocks, stimulating both imagination and creativity.
There are many reasons stacking blocks is beneficial, including that it enhances hand-eye coordination and social skills. But, more notably, they learn the basics of geometry as they stack blocks.
In addition, playing with nesting cups and buckets with holes for different-shaped blocks will enhance your kids’ hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.
Rocking Horses with Sing-Along Song
Rocking horses aren’t old-fashioned or out of date. On the contrary, people have used them for generations, which proves they’re timeless and valuable.
Rocking horses for kids are classic toys that bring joy to many kids, and they can teach them essential motor skills and help them sharpen their senses. In addition, special needs kids can get pleasure from them because they’re fun and calming.
Rocking horses are best suited and available for kids from 1 to 4 yrs of age. However, they can be used by children up to 6 years old. At this age, children are fascinated by the colors and designs of rocking horses. In addition, kids can easily ride it because of its structure and thick handles.
Besides being delightfully fun, they also improve kids’ physical motor skills, posture, and balance through imaginative play. And so, as your child is pretending to be a cowboy or cowgirl, they’ll put their upper body muscles to work and learn new push-pull motions. Another feature is the gentle rocking motion that can soothe and comfort kids.
Wooden rocking horses are perfect for small children because of the exercise they promote and their stimulating senses. Studies show that rocking helps stimulate your child’s inner ear, which can help their sense of equilibrium.
What toys and games challenge them and stimulate older kids?
When kids enter elementary school, they have a grasp of the world around them. In addition, the kids now have the confidence to master skills they once lacked. Such as catching a football, riding a bicycle, skateboarding, and experiencing new adventures, like riding battery-powered ride-on toys.
Battery-powered ride-on toys and games
These larger-than-life battery-powered toys are great for fostering motor skills and hand-eye coordination, encouraging your kids’ imagination and creative thinking.
These ride-on toys have different pedals, levers, knobs, and switches. For example, ride-on motorcycles can help build kids’ ability to orientate, coordinate, and build confidence early.
Depending on your kid’s age, there are different ride-ons.
For older kids, it’s recommended to get 12-volt battery-powered cars or ride-on toys. For younger kids, depending on their confidence level, this is your call as a parent. The makers recommend getting a 6-volt battery ride-on for children under the age of 6 years old. They suggested getting a 12-volt battery car for the older kids.
With these kids’ ride-ons, your child can ride safely and have fun. They have working headlights and a music button. Your kids will get to experience the thrill of driving on these ride-ons that simulate actual vehicles. In addition, it helps kids develop their orienting, coordination, and confidence skills early on. Playing these toys and games develops their motor skills, teaches basic skills, and stimulates their imagination? They’ll love them!
Toys and games buying tips
Stacking blocks
- If you’re looking to purchase stacking blocks, your children’s safety should be at the top of your list.
- One thing to consider when buying a stacking game or any toy is age suitability.
- Select a stacking game that hasn’t got too many parts because these are potential choking hazards.
- Buy stacking blogs toys for younger kids that come in larger sizes. To prevent young toddlers from swallowing the pieces.
Rocking horses
- If you’re looking for a rocking horse, the best age range for rocking horses is between 1 and 6 years old.
- Don’t buy a rocking horse based on a specific age if you’re looking for a rocking horse for several children. Make sure you pick something that you’ll love for years to come and that you can pass down.
- Choose the rocking horse based on the child’s age and taste if you’re looking for one for a particular child.
- Make sure your kid’s rocking horse is cleaned and checked periodically after buying it. Check to ensure that none of the parts have become dislodged.
Ride-on toys
- First, take a quick look at the reviews if you’re planning on buying one. There are many battery-powered toys available these days, and some are not very reliable over the long term. Toys should also be checked to see if they can be used indoors or outdoors.
- Based on the reviews of other customers, it’s essential to know how long the battery lasts on average. Then, on that, you’ll know how much you’re willing to spend on it.
- After a heavy rain, some parents let their kids ride their battery-powered ride-on in puddles. When water gets close to the battery, it can seriously damage the circuits. It’s essential to think about what your kid likes and what will fit them best.
- Perhaps a non-battery-powered toy is the better choice if your child likes to get wet and dirty outdoors!
In summary
So there you have it. You can use some of these toys and games to spark imagination in kids younger than five and enhance their motor skills. As well as develop motor skills and stimulate creative thinking in older kids.
Now I’d like to hear from you
Hopefully, this post gave a better sense of what toys and games to buy for preschoolers and older kids.
Do you have any main takeaways you would like to share with us? Was this post helpful to you in any way?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.