Searching for a toy that will keep your child engrossed and entertained while engaging their senses? Then consider shopping for sensory toys for toddlers that are known for being very engaging considering their different textures, sounds, and compositions, these toys can truly engage your child’s senses.
Shop for the best sensory toys for toddlers out there to keep your toddler busy while enhancing their playing experience. It can turn your little one’s usual playtime into one that’s both exciting and educational. Learn more about these sensory toys through this article.
Sensory Toys for Toddlers Defined
Sensory toys are playthings that are both educational and developmental. These toys are fun and enjoyable to use and are also very stimulating. You can see these pieces of toys being available in different forms, colors, shapes, and sizes.
Your child will, therefore, find it delightful to have them in your home. If you are still unfamiliar with these sensory toys, then take note that a few examples include a soft textured ball, a fidget toy, a sensory bin full of various materials, a musical instrument, and sensory chew toys for toddlers.
All these can ignite your child’s senses and enhance various aspects of their young life. It can keep them calm while giving them their desired sensory experience. It is specifically good for your toddler because the experience can help them establish nerve connections inside the brain.
Moreover, they will gain assistance in developing several motor skills.
What are the Benefits of Sensory Toys for Toddlers?
One benefit of sensory learning toys for toddlers is that they promote better cognition. The reason is that such items can help them learn a few things necessary for their cognitive development – among which are the cause-and-effect of things, problem-solving, and information processing.
Take a child who plays with sensory play toys for toddlers that produce sounds as an example. Here, they will get to understand how their actions affect the environment they are in, like when they take a move that results in the toy producing a sound. If they stop moving, the toy also stops its sound.
Another positive thing that toys for toddlers with sensory issues can do is these can support their language and social development. Use these tools to help them learn certain descriptive words, like loud, blink, hard, soft, squishy, and bumpy, among many others.
In addition, a lot of sensory toys work efficiently in honing the fine motor skills of toddlers. These skills can be honed and cultivated by targeting the tiny muscles in their fingers and hands.
There’s this sensory toy that your child can manipulate, hold, and squeeze, which can result in better dexterity, strength, and hand-eye coordination. These skills are vital, so they will eventually learn to write, draw, and use utensils.
5 Recommended Toys for Toddlers
If you have a toddler whose senses you want to engage and improve through good sensory toys for toddlers, then the following are among the most highly recommended items for them:
#1 – Chew Toys
Chew toys are not only meant for infants. Even toddlers can also benefit from these toys. This is especially true for those who are in need of oral sensory toys for toddlers meant to deal with a sensory processing disorder.
Those with autism will also find these chew toys for toddlers with sensory processing disorder helpful. Usually constructed from non-toxic silicone, these chew toys are handheld or jewelry-like objects that the user can wear around their wrist or neck. They feature many different textures – among which are patterns, ridges, and dots.
Note, though, that no matter what shape, size, and texture you choose, this toy can still perform its job of honing your toddler’s skills in chewing and biting. It can also supply them with more than enough sensory stimulation.
#2 – Fidget Spinners
Fidget spinners may be familiar to you as it was so popular a few years back. They are considered good sensory motor toys for toddlers since they can hone your child’s focus. All it takes is for the fidget spinner to ensure that your child’s hands remain occupied.
This toy is also meant to be used by kids diagnosed with certain conditions – among which are autism, ADD (attention deficit disorder), and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Most kids also love the rapid and smooth rotation of these toys.
#3 – Wobble/Balance Board
Aside from the fact that it can improve balance, the wobble/balance board also promotes stronger core muscles for your toddler. It’s multipurpose. For one, it can be formed like the letter “U”, so they can try balancing their body as the board rocks.
The board can also be flipped similar to a rainbow. Your toddler can then try walking over it, thus, improving their balance.
Some toddlers also enjoy using it as a slide. All it takes is putting the board on the edge of a chair or couch.
What’s even nicer is that it is available in various colors and designs. You can choose natural wood, multicolor rainbow, or linen white based on what you think your child will love and enjoy.
#4 – Sensory Bin
Sensory bins will also be among those toys that will certainly entertain your toddler. Even older children can enjoy it. Aside from providing plenty of tactile input, it is also possible for you to hide objects and puzzle pieces in the bin and challenge your toddler to look for them.
You can even make this more interesting and challenging by letting them search for buried treasures inside with their eyes closed. One more reason to love sensory bins is that you do not need to buy them since you can make one yourself.
All it takes is finding an empty container and then filling it up with various materials that will engage the senses.
#5 – Silicone Sensory Circle Pods
Your toddler can start enjoying these circle pods once you mount them to the wall or position them on the floor. It is a great way to develop their gross motor skills. It has mixed textured surfaces where your toddler can walk across or crawl.
You can even make them do it as part of a game. For instance, you can ask them to guess the color depending on the textures felt under the feet. It is also possible to use the pods in a kind of modified Twister game.
Here, your toddler will have to put their hands and feet on various textures and colors. You can use your creativity and imagination to find games with these toys that can help give your toddler more tactile input and let them identify and distinguish colors and different texture patterns.
What’s great about these sensory circle pods is that they are constructed from silicone material, making them safe even for curious toddlers who tend to put everything they touch in their mouths.
Best Practices for Toddler Sensory Play
As you may have known by now, sensory play can indeed give your toddler a more enjoyable playtime plus it is easy and simple to set up. However, you may also have a hard time finding ideas that will engage your child in various sensory activities.
To make this easier for you, here are a few tips and ideas for creating the most sensory-friendly environment for your toddler:
Understand your toddler’s unique sensory needs
Make sure that you are already fully aware of your child’s behaviors and unique personality as well as their individual sensitivities. Observe them every day, too.
The goal is to reflect on their behavior, allowing you to develop a plan for their sensory space where all the elements they need are present.
Develop sensory zones
The best sensory-friendly space is one that features various zones that cater to different activities. This is a sort of visual separation that will give your toddler a clear idea about the specific zone they can safely use based on what they feel.
For instance, you can create a quiet zone for them that they can use whenever they need to calm down or relax. There should also be an area rich with sensory-stimulating elements for certain experiences like creating music.
In addition, you can create a tactile zone that they can use for hands-on activities, such as crafts.
Invest in sensory-friendly lighting
As much as possible, go for adjustable and softer lighting instead of the glaring and bright light that’s quite hard to tone down. The light should be adjustable so you can make adjustments to it to fit the specific activity your child intends to do.
For example, you can adjust the lighting, so it will be softer and more muted if it is time for relaxation. You can also turn it brighter if you wish them to do learning-based activities.
Also, think of how much natural light penetrates the space and whether you have to put blackout curtains or blinds. Ensure that you consider what your child prefers in that regard.
Use calming colors in the area
Make it a point to decorate the spot where you intend your child to do some sensory activities with calming and neutral colors. The reason is that these colors are suitable for relaxation.
You can also use pastel colors as well as nature-inspired ones as they are perfect for sensory spaces. Do not fill the area with too many colors, though, as it may only overwhelm or distract your toddler. Do not use a lot of harsh, bold, and bright colors, too.
Conclusion
The best sensory toys for toddlers can indeed make your child’s growing years more fun, enjoyable, and conducive to learning and growth. Make sure to give them a sensory space that’s more personal to them. It should resonate with what they want so they will be more inspired to visit the area and use it.
Once the space is already set up, make it a point to test it out first so you will know if you need to modify or adapt as needed. Remember that your toddler is unique, so you should be able to give them a space that perfectly suits their unique needs and preferences.