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Toys Suitable for Preschoolers

By: Sarah Clark (ILEX) - Updated: 19 Oct 2012 | comments*Discuss
 
Preschool Toys Pre School Development

Preschool toys are fun and exciting for your little ones, but they also serve a purpose. At this age, small children are developing rapidly, learning to use their imaginations, and developing social skills. Language skills are developing and motor and co-ordination should be coming along nicely.

The best pre school development toys will exploit this, while educational toys will be entertaining and stimulate young minds, hopefully attracting their interest in areas they can excel in as they get older like numbers, words, art and making things. Even something as simple as musical toys, bats and balls, paper and a set of paints can help to engage young minds...

Which Preschool Toys Suit Very Young Children?

From the age of about twelve months, children love to make a mess, and to ‘do’ rather than simply play. They start to become more aware of things around them, their properties and what they can do with or to them! Pre school development toys for very young children will make the most of this and challenge little minds to think about their surroundings and how they interact with them.

Good educational toys and preschool toys that will make the most of this, and hopefully stop them emptying cereal boxes or filling shoes up with their dinner are toys which use their newly found organising skills. Sand pits and containers for them to endlessly fill and empty are some good choices.

Pre school development toys such as brightly coloured stacking toys, are fun for toddlers and young children. From about two or three years old, play gets more active and they love to test their limits by jumping (in puddles and piles of leaves being a favourite) climbing on things and throwing their toys around.

Even pulling the cat’s tail is attractive until the cat objects. Give them durable preschool toys that can withstand abuse and being jumped on or thrown on the floor!

Older Preschoolers – Which Educational Toys Will They Love to Play With?

Older preschoolers, from the age of three and above, start to notice other people and enjoy playing with little friends – or even inventing their own imaginary friends!

Children of this age love to dress up, enjoy playing at grown ups and any games that involve role play – mummies and daddies, doctors and nurses, we’re all been there. One of the best preschool toys you can give a child of this age is probably a dressing up box – or any other toy that lets them be mummy or daddy, a shopkeeper or anything else (like a fairy or fireman) they prefer.

Costumes and props will bring their imaginations to life, and a toy kitchen, dolls house, fire engine or doctors set will further encourage them to make believe. Let them pretend to have an imaginary friend – it’s harmless. And encourage them to put on ‘shows’ and plays with siblings or friends, you could be nurturing a budding thespian!

Musical toys are always fun at this age – indulge your child’s inner musician with musical toys that look like the real thing, even if they don’t actually sound anything like it! You can get interactive preschool, toys which let children use a TV or PC to play safely, and even imitation cameras, starter MP3 players and laptops. Encourage your child to experiment with educational toys and enjoy themselves at the same time.

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