Quick Summary
- The 4 learning domains: Physical, Language, Cognitive, Social-Emotional.
- Examples of the best toys for 2 year olds in each of these domains.
Physical Development
When selecting the best toys for 2-year-olds you should keep in mind that they are busy! They have mastered walking and they are improving their running and climbing skills. In order to encourage the development of their gross motor skills in the physical domain, the children should have access to an outdoor playground with a jungle gym. For the children’s protection, there should be padding underneath the gym. Other outdoor equipment should include balls for throwing and kicking, pushing and pulling toys, as well as riding toys. If the weather keeps you indoors, you can blow bubbles and have the children pop them! This is an activity that they always enjoy. For safety reasons, make sure the floor has carpeting. Another activity that is guaranteed to keep the children moving is having them take turns crawling through indoor toy tunnels. Toys that help improve the development of their fine motor skills include Duplos, blocks, crayons, finger paint, chalk, and playdough.
Language Development
2-year-olds vocabulary is expanding rapidly. To encourage their development in the language domain, their toys should include lots of books. Some of the more popular books for this age group include Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle, Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. Sing-a-long books such as Baby Shark are also popular. Like the 1-year-olds, it is important for teachers to interact with the children while they are reading. In addition to books, you should also provide alphabet toys such as magnetic letters, phonics games, and musical nursery rhymes and other stories. Children’s electronic tablets and interactive talking books also contain many activities that promote language development.
Cognitive Development
In order to encourage their development in the cognitive domain, toys for 2-year-olds should include plastic and cardboard blocks, as well as puzzles that teach geometric shapes, patterns, and colors. Also, remember to include sorting cubes, activity cubes, abacuses, and bead mazes. In addition, provide toys for building such as blocks and duplos. Children’s electronic tablets and interactive talking books also contain many activities that promote cognitive development. Finally, be sure to include durable musical instruments such as xylophones, drums and maracas.
Social-Emotional Development
Toys that promote social-emotional development include an imaginary play area. This area should have a play kitchen, table, chairs, play food. dress-up clothes, and dolls. Also be sure to include a toy tool kit or bench. Other toys that promote development in the social-emotional domain include toy people with houses, puppets, trains and other transportation sets, and tents, These toys also encourage language development.
Emotional Development.
More Information
It is crucial for parents and teachers to recognize the importance of play for healthy child development. For more information on this topic, as well as toy safety and appropriate toys for 2-year-olds, please visit the website for The National Association for the Education of Young Children, also known as NAEYC, by using the following link. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys