25 toys to support cognitive development in early childhood
Are you looking for the perfect gift for a special little kids in your life that also supports cognitive development in early childhood? Well, there are so many toys and products to choose from nowadays that it can be overwhelming.
The type of toys a child plays with does truly matter. This is the ultimate guide for the top 25 toys to support cognitive development in early child that kids will love!
This post was created by Marra Robert, OTD, OTRL and contains affiliate links.
As parents and caregivers, you play a pivotal role in nurturing the cognitive development of your young children. One of the most effective ways to stimulate their growing minds is through play.
Hi! My name is Marra and I’m a mama and a pediatric occupational therapist who has years of experience working with children with diverse developmental needs and helping their parents navigate the ups and downs of child development.
I loved being a support person for parents learning about child development, and their child’s individual needs. I would often recommend to families toys or equipment to help improve their child’s developmental skills. I’d like to share the most common recommendations with you.
Engaging, age-appropriate toys can foster cognitive skills such as problem-solving, memory, attention, and creativity. In this blog post, we’ll explore the 25 best toys that can support cognitive development in early childhood.
THE TOP 25 TOYS TO SUPPORT COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
1. BUILDING BLOCKS
Building blocks are classic toys that offer a plethora of benefits for cognitive development. They enhance spatial awareness, fine motor skills, and creativity. Children can explore concepts like balance, stability, and gravity as they build and stack. They can also build different structures and incoorporate pretend splay.
2. Puzzles
Puzzles come in various forms and difficulty levels, making them ideal for different age groups. Solving puzzles encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination. Start with simple wooden puzzles and gradually progress to more complex ones as your child’s skills advance.
You can also hide puzzle pieces around the room or build it into an obstacle course for add challenge and fun.
3. Shape Sorter
Shape sorters help children develop recognition of shapes and colors, promoting cognitive skills and fine motor coordination. These toys often feature different openings that correspond to specific shapes, encouraging problem-solving and logical thinking. Shape sorters also strengthen fine motor skills as well.
4. Play dough
Play dough is a versatile tool for cognitive development. It allows children to explore their creativity, enhance fine motor skills, and learn about colors and shapes. You can also introduce accessories like cookie cutters to make the experience even more engaging. Take it the next level by adding pretend play with the shapes made out of play dough
5. Memory GAmes
Memory games, such as matching cards, improve a child’s memory and concentration. These games challenge children to remember the location of matching pairs, boosting cognitive functions like pattern recognition and recall. If your child is to young to play memory you can start by having them match the pictures with the cards face up.
6. Board games
Simple board games designed for young children provide an excellent platform for social interaction and cognitive development. Games like “Candy Land” or “Chutes and Ladders” teach counting, turn-taking, and strategic thinking. Remember, with little ones you do not have to follow all of the rules. Just start with having fun and taking turns.
7. Play Kitchen
Pretend play is essential to support cognitive development in early childhood. It’s were children strengthen their imagination, problem solving, and social emotoinal skills. I got a play kitchen for my daughter a year ago and she has played with it every day! She loves it!
8. Books
Reading together is one of my favorite things to do with my daughter. Sharing a special story is a wonderful way to stimulate cognitive development. Choose age-appropriate storybooks that encourage language development, imagination, and comprehension. Discuss the story with your child to enhance their critical thinking skills.
9. Musical Instruments
Exploring musical instruments, even simple ones like shakers or a small drum, engages various cognitive functions. It helps children develop rhythm, coordination, and auditory discrimination. Additionally, it fosters creativity and expression. It is so much fun and may lead to a dance party!
10. Arts & Crafts
Providing a variety of art supplies, including crayons, markers, and colored pencils, allows children to express themselves creatively. This not only enhances their hand strength and fine motor skills but also promotes cognitive development through color recognition, creativity, and imagination.
11. Counting Bears and Honey Pots
Toys that involve sorting and counting, such as counting bears or stacking rings, are excellent for developing mathematical and logical thinking. These toys introduce basic concepts of numbers, sizes, and sequences. This game is so much fun for little ones to play and great to work on math skills when they get older.
12. Magnets
Magnetic toys provide a hands-on experience in understanding magnetic forces. Children can experiment with arranging and rearranging magnets on a magnetic board, promoting spatial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving.
13. Dress-up
Encourage imaginative play with dress-up clothes. This type of play enhances creativity, social skills, and cognitive development as children create and act out different roles. It is so much fun and can help little ones become more independent with getting dressed.
14. SENSORY KITS
Sensory kits have proven to be incredibly versatile sensory toys to support cognitive development in early childhood. Offering a range of benefits, they are used in various ways to facilitate relaxation, sensory exploration, and desensitization. Remember to respect your child’s comfort level when exploring new senses and let them go at their own pace.
15. Dolls
Dolls and action figures provide a canvas for storytelling and role-playing. These toys promote language development, social skills, pretend play, and cognitive growth as children invent scenarios and interact with the characters.
16. Science Kits for Kids
Age-appropriate science kits introduce children to basic scientific principles through hands-on experiments. This not only stimulates curiosity but also enhances cognitive skills such as observation, prediction, and problem-solving. These activities are really fun experiences for you to do with your child.
17. Outdoor Toys
Outdoor play is essential for physical and cognitive development. Toys like balls, jump ropes, and gardening tools engage children in activities that enhance motor skills, spatial awareness, and sensory experiences.
18. Lacing Cards
Lacing cards are excellent for fine motor development and hand-eye coordination. Children practice threading a lace through designated holes, promoting concentration and precision.
19. Building and construction kits
Advanced building and construction sets, such as LEGO or Mega Bloks, encourage spatial reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving. These toys allow children to create intricate structures, fostering cognitive development.
20. Balance Bike
Balance bikes are an excellent alternative to training wheels when teaching children to ride a bike. They promote balance, coordination, and spatial awareness, contributing to cognitive and physical development.
21. Indoor Play Gym
Research shows that kids learn best from movement and that staying active enhances cognitive development in early childhood. I know it’s unrealistic to play outdoors every day so bring active play indoors with this amazing play gym.
22. Pattern Board
Pattern blocks and boards allow children to create various shapes and designs by fitting colorful blocks into designated spaces. This activity enhances spatial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
23. Tunnels
By engaging in activities within the sensory tunnel, kids can develop an improved sense of spatial awareness and gain a better understanding of their body in relation to the surrounding space, supporting their cognitive development in early childhood
24. Busy Book
These fun, busy books for toddlers are the perfect educational toys to support cognitive development in early childhood. They will keep your little one entertained for hours and are even great for car rides.
25. Garden Kit
This is the cutest garden toy that your kid will love. Talking about gardening and where our food and plants come from is great for learning about our precious environment and enhances cognitive development in early childhood.
Incorporating a diverse range of toys into your child’s playtime routine can have a profound impact on their cognitive development in early childhood.
Remember to choose toys that align with your child’s age and developmental stage, and always prioritize safety. Through thoughtful and engaging play experiences, you can create a stimulating environment that fosters cognitive growth and sets the foundation for lifelong learning.