Wooden toys, like so many others, have many educational benefits that often go unnoticed when there is so much playing to do and fun to be had. Children don’t care – and why should they? – if a particular toy will help them develop logical reasoning skills or encourage them to stretch their growing limbs or teach them how to count. Parents, on the other hand, may appreciate the following suggestions for wooden toys that promote mental and physical development.
Click on the image above for more information and to buy the Red Bus Sorter.
For babies, it's all about developing elementary senses like touch, feel and sight and wooden toys such as rattles, mobiles, and shape sorters are perfect first toys. Shape sorting toys, such as the Red Bus Sorter, encourage children to grip, learn about shape, colour and perspective. They also teach children to concentrate, think patiently and solve problems.
Baby walkers can give children the confidence to move from crawling to walking, providing support and encouragement while they are pushed along. The Tidlo Activity Walker with ABC Blocks (pictured below) is a fine example of a walker that promotes walking, balance and coordination. The wooden alphabet blocks provide additional educational value.
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First wooden puzzles like the Janod Magnetic Rocket Puzzle provide children with a fun challenge which encourages the development of problem solving, concentration and planning skills while also promoting hand eye coordination and fine motor skills.
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As children get older, art and creativity toys help children build on the elementary skills learned as babies. Children’s easels enable children to learn to explore and express their creative side with paints, chalks and pens. Musical toys such as the Melissa and Doug Learn to Play Piano offer another outlet for expression and learning.
Growing children are full of energy and toys such as hobby horses and balance bikes provide plenty of opportunities for exercise and physical development. Balance bikes are primarily designed to help children develop and improve balance skills and strengthen their arms and legs, but they also give children an early lesson in assessing and taking risks. Life lessons about falling out of the saddle and then getting straight back on can be taken both literally and metaphorically!
There's nothing quite like your first bike!
