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Tactile & Exploratory Toys for Toddlers (Gift Ideas!)
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items My son went to a Montessori play school, and these are similar to some his favorite toys. I volunteered a lot at the school, and I've included the most popular kinds of toys that created magical moments of exploration and discovery for those kids. Yo... I love that these materials are non-toxic, natural and tactile. Many of these are made by hand and fit into a clean and modern home design aesthetic. Calm, quiet and creative. Let the kiddos explore their world with these little gems!!
Well, now I need to learn to crochet. These sweet little veggies can be educational and fub! I would put the laundry basket over in the corner and have a game of ‘toss the veggie’ :) This Montessori play set includes fruits or vegetables, which are...
Crochet Vegetables Set
This toy does double the work… they are fun to build with and fun to touch and feel. I like the idea of having these blocks in a bag, and asking your child to reach in and find one that feels smooth, or rough, or fluffy etc. Just ask them to wash their hands first! haha #affiliate
Wooden Sensory Blocks
My son had this board, and he loved it from a very young age. At first, he didn't quite know what to do with it, but when he saw the matching shapes (of the screwdriver and screw head) it was amazing to watch him figure out how everything went together and how to twist and take the screws out. Our screwdriver set has really special memories, and I've kept his for any possible grandkids, I highly recommend a set like this!! Even the young ones :) #affiliate
Wooden Screwdriver Board
Set it up for them at first, and watch the anticipation and surprise when the balls finally fall through! They roll the die and remove a stick of that color. Very simple, and when they get to know the game well, have them starting setting it up. Total magic :) #affiliate
Their First 'Kerplunk' Game! (wooden)
My son had several of these kinds of toys at his playschool. They were so popular, you never know what the kids are going to come up with!! A set like this stimulates imagination, works on spatial reasoning and balancing techniques, and it looks awe...
Handmade Tree House Blocks
This would be a supervised activity, but it is fun to see what they do with their first ‘writing set!’ I didn't have this exact board, but I remember the first time I showed my son how to trace (and erase) with a dry-erase marker. He thought it was magic. This is the set I wish I had for him. :) #affiliate
Tracing Boards
A sweet and simple memory game. I love the wooden tokens because they are easy for little fingers to pick up. Much better than cards because the little ones tend to rip and bend flimsy cards, so you have to remove them from the game. And just the right number of tokens for their shorter attention spans. #affiliate
Wooden Memory Set
This is the giant Mac-Daddy of all busy boards!! I had a few different busy boards for my son when he was little. What I like most about this one is that it isn't colorful! It is a natural stained wood, and the focus is on the movements and activities on the board. I feel like the typical loud rainbow colors might distract from the appeal. Also, this one is a little taller, and might inspire your toddler to stand and move around while they explore the board. I LOVE this! #affiliate
Natural Wood Busy Board
This kind of thing didn't really work for my son, but for some of the kids at his playschool, it kept them entertained for ages!! I volunteered at the Playschool (most of the time) and some of the calmer and focused children really learned well from these beautiful books! And this one in particular is personalized with the child's name. So it doubles as a super thoughtful and unique birthday gift! #affiliate
Quiet Montessori Book for Toddlers
Designed for kids 1-6 years old, this set will help them becom familiar with their bodies while they imporve motor skills, coordination, and confidence. This is an indoor playground! Which is really nice when you live in Canada and it's freezing outside half the year :) #affiliate
Climbing Set
There are a hundred ways to play with this toy! Kids can make tracks, works of art, domes, or a cave. But they'll figure it out on their own :) Sweet and simple, I love that this set inspires their imagination, and is made of wood with a non-toxic wa...
Wood Counting Rainbow
No ‘toddler toy’ list is complete without a wooden train set. Seriously. The magnets will feel magical to a child, and the simple (and stackable!) wooden trains will exercise their creativity! This is the set my son had, and I've kept for the grandkids if there are any. Minus one lost car :( #affiliate
Magnetic Wooden Train Cars
A box of magic! I would have loved having this for my son! I probably would have introduced him slowly to groups of toys out of this box. (He got overwhelmed easily) and when he's played with them all, I would give them to him to play with all together. Watching how children interact with simple and basic toys like these is really special. You can almost feel the new pathways in their developing brains light up! #affiliate
Montessori Toys Set
We had this while my son was a little guy. There have been MANY games of bowling in our house over the years… you'd think I be better at it!?! These are the only plastic toys on this list, but I had to include this set because it holds such nostalgic value for us. My only complaint is that the hard plastic pins make a lot of noise when the fall over. #affiliate
Buggy Bowling Set
Every kid needs a set of hand puppets!! Even if they are just old socks with googly eyes… puppets are essential for a happy childhood! Ask your kids to put on a show for you. It will surely be much more entertaining than anything on Netflix! This set is a classic from Melissa and Doug :) ...
Hand Puppets
Encourage your kiddos to walk around with their pet duck! I don't know what more to say. Super cute, and it gets them moving :) #affiliate
Wooden Walking Duck on a Stick,
This shop sells several balance sets including beams, balls and platforms. I chose these tactile ‘stones’ to include because this is what my son loved when he was little. They are learning balance and gross motor skills, but what I love the most is they are learning bravery! #affiliate
Step & Balance Sensory Stones
My son didn't really play with the food sets when he was little, but I certainly did! We didn't get cool stuff like this, but I love the idea of the kiddos making and cutting and presenting plates of sushi when they entertain their friends haha! These ones are made of wood from Melissa and Doug. This is just an idea, as there are so many cool food sets to choose from! #affiliate
Wooden Sushi Slicing Play Set