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The Smart Start Toy List for Infants & Toddlers
15
items As a school psychologist I am recommending these education toys for infants and toddlers. I have personally used these products and highly recommended them to my friends and family. These are educational toys that support infants' and toddlers' cogni...
Sections
2
Infants (0–12 Months)
Toddlers (1-3)
Infants (0–12 Months)
I recommend soft sensory balls because they encourage reaching, grasping, rolling, and crawling while introducing different textures and colors. These activities strengthen fine and gross motor skills while promoting sensory exploration.
6 Pack Bright Textured Sensory Balls for Infants
I recommend chunky crayons because they are easy for little hands to grasp and help develop the fine motor skills needed for future writing. Drawing and coloring also encourage creativity, self-expression, and early pre-writing skills.
My First Coloring Book + 4 Crayons
The kids think they are just playing with Play-Doh but it actually strengthens hand muscles needed for writing while encouraging creativity and sensory exploration. Rolling, squeezing, pinching, and cutting dough also improves fine motor coordination...
Play-Doh 4 Pack Classic Colors
I recommend activity cubes because they provide multiple opportunities to explore buttons, gears, abacus, and moving parts that strengthen fine motor skills and curiosity. Interactive play also supports attention, cause-and-effect learning, and cogni...
Wooden Activity Cube for 1 Year Old
I recommend simple musical instruments because they encourage auditory development, rhythm, and cause-and-effect learning while promoting movement and coordination. Music also supports early language development and social interaction.
Wooden Musical Instruments for Infants & Toddlers
I recommend push-and-pull toys because they encourage walking, balance, coordination, and confidence as toddlers become more mobile. Active play supports gross motor development while promoting independence and exploration.
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy Walker
I recommend high-contrast books and cards because they stimulate your baby's developing vision and encourage visual tracking during the first few months of life. Early visual experiences support brain development and lay the foundation for attention ...
Black & White High Contrast Baby Toys
Toddlers (1-3)
I recommend shape sorters because they strengthen problem-solving, spatial awareness, and fine motor skills as children learn to match shapes to their correct openings. This classic toy also encourages persistence and flexible thinking.
Wooden Shape Sorter Puzzles for Toddlers
I recommend large building blocks because they encourage creativity while developing fine motor skills, hand strength, and early engineering concepts. Building together also promotes language development through conversation and cooperative play.
MEGA BLOKS Toy Blocks ABC Musical Train with Sounds and Music for Toddler
I recommend wooden puzzles because they improve visual discrimination, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. Completing puzzles also helps children build patience and confidence through independent success.
Wooden Peg Puzzles for Toddlers
I recommend pretend play toys because they encourage imagination, language development, social skills, and emotional expression. Pretend play also helps children learn about everyday routines while developing important communication skills.
Toddler Play Kitchen Toys Set
I recommend a learning tower because it safely allows toddlers to participate in everyday activities like cooking, washing produce, or mixing ingredients. These experiences build independence, language, fine motor skills, and early math concepts such...
Toddler Standing Tower 4-in-1 Kitchen Stool
I recommend nesting cups because they teach size comparison, sequencing, and problem-solving while strengthening fine motor skills. They can also be used for water play, sensory activities, and early counting practice.
Rainbow Colors Baby Stacking Cups for Toddlers
I recommend push-and-pull toys because they encourage walking, balance, coordination, and confidence as toddlers become more mobile. Active play supports gross motor development while promoting independence and exploration.
Hape Frog Pull-Along Wooden Toddler Toy
I recommend chunky crayons because they are easy for little hands to grasp and help develop the fine motor skills needed for future writing. Drawing and coloring also encourage creativity, self-expression, and early pre-writing skills.
Jumbo Crayons For Toddlers