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Are you preparing to welcome a new baby to your family? Or are you considering what toys to buy your baby to help their development? In today’s blog post, I am going to share the best books and toys for your little one - and share ways to play with your child without relying on screens.
As new parents, we are always seeking ways to nurture our twins' development and encourage their sense of wonder and exploration. A few years before we became pregnant, I enjoyed listening to the Happy Home podcast by Arlene Pellicane. She is a mama to three kids and when they were little, she wanted to protect them from being influenced by the negative impacts of screens. She co-wrote Screen Kids with Gary Chapman, who you may know from The 5 Love Languages. I bought the book and we decided we wanted to raise kids who weren’t co-dependent on screens.
In a world where screens dominate our daily lives, finding screen-free activities and toys for babies and toddlers has become more important than ever. Engaging in stimulating, hands-on experiences not only promotes their cognitive and physical development but also fosters creativity, curiosity, and essential social skills. Here's a list of the best screen-free activities and toys designed to entertain, educate, and delight your little one.
In this guide, we'll explore a curated selection of the best baby toys and books, designed to stimulate baby’s senses, enhance motor skills, and promote cognitive development.
Baby's Brain Development
During my pregnancy with our twins, I wanted to absorb as much information as possible from trusted pediatricians, doctors, and childcare specialists. One video I came across talked about myths about baby development by Dr. Blair Hammond and Dr. Aliza Pressman. Pressman mentioned toys don’t make babies smart, yet it is mom’s/dad’s interaction with the toy with their baby that can enhance learning. Isn’t this the truth?! I’ve noticed when I am with my babies surrounded by toys, they gravitate towards me first although they have so many toys to engage with. I love that they want to be close to their mama! They will also start to gravitate to what I am doing, so for example when I am organizing their baby books, they want to come over to the books too. Babies are little sponges just absorbing so much information all around them.
Toys play a crucial role in a baby's early years by providing sensory stimulation and encouraging exploration. Age-appropriate toys can aid in developing essential skills like hand-eye coordination, problem-solving abilities, and social interaction. When choosing toys for your baby, consider their age and developmental stage to ensure optimal engagement and safety.
Sensory Books: Engaging the Senses
A wonderful bonding experience and developmental opportunity for your kids is reading! Reading to your child not only introduces them to new words but also helps develop their listening abilities and imagination. Choose interactive board books with flaps, textures, or simple sounds. Let your child turn the pages, point to the pictures, and mimic the sounds or actions from the story. Storytime is also an opportunity for you to bond with your child and establish a love for books early on.
Dinosaur Soft Book I bought this book for our babies’ first Christmas! I love the colors and the soft feel of the book. Each page has dinosaur names (which even helped me learn a new dinosaur name Pteranodon). It comes with a removable dinosaur that babies can play with. This book is machine washable too.
Wild Animals: A Touch and Feel Book. Each page has a special texture that can help your little one imagine what an animal’s fur/skin could feel like. Our babies love the bright colors and looking at the different animals featured on each page.
Indestructibles. These baby books are hardy! They truly are indestructible. They can handle a beating. Our babies put stuff in their mouths, so, unfortunately, many a board book have been chewed up.
Sensory Toys: Engaging the Senses
Babies and toddlers are naturally curious about the world around them. Sensory play is an excellent way to help them explore different textures, shapes, and sounds. A simple sensory bin filled with safe objects like soft fabrics, crinkly paper, wooden blocks, or water beads can captivate your child for hours. You can also introduce sounds with rattles, bells, or maracas, which help develop auditory processing and motor skills.
Baby Tissue Box. I bought this toy for our babies because they love pulling out wipes and tissues if they can get their hands on them! This toy comes with 12 see-through “tissues” and 3 crinkle-sounding “tissues”.
Textured Balls. Soft, bumpy, or ridged balls encourage tactile exploration and hand-eye coordination.
Sensory Blocks: These come in different textures, colors, and even sounds, making them great for hands-on discovery.
Musical Instruments: Baby-safe tambourines, drums, or xylophones introduce rhythm and sound in an interactive way. We bought our twins a baby piano and they love “playing” the piano!
Cognitive Development Toys: Learning through Play
Toys that challenge babies' and toddlers’ minds promote cognitive development and problem-solving skills. These toys engage their curiosity and encourage independent exploration. Consider these options:
Activity Cube. An Activity Cube is a multi-sided toy featuring various interactive elements like bead mazes, shape sorters, gears, and sliders. It encourages fine motor skills, problem-solving, and sensory exploration, offering endless hands-on learning for toddlers and young children.
Baby Play Gym & Activity Mat. A Baby Play Gym & Activity Mat provides a soft, cushioned surface for babies to play and explore. It typically includes hanging toys, textures, and interactive elements to stimulate sensory development, motor skills, and curiosity while keeping your little one entertained.
Mega Blocks. Mega Bloks are large, colorful building blocks designed for toddlers, perfect for little hands to grip and stack. They help develop motor skills and creativity, allowing young builders to create simple structures while exploring imaginative play.
Shape Sorters: Colorful cubes or buckets with different shaped openings help children practice matching shapes and sizes.
Chunky Wooden Puzzles: Large, easy-to-grasp puzzle pieces with simple designs, like animals or vehicles, engage your child’s ability to recognize shapes and patterns.
SpinAgain. The Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain is a colorful, interactive stacking toy designed for toddlers ages 1 and up. It features discs that spin down a corkscrew pole, creating a mesmerizing effect as they stack in order. The large, easy-to-grip pieces promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. I even find it fun to play with!
Wooden Marble Run. The Fat Brain Toys Roll 'n Go Wooden Marble Run is a classic, back-and-forth marble track designed for toddlers aged 2 and up. Made of durable wood, it features a simple yet captivating design where marbles or balls roll down zigzagging tracks, encouraging problem-solving and motor skills.
Interactive Toys: Fostering Social Bonds
Interactive toys encourage social interaction and emotional development. These toys often include mirrors, soft textures, and friendly faces to engage babies and promote bonding. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Tummy Time Toy Mirror. A Tummy Time Toy Mirror is designed to engage babies during tummy time, encouraging them to lift their heads and strengthen neck muscles. The mirror stimulates visual exploration, while attached toys or textures provide sensory stimulation, making tummy time more interactive and fun.
Dinosaur Stuffed Animal. Our babies love stuffed animals. Instead of buying the usual teddy bears, I wanted to introduce them to some other animals. I’ve gotten a Chameleon, a blue parrot, and a dinosaur to name a few.
Screen-free activities and toys for 0 to 1-year-olds are essential for fostering healthy growth, creativity, and physical development. By choosing engaging, hands-on toys and activities, you not only keep your little one entertained but also support them in reaching important developmental milestones. Whether through sensory exploration, active play, or imaginative adventures, there are countless ways to nurture your child’s growth without the need for screens.
