Great Learning Toys For Preschoolers

 Great Learning Toys For Preschoolers 

Educational and Learning toys play an important role in a child's growth and development .If a child has access to the learning material and knows the correct use of those toys with the help of an adult, can easily get used to learning activities. Spending a quality time in such games and activities and make huge difference in their initial years as well as later on......

In this post I've compiled my kids favourite toys which are beneficial for their mental development as well and great for interaction too!

Fisher Price Shape Sorter:

These are brightly  coloured  blocks which come come along with a bucket for easy storage ,They are chunky and provide a good grip for little hands .the shape sorter is a great source of hand -eye coordination and also good for practicing problem solving skills.

            photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Fisher Price Stacking And Nesting Cups:

This is a set of 10 numbered cups .These brightly coloured cups can either stack, nest or snap together into a ball for kids to roll. It's fantastic for their fine motor skills as well as for thinking and problem solving skills.

Wooden Chunky Puzzles:

Wooden puzzles are great to entertain children as well as toddlers to strengthen their hand muscles .These are also useful for good eye hand coordination. Wooden puzzles come in wide varieties including peg puzzles, chunky puzzles which have 2-3 pieces, alphabet puzzles, animal puzzles, vehicles etc....

These are outstanding learning toy for problem solving as kids practice and find the right piece by flipping and moving until it fits correctly and they also learn patience at the same time.

photo credits:Aiza Junaid

GALT First Puzzles:

Cardboard puzzles are also great for younger ones especially if they are big in size and try choosing simple ones if they are 1.5 year old with big pictures and those which come in 2-3 pieces. Once they master their puzzle solving skills then gradually get the ones with more pieces. GALT  puzzles are thick and of great quality .They have Farm animal ones, Alphabet ones,Pets,Jungle Animals etc....

These type of 2 piece puzzles are good for beginners.

Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Rubber Blocks: 

 

Rubber Blocks come in wide variety .There are some with different embossed textures, numbers or alphabets and there are others that can be stacked together. These improve sensory development and fine motor skills .There are perfectly sized for little hands to squeeze, hold and stack.

   Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

These blocks enhance baby and toddlers colour cognition and visual development.

Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Mega Blocks Building Bag:

This is 80 piece blocks set with different colours and shapes. Kids can construct houses ,buildings, castle and different animals or monsters with these. These are easily stored in the zipped carry bag and the big size of these blocks are great for kids from 1 year onwards. These are compatible with all mega blocks building toys to extend the playtime for hours.They also come in different colors for boys and girls.

                                                           Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Magnetic Tiles:

These brightly coloured magnetic tiles come in different shapes to form a variety of  2D and 3D shapes.These are perfect for classrooms ,kindergartens as well as home and these are perfect STEM  approved toy.These help with the kids fine motor skills,colour and shape recognition abilityYoung kids as well as older ones enjoy creating structures with these tiles and these are a huge hit in our home and we all just love being creative with these 😀

Fisher Price Pretend Tablet:

This interactive toy tablet has light, music, sound and three different levels of learning. Babies press the buttons which strengthens eye hand coordination and it also helps them to learn words. It also introduces letters from A to Z as well as animals. Its ideal for babies 12-36 months and is great for carrying along on road trips.

Leap Frog Number Oven:

Number Oven is another popular educational toy which is great for teaching kids counting as well as sharing. It comes with pizza slices,cupcakes,bread, plates etc......and kids are also learning about fractions while cooking as well as sharing when they are serving food while playing. Its easy to carry along and everything fits in it as well.

 

 Snap cards:

This wonderful farm snap is great educational game by Orchard Toys which is suitable for 3-6 years. Toddlers use this game to make matching pairs of animals .Its good for building farm animals vocabulary and also develops observation skills. The chunky cardboard  cards are also of very great quality and can be easily given to younger ones independently.

                                                             Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Magnetic Play sets:

Magnetic play sets come in tin case as well as magnetic cardboard box. These are easy to carry along on road trips or easy to take on play dates. The tin cases come with different background scenes along with mix and match sheets of magnets. Kids can get creative and make perfect stories with it .Some magnetic boxes come with different pattern cards and kids have to build what is shown on the card or they can even create their own. These are useful for teaching them problem solving skills, good for eye hand coordination and great for developing spatial awareness. The kids love to do such magnetic play .These are perfect gift for toddlers and pre schoolers.

The World Of Eric Carle one is a popular one based on his stories and and kids can relate to the very hungry caterpillar or maybe the brown bear or even the grouchy lady bug story.

Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Lacing and Threading Activity Beads And Cards:

Lacing activities come in wide varieties such as lacing the cards, lacing simple wooden or plastic beads, lacing wooden cards or wooden shapes or animals etc...You can also print your own lacing cards for kids. These are ideal to improve their eye hand coordination as lots of concentration is required to insert the tip of the lace or string into the holes. It also teaches  the child early math skills and also helps children practice shoe lace tying and sewing skills. Some good brands that have this lacing activity are GALT, Melissa &Doug, Anko ,Bigjig Toys etc....

                                                                Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Magnetic fishing game:

Fishing games are popular classic games that are easily sold in shops .The game consists of fishing rod with magnetic end and comes with a playing board or even a wooden puzzle board. It helps develop motor skills as well as counting and social skills. It also develops patience in kids and is ideal for engaging them in learning activity!

Doodle Mat:

Aqua doodle mat is a wonderful gift for toddlers as its a mess free activity and can be done independently by them. Toddlers can draw anything they want with water filled pen and once the water is dried they can draw again with it.Its ideal for ages months onwards and is also great to entertain younger ones on car trips.

Magnetic Rods:

These high quality magnetic rods are fun and easy to assemble and create different 3D models. It develops problem solving skills and sparks kids imagination by building wide variety of geometrical designs. Some magnetic sets come in vibrant colours while others come in pastel shades. This is an excellent STEM toy and my little one loves creating 3D masterpieces with it!

Cube Puzzles:

Cube puzzles are challenging for toddlers.They try to rotate the cubes in order to complete the pictures which improves eye hand coordination and is good for their tiny hand muscles .These come in wooden material as well as hard cardboard material.

                                                            Photo credits:Aiza Junaid

Crayola Jumbles:

These crayola jumbles are non toxic safe toys for 6 months onwards babies.They are fun to stack and spin .They are perfect for their motor skills as well as colour teaching.They resemble the shape of molecule and have round edges which are safe for little ones even if they are taking it in their mouth. I love the way they spin aur bounce when we throw them are also a fidget toy I must say!

     Leap Frog Scribble and Write:                

This is a very handy educational toy which is easy to carry as well as interesting for little hands to learn the numbers and alphabets along with the phonic  sounds. It teaches kids how to write alphabets and numbers with easy grip stylus and is ideal for 3+ years.

Fisher Price ABC Book:

This is a wonderful first book for babies to teach them the alphabets as well as poems.When the child presses ABC button the puppy will read each letter and object that starts with that letter to the baby .Its also easy to carry along to keep little one entertained!

             

Jack and Jill Plugging Flowers:

These colourful interlocking flowers or snow flakes are fantastic for their fine motor skills. The young engineers can create different structures, countless patterns which boosts their creativity and thinking skills. My kids still love these flowers and enjoy creating different structure and its ideal for giving as presents.

photo credits:Aleena Junaid

Art Activities For Toddlers

 Art is important in everyones life.The early you start the better they get in this skill.Its great for early childhood development as it improves fine motor skills,concentration,their creativity,expressing emotions,confidence,eye hand coordination,language development as well as decision making.They experiment with different clours,textures and materials and create unique masterpieces.

What Age Should Young Kids Begin Art?

Art is a great skill and learning activity.Ithink it should be started as early as 6-8 months.In my opinion the early you start ,the more creative they are in later years and have some interest to do crafty work.I introduced finger paints ,crayons and stamps from 7 months onward and my children started to show more and more interest in arts and craft and are still enjoying it during their free time.

What Sort Of Art Activities Are Best For Toddlers?

There is a long list of activities that you can do with your toddlers.In the begining you will have to sit with him/her a couple of times to do the activity  and also try  reinforcing it so that they develop interest and also know how to do it indepenedently when the same activity is given to them a couple of  days later .Activities that toddler can enjoy are:

1)Pasting (it could be pasting crepe papers,newspapers,ribbons,leaves etc...)

2)Finger painting

3)Nature collage(you can ask them to collect leaves,grass,twigs,gum nuts,beans etcc)

4)Stamping(stamps with ink pads are great other wise you can cut our different shapes from potato and other vegetables for stamping)

5)Drawing with chalk(use your drive way for this activity or maybe a stick on chalk sheet would do great outdoors!!)

6)Dot markers (these are great when you dont have much time to clean up the mess and are easy to use)

7)Paper plate craft(you can help them create animal masks,or maybe flowers,a scene from paper plates.

8)Recycling paper cups(dont throw away your bobba tea or greeno cups instead recycle them to make pencil holders or maybe a herb planter)

9)Egg carton craft(cut out and let them paint egg cartons to make caterpillar,or maybe flowers or a turtle)

10)Stickers(give them different stickers to create greeting  cards or scenes)

11)Cotton bud painting

Must Have Art Supplies For Toddlers:

There are some basic supplies which you can add to your craft trolly or art caddy and gradually build it up according to his/her needs.Some supplies that i stocked up for my kids are listed below.

1)Toddler scissors

2)Glue stick 

3)Washable paints

4)Art smock

5)Colour pencils

6)Thick crayons

7)Crepe papers,construction papers,newspapers,cellophane sheets

8)Paint brushes

9)Foam stickers

10)Chalk 

11)Washable markers

12)Pompoms

13)Cotton buds

14)plastic mat(to spread it on the floor or table )

                                                            

                                                                                                          

                                                                                  

How To Make Ramadan Exciting For Little Ones

 Ramadan is a Holy month of fasting for Muslims all around the world.We know the importance of this month from our childhood and it is important for us to teach our kids about this Holy month from a very young age so that they get used to it and take part in this tradition.We can make Ramadan interesting and exciting for kids in many ways such as 

• CREATE RAMADAN GIFT BASKET: Before the month of Ramadan begins you can prepare a gift basket for your child with some items such as islamic books,a Ramadan planner,prayer mat,tasbeeh,some candies,Ramadan craft kits etc to make them excited for this month.

• DECORATE YOUR HOUSE: You can involve your child in decorating the house with Ramadan banner,foil balloons,hanging lanterns ,fairy lights,or maybe cardboard masjid.

photo credits:Aiza Junaid

• CREATE A COSY PRAYER CORNER: Decide as a family where you would like to spend your time of the day praying and reading Quran in the house. Then make that a comfy corner by placing some floor cushions,a furry rug and even some fairy lights and also keep your daily dua booklet ,tasbeeh and quran in a nearby basket.

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• photo credits:Aiza Junaid

• PRINT RAMADAN ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CHILD:There are tons of activities on google and pinterest that you can get your child engaged in ,during the month of Ramadan .I have printed some word search,crosswords,Ramadan quiz,water colour mosque silhoute etc.......to keep my daughter busy if she is bored while im busy in iftar preparations or my Ibadah.Ive also printed Ramadan maze which she really likes and enjoys doing 30 days Ramadan challenge.

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• MAKE RAMADAN STORIES BASKET:Have a basket with child friendly Ramadan stories of their age and spend some time during the day reading those to them and telling them more facts about this month.
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photo credits:Aiza Junaid

• INVOLVE THEM WITH IFTAR PREPARATION:Try to involve kids whatever age group they are,in Iftar preparations as they will feel the importance of it.The younger ones can do simple jobs such setting up the table with plates and cutlery while the older ones can make sandwiches or Ramadan drink etc.

• CREATE A QURAN TRACKER FOR THEM:You can either make a Quran tracker or print one from my previous post on Free Ramadan Printables.If your child is yiung them maybe create a dua memorization chart but if they are on Quran then print a Quran tracker.As my daughter has finished Juzz Amma can read it independently I have printed juzz Amma tracker and when she reads any surah she gives herself a start sticker and its amotivation for her and she is also busy when the rest of the family is praying Quran.

                                                        

              photo credits:Komal Junaid

• GIVE YOUNGER ONES A CHANCE TO FAST:No matter how young they are you can teach them to try to fast.Maybe after lunch time you can ask them not to eat anything or drink till Iftar or if they are very young you can ask them not to eat or drink an hour before Iftar and eat with the rest of the family when breaking fast.Also reward them with a small surprise on Fasting.

• TAKE THEM FOR TARAWEEH:If you go for Taraweeh then dont hesitate to take your kids along with them .They will get used to the environment and would see how everyone prays taraweeh and you can ask them to stand besides you and copy you too.

• WATCH ISLAMIC STORIES:Allow kids to spend time screen time by showing them Islamic stories so they dont waste time in other random videos and learn something useful.ZAKY Stories are really good and kids will also enjoy one4kids you tube channel for Islamic stories.Stories of Prophet-Quran stories is also an interesting you tube channel to create your childs interest in Islamic stories.Omar and Hana is also a good channel that you can try!

• HAVE A SADQAH BOX IN YOU HOME OR MAKE ONE:Make a sadqahi to put small amount of money in it everyday and once its full give that amount for charity.This makes them generous and we should also teach them to share toys with family and sibling when they are young to make them generous adults.

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How do you try to keep kids busy in the month of Ramadan.Share your activities over here ,I would to hear from you!!

HAPPY RAMADAN!!