I have to say, watching my son grow from a baby into a toddler has been a little shocking. He has grown by leaps and bounds, and at 18 months, he is starting to resemble a full-on child rather than a baby. The challenge I'm finding now is how to continually teach and stimulate him so that he continues to flourish just as well throughout his toddler years–which last a whole lot longer than the baby phase. The funny thing is, although babyhood seems to fade fairly quickly after the first birthday, most of the information that is available for parents as far as how to help your young child develop and grow properly seems to be focused on that brief period of time. You really have to dig to find information about toddlers–it always seems to be mashed in between the newborn and pre-school stuff.
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For that reason, I was thrilled when I showed up to my son's 18-month well visit and the nurse handed me a packet detailing what I should expect from my son in the coming months, what I could do to help him learn and perfect new things, and even sample activities for us. I've used some of the information provided by our pediatrician to curate this list of the best learning tools for toddlers. Check out the slideshow below.
Image via Staples.com
Alphabet Blocks
A basic set of wooden alphabet blocks is a toy that will help your child master many skills, including learning the alphabet, counting and building various structures. I bought ours at a garage sale for 50 cents, but a brand-new set is still very affordable. Melissa & Doug Classic ABC Block Cart, $14
Tricycle
A tricycle will give your toddler a shot at developing and perfecting new physical skills, which will in turn build confidence. Plus, you can use it to teach your child the value of being active. This pedal-free version is great for improving balance and learning directionality. Fly Bike Foldable Glide Tricycle, $45
Nesting Toys
Open-ended toys like blocks and nesting items are perfect for imaginative play and helping your child learn problem solving and logic. There are many nesting toys on the market, but I love these for their visually stimulating appearance and many possible configurations. Grimm's Elements Nesting Blocks, $35
Crayons & Paper
Crayons are an excellent tool to develop pre-writing and reading skills, and they will enable your little one to express himself creatively. Of course, they are also ideal for improving fine motor skills. I love this non-toxic version made from natural beeswax–their chubby triangular shape make them perfect for toddler hands. Beeswax Crayons, $13
Play Kitchen
Real-life replicas will help your child learn the skills he needs to get by in life, will foster imagination and encourage independence. A play kitchen, complete with toy food and pots and pans, is an investment that could be around for upwards of five years. This version by Step 2 is a bit on the extravagant side, but I love that it comes with all the play food. Lil' Chef Gourmet Kitchen, $100
Books
If you haven't already stocked your tot's library, now is the time to do so. They may not be able to read yet, but toddlers benefit immensely from books. Reading aloud to your child every day can help her learn new words, learn names of objects, pick up on the art of storytelling, and the fine details of spoken language. She may even learn to read on her own sooner because of your daily efforts. Anything by Dr. Seuss is a winner in our house. Dr. Seuss's Beginner Books Collection, $27
Balls
Balls are another great toy for encouraging active play. They are great for improving hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and even learning some scientific concepts, like gravity. This set from B. Toys features textured balls that are great for tactile stimulation and they nest inside of a larger ball, which gives them all the beneifts of nesting toys as I described previously. B. Ballyhoo, $22.20
