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My baby boy just turned one and Christmas is right around the corner, so needless to say I’ve been really thinking about the toys he has, the toys I want to get him, and what he needs developmentally. It is something that is always on my mind and was ingrained in me since I got my degree in Early Childhood Education and worked with toddlers. In this post, I made a list of engaging and age-appropriate toys that will not only bring joy to your one-year-old but will also foster their cognitive, motor, and social skills. These are all gifts we have received and loved, and the gifts I’m getting my one-year-old for Christmas.
We are about to be into the winter months here in NH and days that are above freezing are going to be few and far between, so I have been trying to make the best of our indoor play time to keep him engaged and active too. This list includes things that will help beat those indoor blues.
Musical Instruments:
I know, as a mom, noisy toys can get really annoying, but music and auditory stimuli can really bolster a baby’s ability to learn. They will grasp cause and effect, and that different things make different sounds. Music is such a creative outlet and can set many different moods. We play all different types of music throughout the day and I hope to incorporate more music-making activities as he grows. Musical instruments are not something I plan to keep out for him at this age, and that is a personal preference. I plan to offer them once a day in a special basket or bin that only mama knows the location of. This keeps it special and will keep my sanity. I also want him to respect instruments, so I hope to supervise and show him how to use them and keep them (as best I can) from getting broken.
We are a musical family, so it is no surprise that my brother got him this really cool keyboard.
I had a keyboard growing up and would spend hours playing it and making up songs.
Santa will be bringing him this wooden instrument set as well.
I like the more natural and tactical feel to this set. It is similar to the set in the toddler classroom I used to work in, and the kids just loved being able to make their own music with these actual instruments.
My brother-in-law (who is way cooler than me) got him the DJ Panda, and I love that it is a whole new music art concept that we didn’t have as kids, times are changing and I’m glad the toys keep up!
With these 3 musical toys I think he will have a very well-rounded music experience this year!
Indoor Gross Motor Toys:
My guy loves to toss and flop on the couch with us, but he’s getting too big for us to safely do this, so his big gift for Christmas is this indoor foam play set.
I just know he will love it. It comes in a few different color schemes and can be used in multiple configurations. I’m hoping this will help him get some energy out on the cold days we can’t play outside.
Another silly thing we found that he actually really likes is this Bouncy Cow:
He LOVES cows. He met his first real cows this fall and we talk about and read about cows constantly. He knows how to say “mooo” so we had a “my first rodeo” themed birthday and bought this thing for decoration and for him to use eventually. Once we blew it up I was actually pleasantly surprised by its quality. It is very durable and soft! He can’t quite bounce on it by himself but he likes to pet its tail and flop onto it. Once he’s walking, I’m sure he will be bouncing all around! This is great for their coordination and learning to play pretend.
Walking is definitely on the horizon for us and that is why I got him a walker toy.
I didn’t really think this toy was necessary, and I debated even buying it but he actually really likes it. I like that it has a detachable front and has music elements and a cow mooing in a barn! I bought this when he was 10 months old, and he’s just now started to use the walking part. I would recommend buying this earlier around 6 months as it can be used in multiple ways. Now that he’s about to walk, this is about to get a lot of use.
Fine Motor and Social Skills:
Being a creative person, I wanted to introduce art to my babe sooner rather than later, but knowing that babies put everything in their mouths, I had to be strategic. Cue Honey Sticks!
They are chunky and perfect for little hands, and they make nice smooth lines with nice pigments. They smell a little sweet and after reading reviews, animals also think they smell like food, so be sure to keep them stored indoors and away from kids and pets, but if they do get them in their mouths, they are 100% beeswax and food grade colors. My boy immediately went in for a taste and I let him… he was uninterested after that and was more curious about how I made it work on the paper. He might be a little too young to figure these out, but I will keep offering to sit and color with him because it is such a good social bonding experience and I have fond memories of doing this with my grandmother and my mom. I also got some really cute little first coloring book to go with the Honey Sticks. Here are a few!
and there are so many others out there to choose from.
My Baby’s Go-to Favorite Toy!
I will admit this is the most basic one and it is something you may already have because most babies get this on their registry or as a 1st year gift, but if you don’t have it yet, I recommend it. My babe just loves this Fisher Price Stacker Ring set.
The red ring is his favorite and he has been playing with this regularly since he was about 7 months old.
This toy is a classic, inexpensive, made from safe plant-based material, and very colorful. This will help them learn problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and their colors! If your baby is on the older side of 1 (or older) get this jumbo one! His grandmother just got this for his birthday, and he was in awe.
When in doubt…
Of course his favorite thing to play with is US!
The most beneficial way to make any toy more educational and help with development is if you play with it together. Get on the floor, grab these toys, and make memories while helping them learn and grow!
I hope you find something awesome for the one-year-olds in your life! What are your kid’s favorite toys? Let me know in the comments!
Have an Amazing Day!
Heather