Have you ever noticed a toddler or a pre-schooler? Their eyes are always filled with wonder and curiosity runs in their blood. This is exactly the age where a child holds the capacity to develop a large number of cognitive and problem-solving skills. However, most of the toys designed for them are purely for entertainment purposes. Recognizing this gap, parents all across Dubai, UAE, GCC, and the Middle East have now become aware of the kind of toys they give to their children. But with so many options available in the market, it is only natural to be confused about what is right for your child. This is why here’s a guide that will walk you through some unique toys for toddlers that will develop critical problem-solving skills among them from the right age.
#1 LEGO® Education BricQ Motion
The BricQ Motion set by LEGO® Education is known to engage children interactively, yet impart insightful knowledge that is vital during their early learning days. The colorful components and easy hands-on lessons compel learners to apply problem-solving skills and discover the concepts of ‘force’ & ‘motion’ through experimentation methods. Especially lower-elementary students will enjoy designing their own ‘models’ and applying scientific concepts that lead to “aha” moments.
#2 HABA Wooden Colour Pie
Designed with a circular wooden frame and 27 brightly colored wooden pieces, this game comes with a set of colour cards that your child can recreate in the frame. Due to the way the pieces are sized, young learners get a chance to know more about different shapes, colours, sizes, and fractions. It is perfect for learners starting from 2 years up to 5 years, and each one will have new learning to take away from this unique puzzle.
#3 Pattern boards and blocks
This is a widely popular game and is found in many households with preschoolers. However, most parents fail to understand how this toy promotes acute problem-solving skills among kids. With 5 boards featuring different patterns made with geometric shapes, the child uses their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to match mosaics with one another and build new designs of their own.
#4 Marble Genius Marble Run
This four-foot-tall marble running game comes with 85 pieces and is compatible with add-on kits as well. Your pre-schoolers can use this game to creatively create their models and run & see if it works or not! Once your child has effectively used his/her problem-solving skills and built their run, all they have to do is drop the marble from the top and check if their run was successful or not. What makes this game unique is that it is open-ended in nature. While the objective of a marble run is goal-oriented, your kid can very well use it to create something from their imagination as well.
#5 Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Knob Puzzle
Apart from being a great educational activity, it is loved by all children as the puzzle comes with large knobs and extra sturdy and thick wooden pieces. Especially recommend for 2-year-olds, it encourages hand-eye coordination, colour recognition, shape recognition and improves visual perception skills.
While these are just a few of our favourites, there is a myriad of puzzles, toys and board games available for toddlers that are specially targeted towards improving their problem-solving skills. As the landscape of education takes a drastic leap all across the globe, it is vital for parents, teachers, and guardians to recognise the importance of such interactive toys that not only teach your child valuable 21st-century skills but also keep them positively engaged through playful activities.