The best educational toys for children under 1 year old

Even before the baby is born, the first toys begin to appear in his room, and a year later the army of bears, hares, dolls, telephones, cars and other good things sometimes simply has nowhere to go! To prevent this from happening, we recommend that from the first days you buy your child not throwaway toys, but high-quality and useful toys that will keep the baby occupied for a long time and will bring maximum benefit to his development.

Criteria for choosing good educational toys for children under 1 year of age

An educational toy for babies under 1 year old should:

appropriate for age. There is an age marking on each product;
develop one or more skills and abilities relevant for children at this age. For example, crawling, speech, ability to distinguish sounds, sensory perception, etc.:
be very durable, do not contain small parts that can be bitten off and swallowed;
have rounded outlines without sharp corners;
consist only of high-quality materials (plastic, fabric, latex, wood);
sound pleasant, not harsh and not loud;
withstand numerous cleanings and washes.

Bath toys

Perhaps one of the most important purchases for a 6-month-old baby is a bathing seat .

This is a very convenient thing. The child is no longer interested in just lying in the bathtub. This high chair will help your baby maintain a sitting position and play with water and toys. And the suction cups will not allow the seat to move.

I don't see the point in buying expensive things. After all, in the bathroom the child will have something to play with. And pay 3000 rubles. (in Ozone) for a couple of additional elements on the chair - a dubious pleasure. My-shop has cheap chairs and a large selection of colors.

My-shop

Ozone

What would swimming be without a boat ? This is a toy that will serve a child for many years, and is very inexpensive (except for those that are also, for example, a sorter).

My-shop

Every child has rubber toys They are safe, do not sink in water and are pleasant to chew on. And in the future they will be suitable for role-playing games. Such toys can be with squeakers, splashers - any will do. Some of the ones we have:

My-shop

Attention! Rubber toys that are frequently bathed harbor bacteria and mold. Water must be removed from them. And periodically wash it under pressure (from a syringe) with chlorine or soap solution; then rinse thoroughly.

Kids enjoy watching wind-up toys . This is great fun for little ones.

Ozone

At this age, bathing books . We have this one (Ozone). In addition to the bathroom, they are convenient to “read” in the kitchen; you don’t mind getting them dirty with food, because such a book is not afraid of water. And some change color when in contact with water.

You can read more about bath toys in the article “Bathroom Games.”

The best manufacturers of educational toys for children under 1 year old

The market for toys for children is so diverse that the child’s relatives are happy to spend money on more and more new portions of children’s fun. However, not all toys are pleased with their durability and developmental capabilities. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, pay attention to the products of world-famous brands: Tiny Love, Taf Toys, Bright Stars, Chicco, Fischer Price, Klddieland, Playskool, Playgro, etc. These products are distinguished by their impeccable quality, great developmental potential and attractive appearance .

Somewhat cheaper are toys from Chinese brands Canpol Babies, Smoby, Jetem, Rich Toys, Happy Baby, Lider Kids and others. Their quality is less stable (there are unsuccessful toys and even defective ones), but in general it is acceptable, and the price is affordable. But what you definitely shouldn’t do is choose cheap products from little-known brands for your little one. A low-quality toy is a direct threat to the baby’s health.

Rattles

There are several types of rattles for little ones:

gaming;
hanging ones for the crib (used from birth);
rattling bracelets;
for teething;
slings

Rattles are filled with contents like beads, which create the acoustic effect of a rattling object when moving.

When choosing rattles, it is advisable to pay attention to the environmental friendliness of the material from which they are made.

Rattle is a child's first educational toy

Photo: www.pilchitas.com.ar

Educational rattle toy “Flower” Tiny Love. Average price: 420 rub.

It is with these simple toys that the child’s passive acquaintance with surrounding objects begins. You can look at the rattle, find it by sound, and later feel it and even chew it. Perhaps the best developmental rattles are those that cover the development of several senses at once: vision, hearing, touch. Particularly interesting are combined options with moving parts, fabric elements, built-in rodents, etc.

Pros:

affordable price;
ease of use and ample opportunities for development.

Minuses:

constant and especially thorough washing of rattles is necessary;
you have to change them often so that the baby doesn’t get tired of them.

Expert Tips: “Encourage your child to grab objects, and then slowly take them away from him, gently pulling them out of his hands. It is important that the baby grasps such an object properly. If he likes this game, give your child a stick and teach him to hang from it. Then teach your baby to take and give an object (from the book Cecile Lupan. Believe in your child).”

A visual chart of a child’s skills from birth to one year

There are countless products on store shelves, and only a few of them are mentioned here. The main thing in choosing a toy is to focus on goals, that is, skills that need to be developed in infants. Below is a summary table of a child’s skills from birth to one year that can be developed with the help of toys:

Age, months	Baby's senses and skills	Toys that promote skill development
0-3	Focuses his gaze on a stationary object, follows a moving object with his eyes, looks at large details, turns his head towards the sound source, distinguishes individual sounds	MobileBoard-book Rattles (including soft and musical ones)
3-6	Grabs objects with her hands, turns on her side and tries to grab a toy with her hand, rolls over from her back to her stomach and back, tries to sit down, transfers objects from hand to hand	Educational mat Educational arc with rattles Electronic piano Tumbler Teether
6-9	Tries to sit, crawl, stand at a support, develops fine motor skills - learns “pincer grip” with two fingers, sorts out toys, opens and closes objects with lids, puts some objects into others	PyramidCubesBallsSet of blocks for constructionMoving toys YulaLogic labyrinthsEducational booksBusyboardToys for bathingConstruction set
9-12	Tries to take the first steps, studies the appearance and sounds of animals, masters role-playing actions with objects (putting her to bed, feeding a doll, pouring sand into a dump truck), rolls a ball, distinguishes between the concepts of “big and small”, knows the names of many objects in the house	Set of cups of different sizes Matryoshkas, Balls, Dolls, cars, Sorters, Wheeled walkers

Mobile is a popular educational toy for a child up to 3 months old.

Photo: www.lussobaby.ca

Mobile Tiny Love “Island of Sweet Dreams”. Average price: 4700 rub.

Mobiles are pendants for the crib with small bright toys. Manufacturers often provide them with functions of rotation, playing melodies and backlighting. Bright moving figures and melodic sounds attract the baby's attention and calm him down, allowing the mother to move away from the crib at least for a while. This educational toy is on the list of the best for little ones - after 3 months (sometimes earlier), the classic mobile device ceases to interest the child.

Pros:

automatic operation of the mobile frees up mother’s hands;
beautiful toys, pleasant melodies;
develops the child's visual and auditory perception.

Minuses:

a high-quality mobile phone is not cheap;
short period of use;
the child gets bored quickly;
does not replace live communication with parents.

How to choose the right toy

When choosing an educational toy, you need to take into account some nuances:

The design of the product must be safe. Sharp corners and crevices into which a hand or finger can be inserted are prohibited.
All parts must be securely fixed.
It is better to choose products made from hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly materials. The toy should not be coated with toxic paints. The baby will definitely taste the toy.
It is important to ensure that you have a quality certificate.
It is not recommended to buy sets for older children. They may contain small details and will not arouse interest at all.
Don't choose toys that are too big or heavy.
The toy should be easy to use and practical to wash.

It is difficult to combine all aspects of development in one toy. Each of them belongs to a specific category:

Motor development
. This includes fabric books, rattles, rustlers and squeakers. Kids especially like the bag with different fillings and finger labyrinths.
Development of attention
, memory, logic. This category includes pyramids, puzzles, various board games, and construction sets.
Development of creative abilities
. This includes finger paints, special drawing mats, mosaics, and modeling kits.
Physical development
. These are various walkers, pushers, balance bikes, and a ball. All products contribute to early physical development, strengthen the muscles of the legs, arms, and back.

Children under one year old will definitely love colorful toys that will teach him to perform simple movements and imitate sounds. The main thing is not to overdo it with information. Each toy should reflect one or two properties. When guiding your baby, it is important to give him more independence and the opportunity to fantasize. Our experts analyzed a huge selection of children's products and compiled a rating of the best toys for children under one year old, based on the opinions of parents and recommendations of pediatricians.

An educational mat with arcs is the best educational toy for children from 3 to 6 months

Photo: kati-shop.ru

Developmental mat TAF TOYS 2 in 1. Average price: 3600 rub.

Soft multi-colored rugs are positioned for the development of a baby who has not yet crawled, but no longer wants to lie quietly in the crib. Indeed, unlike a mobile device designed only for contemplation and listening to music, a rug with arcs opens up more opportunities for the baby’s development. Here you can not only look at toys, but also grab them, pull them towards you, taste them, feel different textures, and evoke sounds. Some rugs have areas with noise and sensory effects - for those who like to play while sitting or lying on their tummy.

Pros:

many opportunities for the development of visual, tactile and auditory perception;
stimulating the child’s activity and independence;
beautiful appearance, an excellent gift for a newborn;
compact storage.

Minuses:

as soon as the baby crawls, he will no longer need the mat;
high price.

Expert opinions: “If your baby has already thoroughly explored the capabilities of his developmental mat, try to “extend the life” of this toy by adding new devices for tummy time: Make small “doors” from pieces of fabric. Having opened them, the baby will see a picture, a sewn toy or a button. The “doors” can be closed with different fasteners - Velcro, hooks. Attach small toys to the ends of the ribbons and sew these ribbons inside the pockets. Now these toys can be taken out of your pockets and put back as often as you like. Sew several carpet rings in a row, pass a ribbon through them, at the ends of which two small toys will ride back and forth (from Lena Danilova’s book “Encyclopedia of Educational Games”).”

A few words about the number of toys

The number of toys for babies on the shelves of children's stores is amazing. It is not surprising that some parents, trying to give their child the best, immediately after his birth, buy everything.

As a result, the nursery is littered with rattles, dolls, blocks, cars and teddy bears. Is it correct? Of course, every mother decides for herself how many toys her child will have. However, the opinion of experts should still be listened to.

Psychologists are sure that at an early age it is enough for a child to play with 2-3 toys at a time, while the rest play the role of exhibits in a museum. You can fill a child's room with a bunch of bright trinkets, but at the same time not provide the little one with useful material for understanding the world around him.

Playbooks for babies can be considered one of the main sources of knowledge about the surrounding reality. Toys help explore colors, sizes and shapes, develop coordination and fine motor skills. All this will definitely affect the formation of speech skills.

That is why, when stopping in front of a shelf with another gaming aid, you need to think about whether it can awaken a child’s activity and cognitive interest, or whether the child will play with it for a few minutes and then throw it in a distant drawer.

Thus, it is not necessary to purchase a huge number of toys; a few aids are enough, as long as they correspond to the age and capabilities of the baby and fulfill their main function - the development of the little man.

Soft cubes are the best toy for developing spatial thinking in children under 1 year old

Photo: kidstore.ru

Soft cubes in a box K'sKids. Average price 1500 rub.

Soft cubes for little ones, or “crumbs,” are a great alternative to wood and plastic cubes. They are large, bright, you can throw them, you can sit on them, jump and fall on them without fear. With them it is convenient to study animals, objects and first colors. Soft cubes with Velcro are especially interesting: they allow you to develop not only motor skills, but also the creative skills of the baby.

Pros:

completely safe for the child and others;
soft surface trains sensory skills;
develop spatial thinking;
useful for fine motor skills.

Minuses:

not very suitable for “serious” construction, because structures made from them are unstable;
get dirty quickly.

Expert opinions : “Building brick sets develop eye-hand coordination and cognitive abilities. Teach your child to place cube on cube. Build a high tower before his eyes, and then destroy it, exclaiming: “Bang!” This game will give your child great pleasure. Teach him to build and destroy (from the book by Olesya Zhukova “Encyclopedia of educational games from 0 months to 3 years”).”

Toys for babies aged 2 months

At 2 months, the child can already distinguish his mother’s face, focuses his gaze on a stationary object, tries to follow a moving object with his eyes, and perks up in response to a familiar voice. Suitable for the development of vision and hearing:

rattles - the baby will play on his own later, but now the mother can make noise with different rattles and attract the child’s attention so that he looks for the source of the sound, turns his head and learns to identify a specific one among all the sounds of the surrounding world, follows the rattle with his eyes;
soft or musical toys - they attract attention, the child holds his gaze on them, examines the eyes, nose, mouth, listens to sounds, follows the toy if it is moved in front of his face.

Game center - the best multifunctional educational toy for babies under 1 year old

Photo: studiobajkolandia.strefa.pl

Kiddieland playhouse. Average price: 4200 rub.

A wonderful purchase (and gift idea) for a baby who is already sitting independently. As a rule, such centers are equipped with sound capabilities, have bright colors, sound and many other pleasant discoveries for the baby (buttons, moving figures, upside-down pictures, etc.). The baby can play this game for a long time, allowing the mother to relax and calmly do household chores.

Pros:

develop several skills simultaneously: visual, sensory, auditory, motor.
stimulate independent play;
occupy the baby in one place for a long time.

Minuses:

often high price;
need to change batteries.

Expert advice: “The child loves to throw toys out of the crib and watch them fall to the floor and knock. If you are tired of constantly throwing things back, you can tie them with ribbons to the crib, the baby will very quickly figure out how to drag them back in order to throw them on the floor again (from the book by M. Andreeva “Home Psychologist. 100 Secrets of Raising Children”).”

Teether

This toy, when the baby is 3-4 months old, will become his favorite - you have to taste everything, and the gums begin to itch. So we stock up on teethers. In general, any toy and even a mother’s hand can become a “rodent” for a newborn. But it’s still better to stock up on a separate teether.

It is believed that for babies under 6 months it is better to choose a smaller teether - only the front teeth are cutting through. But after six months, it will be more convenient for the child to scratch his gums with a larger toy. You will have to experiment with the material. You will never guess which teether your child will like - fabric, wood, latex or silicone. And these toys may also have additional “functions” - for example, a cooling effect.

Teether rattle with water Happy Baby

As dentists say, a child’s oral hygiene should be taken care of from birth. Therefore, you can take a closer look at teethers that are shaped like a toothbrush and have bristles. This way you can develop your child’s hygiene skills from infancy.

Children's piano is the best musical educational toy for children under 1 year of age and older.

Photo: i024.radikal.ru

Fisher Price Puppy Piano Educational Toy. Average price: 1600 rub.

Small size and weight, large bright details, large keys with easy pressing, melodic songs - these are the criteria for choosing a piano for the little ones. And if the manufacturer has taken care of several volume levels (so that the baby is not afraid of loud sounds), several modes of play and learning, and an interesting, original repertoire, you can safely buy such a toy for your baby.

Pros:

beautiful and safe toy;
develops auditory perception and ear for music;
helps you easily learn children's songs;
doesn’t get boring for a long time, can be used in story games.

Minuses:

fun, but noisy;
Batteries need to be changed periodically.

Expert opinions: “Place the musical toy out of the baby’s field of vision. Wind it up and ask: “Where is the music?” When the baby turns toward the sound, be sure to praise him without skimping on compliments. Repeat the game by placing the toy in different parts of the room. If your baby is already crawling, hide the toy under the pillow or any other accessible place so that he can crawl to it (from Jackie Silberg's book "125 educational games for children under 1 year old").

Moms can make toys with their own hands:

Fabric doll with filling. Take a pattern on the Internet, and sew different materials into parts of the doll: beans, pasta, buckwheat, paper rustles. Using the same principle, you can make any crumb toy.
A small plastic water bottle with cereal and pasta inside. The baby sees rattling elements through the walls of the bottle. Make sure the cap is tightly screwed on.
Cut out black and white figures from felt. Hang them on a string. Place it above your baby's crib or stroller.

The “Cup” pyramid is an indispensable educational toy for children from 6 months

Photo: www.deshevle-net.com.ua

Pyramid “Developmental cups” FischerPrice. Average price: 900 rub.

Cups are an example of an inexpensive and incredibly functional educational toy for children from 6 months to 1 year. What makes it different from an ordinary pyramid is its complete safety: there are no small parts, no sharp pins for rings, and no chance of anything breaking. The cups can be stacked on top of each other, stacked one inside the other, or used as containers in a bath or sandbox. Dexterity of little fingers, eye, ability to compare similar objects - these are the main skills that this simple pyramid develops. In the future it will be convenient to study colors and counting with her.

Pros:

safety;
affordable price;
long service life;
functionality, different ways to use for games and learning.

Minus : you can’t lose a single glass, otherwise you won’t be able to build a pyramid.

Expert advice: “Teach your baby to play independently.
Independence in the game develops imagination. But first you must show your baby how to handle the toy. If the toy is collapsible (for example, a pyramid), disassemble and assemble it so that the child can see it. And then let him play himself (from the book by S. Zaitsev “A Handbook for a Young Mother”).”

How to choose toys?

Despite the fact that products for babies, by definition, should be suitable for the child from birth and be safe, there are many toys on sale that are not worth buying.

A child of the first year of life tastes everything, grabs it, tests its strength, so all the objects he plays with must be of high quality.

Here are the 3 main signs of a good toy:

Durability – the toy must be strong, with reliable seams, and made of high-quality plastic.
Safety - no sharp corners, rough edges or small parts that could fall off.
Hygiene - for children in the first half of the year, choose plastic toys, because they are easy to wash by simply rinsing them in soap and water. Fabric and plush toys will need to be washed frequently because they collect dust and absorb baby's saliva.

The gurney is the best educational toy for the physical development of a child under 1 year old.

Photo: nsk-cat.ru

Roller-walker 2 in 1Playskoool. Average price: 2300 rub.

A rolling walker is one of the best educational toys for a baby’s first independent steps. According to doctors, it is more preferable for a child than classic walkers. Yes, it will not add peace to the mother, because now her child will be able to move around the house much faster. But a high-quality, stable gurney trains muscles, teaches the child to maintain balance and allows him to move on to walking independently more easily and more harmoniously.

Pros:

Great training for motor skills and gross motor skills;
can be used at home and outdoors;
gaming elements on the body provide additional entertainment.

Minuses:

perhaps the baby will fall more often;
some models glide on parquet and laminate.

Expert advice: “If your child expresses a desire to walk, you should stop using the stroller unless it is necessary. This period is quite difficult, since it turns out that helping a child walk is not so easy. The best time to do this is during the day. First walk 50 meters, then gradually increase the distance. You must act lively and confident at all times. This should give courage to the baby (from the book Believe in Your Child by Cecile Lupan).”

6 to 9 months

Children at 5 and 7 months are, in fact, babies completely different in capabilities and abilities. Now motor skills are more complex and advanced. The child is able to move on all fours and attempts to stand up are noted.

Hand coordination and fine motor skills are improved. If at four months the baby moved chaotically, now he consciously grabs the desired object not just by a handful, but also with a pinch and with his fingers. The “prey” rises and rushes again, reaching into the mouth. After studying, interest in it immediately disappears.

What will be useful for a child at this age? Experts advise stocking up on the following gaming aids:

rattles;
beepers;
musical instruments (pipes, drums, simple piano);
soft books;
cubes;
inserts;
bath toys;
pyramids, etc.

Cubes

A six-month-old child learns to use two hands at once in exploring the world. That's why babies love to tap rattles, blocks, and other play equipment on surfaces.

The child has reached the age of fascination with earbuds. This role can be played by various containers, bowls, glasses, and molds that can be inserted into each other.

Playing with them not only helps to improve motor skills and coordination of visual-motor skills, but also helps to master the concept of “more-less” in a playful way. A large glass cannot be placed in a smaller one, and the baby understands this after using physical force.

As a result, the child changes the tactics of working with objects. Now he moves from physical effort to thinking. Different containers begin to interact with each other as they are related in size. In this way, the baby develops perception and thinking abilities.

Sorter is a good toy that develops the logic of children under one year old

Photo: irecommend.ru.q5.r-99.com

Sorter “Logical Teremok” Polesie. Average price: 800 rub.

Sorters can be of various shapes, from a simple box to a house, a car, a train, etc. Their main feature is the presence of slots of various shapes and corresponding figures. By matching a figurine to a slot, kids learn to compare objects by shape, find common features and differences in them. At the same time, fine motor skills of the hands and, of course, perseverance are trained. Sorter is not an easy game, so at first the child needs help from an adult.

Pros:

As a rule, sorters are bright and safe toys;
development of logical thinking and finger motor skills;
The figures can be used in teaching and story games.

Minus: the figures are easily lost.

Talking toys

Such toys help the baby learn to distinguish between words and even phrases, and gradually teach him to speak, because the child will try to repeat the words produced by the toy.
They are usually presented in the form of small animals, various birds, dolls or cartoon characters.

These toys help to distinguish emotions by intonation.

There are also toys that repeat speech that will be useful for children in developing rhetoric.

Children find it interesting to play with toys that make different sounds, because... Such toys help children concentrate on what they hear, due to which their attentiveness significantly develops.

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Toys for children 5-8 years old

At preschool age, children become more intelligent. At 5 years old, they are no longer interested in playing with simple soft bunnies, rattles and cars. During this period they learn to fantasize. Therefore, suitable for them:

creativity kits: plasticine, pencils, paints, polymer clay;
puzzles that allow you to create various cards;
children's construction sets, houses and furniture for dolls;
Board games;
magnetic boards with letters and numbers.

As you can see, the older your child becomes, the more complex his toys should be. Already at the age of 8, children will need complex puzzles and puzzles, board games that require the development of strategy and tactics.

Toys for children from one to 2 years old

At one year old, most children are already confidently standing on their feet and are beginning to explore new horizons. At this age, their familiarity with the world around them is actively developing. And already at two years old, children can assemble pyramids and sort objects by color, shape and size. That is why the best educational toys for children from one year to 2 years are considered:

bright and large puzzles, nesting dolls, simple construction sets with large and geometric shapes;
goods for creativity: finger paints, wax pencils, plasticine, coloring books;
toys with laces, buttons, locks, buttons;
magnetic puzzles, letters, numbers;
an easel for drawing, books with stickers and sound elements;
rolling toys on which they can move around the apartment.

Attention: when choosing children's toys, you should take into account not only the age of the baby, but also his level of development. After all, every child is individual. Some people start drawing, crawling, running earlier, and others later.

Educational toys for three years old

At 3 years old, children begin to become familiar with household objects. At this age, girls may be interested in mini-kitchens, doll houses, irons, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners. It will be interesting for boys to play with a railroad, a car repair shop, or a garage with numerous cars.

Attention: at the age of three, children can choose complex toys that help develop various skills and logic. These can be pyramids consisting of complex geometric shapes, numbers, letters, puzzles.

Cubes with numbers, puzzles, and mosaics are very good for developing memory and developing perseverance. For active play, the following are selected: balls, children's toy vehicles. And for developing fine motor skills of the hands, toys in which various parts are disassembled and assembled are suitable.

Girls at the age of three can be given a doll that she can feed, put to bed, and change clothes.