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Best Educational Toys For Preschoolers (Age 3-5 years)

Ophira1 CommentMarch 25, 2022September 11, 2021

Read time: 6 minutes

It is true when educators tell us that play is learning. Learning through playful exploration makes a deep impact on children and helps build the foundation for future learning concepts. And while we don’t need every educational toy out there, a few thoughtful additions to your child’s play space can make a huge difference in developing the child’s creativity, understanding of concepts and curiosity.

Let us look at some of the best educational toys for preschoolers (children ages 3-5 years) that can be used in playful exploration and learning.

Related reading : Educational toys for 2 year olds.

BEST EDUCATIONAL TOYS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

1. Building toys

Building toys like Blocks, Magnetic Tiles, and Flexisticks are a must in every child’s play room. Such toys provide children an opportunity to utilize motor skills, improve hand eye co-ordination, spatial thinking and creativity.

Toddlers and preschoolers use building toys in pretend play which also helps develop language and social skills. Children are observing the world around them and brining that into play and such open-ended toys help in their creative expression.

My recommendations:

Wooden Blocks

Magnetic Tiles

Flexi Stix

2. Construction sets

LEGO models-educational toys for 5 year olds

A valuable add with the building toys are construction toys. These would be LEGO models and construction sets. Such toys help in building early math skills as the child needs to follow along step by step of the instruction manual and co-ordinate his steps with the manual.

As simple as this sounds, such an activity involves the use of many processes like spatial reasoning, logical reasoning, hand eye coordination, motor skills and analytical thinking.

In fact, latest research found that children who solved LEGO based activities (training in visuospatial working memory and reasoning) were better in math. (source)

My recommendations :

LEGO Monster Truck

Mechanix Planes

Tangram

3. Alphabet Tracing Sandpaper letters and Tracing Boards for Alphabet

Even before a children holds a pencil it is very important to provide ample opportunities to fine tune those fine motor skills.

An alphabet tracing board and sand paper letters are great for practicing the formation of alphabets.

Practice with such toys makes the transition to formal writing work easier for the child.

4. Globe

Preschoolers are increasingly aware of the world around them and have many curious questions about the world they live in. Having a globe in the playroom can help them visualize and learn about the earth, continents, oceans, countries, etc. They can play games like trying to place themselves on the map.

A globe is very handy in any homeschool space and a must have educational toy in my opinion.

5. Puzzles

Just like the construction toys, puzzles are a key educational toy that requires the use of different skills all together.

Start out with 2-4 jig-saw piece puzzles and slowly move up to 100 pieces or more depending on your child’s comfort and interest.

Alongside jig saw puzzles you can introduce pattern blocks, tangrams and logical reasoning puzzles to preschoolers.

Puzzles are a great Quiet time activity, the improve the child’s ability to focus and problem solve.

Some of our favorite puzzles with age-wise recommendations are listed below,

Jig saw puzzles 2-3 year olds

Frank Animal Puzzles 2-piece

Frank Animal Homes 2-piece

Frank Peppa Pig 3-in-1 Puzzles

Puzzles age 3-5 year olds

Creatives Fun With Words

Ratna 4-in-1 Wonders of India

Frank Dinosaur Puzzles

Chalk and Chuckles Cattychoo Puzzle 100-piece

6. Memory games & Board games

Memory games are a fun challenge and one of our favorite Quiet time picks. Such games improve brain function and focus in preschoolers.

Last summer we introduced family board games to our routine. Board games quickly became our go-to evening family time activity.

I observed how board games became a tool that helped my son consolidate Math concepts. He picked up addition and skip counting as we played Snakes and ladders and Sorry. Games like Pancake Up! Provided an opportunity to work on those verbal communication skills.

This experience cemented in me the value of thoughtful additions to a child’s environment and the importance of family bonding and board games in learning.

Our son was learning to strategize, communicate and analyze all by observing and joining the adults in his life.

These tiny moments are reminders of how children are natural learners absorbing from their environments and how as parents it is our responsibility to provide a rich environment to help them learn.

7. Toy Laptop

The LeapFrog My Own Laptop is very useful when a preschooler is starting to get used to the sounds of the alphabet.

If you are following the phonics method for reading, this laptop can help the child get the sounds right. I found it very useful when we started Phonics and unlike other electronic toys, this laptop comes with adjustable volume levels, which again is a big blessing, if you know what I mean.

8. Reusable Activity Books

Wipe and clean activity books are great for preschoolers who are getting started with tracing activities. The marker pens that come along are a good chunky size for easy grip and children enjoy the activity of wiping clean what they wrote and re writing again. An easy way to get them to practice fine motor skills and letter/number formation that they find fun.

9. Play-doh

toddler playing with play-doh-indoor activities for 3 year olds

Rolling dough, pinching the dough and making tiny balls or shapes are great exercise for those tiny fingers. Play doh is a huge hit with preschoolers, the texture, malleability and bright colors are appealing and fun.

10. Finger Paints

Another sensory and educational tool for children are finger paints. Buy a good quality, non toxic brand that is safe for toddlers and preschoolers to use.

We love using Dabble Play Art finger paints for art activities. They come in bold colors, are non-toxic and so easy to use and clean off surfaces. You can use my code DM09 for a 10% off on your purchases from the store.

Finger paints can be used in a million different ways for hours of unadulterated fun. Alongside children are learning about colors, textures, shapes and formations. Exploration through art is a must for every child.

Some art activity ideas for you to try with your preschooler.

Finger painting

Leaf Painting

String Painting

Stamp Art

Brush techniques

Balloon painting

Wet on wet painting

Ice painting

These are the most basic educational toys for preschoolers that your child needs. You don’t need each and everyone from the list, but, rather you can use this list to look at your child’s specific needs and interests and match those areas with appropriate toys.

Related reading : Best books for 2 year olds

Best books for 3 year olds

Best books for 4 year olds

At the end of the day I would like to sum it up by saying that young children don’t need much to learn. Children simply need parents who are interested in them and their world and ready to take their hands and show them the world. An interested parent is far more valuable to a child than any educational toy.

The Best Indoor Active Toys for Kids (2-5 years)

OphiraLeave a commentDecember 24, 2021July 5, 2021

Read time: 5 minutes

Little children need lots of time outdoors to engage in active play. Long days indoors can tire them out mentally, reduce focus and cause dis-regulation. The more children get an opportunity to move the better it is for their development.

Unfortunately, not every child gets this opportunity to access open play spaces regularly. Cities around the world are becoming more and more congested, at the same time family structures are changing and parents are leading busier lives.

All of this has led to children spending very few hours a day outdoors in nature or in parks, and more time indoors on screens.

Related reading : How to reduce screen time for kids.

While we must always work on adding more hours outdoors for our children certain situations like the current pandemic we are facing, force our children to be stuck indoors.

With limited opportunities for movement, kids resort to risky play like jumping off sofas and beds. Not only do such limited experiences with regards to movement affect focus and concentration of children, but a child who has not spent time in active play can end up injuring himself when he resorts to such risky play.

Having a few good quality indoor active play toys for kids can help them get those muscles working and include movement-based play into the routine without much hassle.

Here are a few indoor active toys for kids that can be easily integrated into your home environment.

THE BEST INDOOR ACTIVE TOYS FOR KIDS (2-5 years)

Indoor Active toys for 2-3-year-olds

1. Trampoline

Toddlers are constantly on the move. Age 2 and above is a great time to introduce an indoor trampoline.

Choose a brand that makes a solid frame structure that the child can hold when he jumps.

Trampoline is great for building core muscle strength, developing balance and coordination. It is a perfect gift for active toddlers always on the move.

2. Balance board

Kids have a fun time rocking on a balance board. Some even use the balance board in their pretend play set ups.

I liked this Leg&Go balance board for its beautiful finish and material. It is made of sustainably sourced Finnish birch plywood.

It comes in 2 sizes for your convenience. The balance board is sturdy and can be used by the child in a variety of ways, from slide or rocking chair to a garage for cars.

If you are not sure which size to get, I would recommend going with the medium size, as it is the most universal. It is curved enough to be interesting to play with and it is not too big for small children to use.

There is no worry of outgrowing it – the medium board is suited even for adults!

Get a special 5% discount off on your purchase from Leg&Go. Use code easymommylife5 at checkout.

3. Rocking horse

A rocking horse is a classic kids playroom feature. Children enjoy rocking back and forth, the motion is calming and fun for them.

Here are some of my favorite brands for good quality wooden rocking horses.

Shumee Wooden Rocking Horse

Rocking Potato Wooden Rocking Unicorn

4. Pikler Triangle

As children grow and learn to navigate their play space independently, an indoor climbing structure is a great add to their space. It provides young children with an opportunity to explore their bodies, understand the boundaries of their bodies and respond to their climbing needs.

The Pikler Triangle provides ample opportunities to practice key gross motor skills safely at home.

You can use The Pikler Triangle from age 6 months when the baby can use the wooden bars to pull to a stand. As the child grows older he can explore further and use the structure to climb.

The ramp can be made up of different shapes. The benefit of the varying constructions is that each variation has a unique effect. The various forms and hardness of the slides help to massage your child’s feet. The additional setups ensure that all nodes in your little ones’ feet are put to use.

The stimulation of feet is vital, as it helps prevent flat feet and improves posture for the rest of life.

Check Leg&Go Pikler Triangle at a special 5% discount for my readers. Use code easymommylife5 at checkout.

best active toys for 5 year olds — Image courtesy : Leg&Go

5. Ride on

Our son was obsessed with indoor vehicles that move on pushing with his feet. He would go vroom vroom for hours. Here are a few sturdy indoor ride on vehicles for children.

Magic Swing Car

Explorer Jeep Car

Indoor Active toys for 5 year olds and above

1. Indoor basketball hoop

It is easy to setup an indoor basketball hoop. This low maintenance toy is suited for kids all ages.

We liked this one because it is adjustable and can be folded and kept away. Always look for height adjustable sets so that the set grows with your child.

Indoor basketball is our go-to on rainy days.

2. Indoor ladder

Kids are always eager to climb, the need to climb is built into their development in the early years. They are testing their abilities and curious to see what happens when they get to the top.

Indoor ladders don’t take up space and fit in perfectly in small spaces. It helps satisfy the child’s need to climb and also improves muscle flexibility, co-ordination, balance and strength.

3. Yoga mat

Another way we keep active indoors is by practicing yoga. Our son’s favorite channel for yoga is, Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube.

A good yoga mat for kids is all you need for this active play idea and a quiet corner for the child to practice.

I hope you found this list useful as you select some active toys for your kids.

Until next time!

The Best Board Games For 5 Year Olds

Ophira3 CommentsJune 10, 2021June 6, 2021

Read time: 8 minutes

Are you looking for board games for 5-year-olds? Board games have slowly grown on us as a family. We first started at age 3 with board games such as Nutrivity and Tic-Tac-Toe and now by age 5 we have quite a collection.

Before we get around to discussing our favorite board games I want to address some common questions I get.

WHAT AGE CAN CHILDREN PLAY BOARD GAMES?

There are many age-appropriate board games now available in the market that can be played with children as young as 3.

Here are few examples of board games for 3-4-year-olds.

We started board games at age 3 quite accidentally. I had not put much thought into family games or board games back then.

A family was visiting us and our guests had an older child along with them who brought with him some board games.

And we were surprised how quickly our son picked up the rules simply by observing the other child play.

So, to answer your question you can start with age-appropriate board games for children as young as 3-4 yr olds.

DO 5 YEAR OLDS UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF A BOARD GAMES?

There are many family board games that have simple rules that a 5 year old can easily follow. Games like Tic-tac-toe and snakes and ladders are great beginner board games.

The instructions are simple and the games are 2 player so it is easy for you to guide your child along as you play. 2-player games don’t overwhelm a child who is just starting out with board games.

Read on for my recommendations of board games for 5 year olds.

WILL MY CHILD SIT IN ONE PLACE TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE GAME?

Another often asked question is, will my child be able to sit and complete an entire game. Here I feel it is important to choose games that have a 15–20-minute run.

Long games with many rules or multi players may become overwhelming for younger children who don’t necessarily sit for long time in one place.

Try to select games that have a few instructions to play or modify the rules to simplify and accommodate your younger child.

Once he gets the hang of it you can increase the complexity as he grows older.

Best open-ended toys for toddlers and preschoolers

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN SELECTING BOARD GAMES FOR 5 YEAR OLDS

Choose games with simple instructions or 2-3 steps to play.

2. A game with a short game run (15-20 minutes)

3. Sturdy pieces and good quality box for storage. Most board games get spoilt on use because the tiny pieces get lost or the box starts to tear off. Have a dedicated shelf or cupboard for easy storage of games and choose games made with good quality materials.

BENEFITS OF PLAYING BOARD GAMES

Family bonding time. During the second lockdown, board games became our saviour. We were so bored of staying indoors all the time and board games brought that spark of happiness and excitement to our long days indoors.
Teaches children patience and provides an opportunity to learn how to take turns.
Teaches children about sportsman spirit, that winning and losing is not the focus, learning the game and trying to get better is the focus.
Learning board games teach children math and other concepts through play.
Boost language skills.
Screen free alternatives especially during summer vacations.

Related reading : Screen free activities for toddlers

Indoor activities for children

Here goes,

THE BEST BOARD GAMES FOR 5 YEAR OLDS

Tic-Tac-Toe

One of the first board games for kids to try. The rules are easy for children to understand and requires a child to use strategic thinking.

We love playing this game at home and during travels. It is compact enough to carry and fun for all ages. I also think this is a unique and cheap birthday return gift idea.

Trio-me

Trio-me/OtriO by Physome games was introduced to us by a relative recently. She highly recommended we try this board game for our 5 year old.

Trio-me can be played by 2 – 4 players and is a level up from tic tac toe. Ever since we bought it, it has been our favorite for family game night.

This board game for kids encourages strategic thinking, logical reasoning and is specially designed to boost spatial reasoning.

The game is made of a wooden game board and comes with 36 plastic pieces.

It is packaged in a sturdy wooden box which makes storage also very convenient.

I would highly recommend this board game for all ages, because not only is it fun to play but it looks so beautiful too.

Here is a quick guide on how to play Trio-me/OtriO

Memory Game

This wooden memory game is great for ages 3 and up. It helps with visual discrimination, builds focus and memorization.

It comes with different themed cards that can be changed for variation. We use these themes as talking points to discuss about different vehicles, fruits and vegetables, or ocean animals.

I think this memory game would make a unique birthday gift to a 3 – 5 year old.

Nutrivity

The Toiing Nutrivity kit is an educational board game for kids. It is suited for children ages 3-5.

It includes different games that teach children about healthy foods and the importance of good health.

Each set comes with a Board game, sorting cards, Bingo board, Simon says cards, Food Pyramid chart, Instruction booklet, plastic beads and sketch pens.

We have used these games in many different ways to make our own modifications and suit our child’s level of understanding.

The board game is especially great as a tool to create awareness about healthy foods and start conversation around what you eat as a family, healthy choices and alternatives.

If you have a picky eater at home such games are a great add to educate little ones about the importance of all food groups.

Knowledge when received through play is more easy to accept rather than a parent who nags or preaches at the table.

Brainvita

We have all played this mental game as kids and it is still one of the best games for kids and adults.

I recommend introducing Brainvita only when children are older, ages 5 and above because the game contains small marbles. These could pose as a choking risk for younger children.

As far as the actual game is concerned, it is our go-to on slow afternoons. Perfect for quiet time because it’s a solo player game.

We set it up for our son and he is engrossed in solving it for the next 20-30 minutes. A problem-solving exercise for him and a short power nap for mama.

This game is one of those traditional games that children must be introduced to in their growing up years.

Sorry

Sorry is a recent discovery and it’s been a hit in our family. Perfect for 5-year-olds learning to play in groups. The rules are simple for kids to understand and can be played with 2-4 players.

The game is played similar to Ludo and is a great add for family time.

Pancake up!

If you have a pancake lover in your house, Pancake Up! By Shumee Toys is a perfect match.

The rules of the game will take a 5 year old some time to get used to.

We actually modified the rules and reduced some of the steps and complexities at first. But, by the time we had played this game two times, our son was obsessed with Pancake Up!

The game involves matching the right ingredients on the dice to build an order of pancakes.

I would especially recommend Pancake up as a birthday gift for a pancake lover.

Here is my full review of Pancake Up!

Snakes and Ladders

A traditional Indian game that all of us have grown up playing is, Snakes and Ladders. I was very excited to introduce snakes and ladders to our son. He enjoys the game very much.

To me Snakes and Ladders is also a good educational board game. You can use the game as a way to teach numbers, skip counting, addition and subtraction. Such game-based learning is more effective over worksheets in my opinion.

Connect 4

We also tried another childhood favorite game of mine recently, Connect 4. To play this game, a player has to make 4 of the same color in a row.

Besides being fun to play, I love watching our son come up with his own strategy to win. Such a joy watching little children play.

Spytoi

Spytoi by Toiing is a spotting board game for kids (5 years and up). Kids enjoy spotting and the timer adds a thrill element as you need to race against time.

The cards cover different emotions and help children gain a better understanding of the emotions potrayed by the characters.

This game is best suited for ages 4-7.

That is it for now!

I hope you got some ideas to get started with board games for your kids. If you have a family favorite board game that is not covered here, do leave me a comment below. I would love more recommendations.

The Best Sippy Cups For Babies And Toddlers

OphiraLeave a commentMay 19, 2021May 19, 2021

Read time: 9 minutes

One of the first challenges new parents face as they start their child’s transition to solids is finding the best suited sippy cup. One search on the internet and you are bombarded with so many styles and options that the process of selecting a sippy cup becomes overwhelming. This is where I thought our experience could help. In this post, I am sharing with you a handy list of the best sippy cups for babies and toddlers.

In our home we have always nurtured our child’s independence and baby led weaning suited this need of ours in allowing our son to be in control of how much he ate and how he ate his food.

From the beginning he was exposed to different types of foods and textures and figured out naturally how to self-feed.

Offering water though was a challenge, as younger babies cannot yet properly suck through straws or navigate an open cup with their hands to their mouths without spills. They need help with it and in time with the right tools and guidance they can figure out how to drink water from a sippy cup and later on an open cup.

HOW MUCH WATER DO BABIES NEED?

The AAP recommends that 6 month old babies need about 4-8 ounces of water/day while the rest of the baby’s liquids should come from breastmilk or formula. (Source)

For toddlers age 1-3 the recommendations suggest about 4 cups of beverages, including both water and milk.

HOW TO INTRODUCE WATER TO BABIES

This is how we did it, at 6 months of age we first offered water through a spoon. After every meal, we would offer a few sips through a spoon. This was just so the baby understands how to drink liquid and clean his palette from any left over food. We even had a small steel cup for practice using an open cup.

But, I get the convenience of using a sealed cup, baby led weaning mom here, I know how messy baby led weaning can get.

Though open cups were always offered as an option in our home, we used a lot of sippy cups then straw cups before completely transitioning to open cups.

Always remember until age 1, breastmilk/formula is a major source of nutrients and we must not rush to offer more water as it can fill the baby up and replace other nutrient rich foods/liquids.

THE BEST SIPPY CUPS FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS

I am categorizing this list by age so that its easier for you to select the right sippy cup for your child.

The transition from breast/bottle to cups comes with its own set of learnings and I always advice parents to consider their child’s developmental needs and home lifestyle when making the choice for the right cup.

Finding the right sippy cup takes a lot of trial and error and for your convenience I will share the pros and cons of each type to help you make the best decision.

At 6 months we first started with spoon and open cup and after a few weeks of offering water with spoon we started with sippy cups.

Listed below are all the best sippy cups available in India.

BEST SIPPY CUPS FOR BABIES 6 MONTHS+

Philips Avent Classic Soft Spout Cup

This was the first sippy cup we used. It has a practical design with handles for the baby to hold and a soft spout that makes it easy to drink from. The bottle is easy to assemble and clean and the soft spout makes this a good choice as the first sippy cup.

This sippy cup is also budget friendly making it one of the most easy to use cups among the lot.

You can buy a set of 2 and use in a daily rotation. The spout can be replaced when it wears out and the bottle itself is sturdy enough to handle falls and rough use by little children.

The only con I would say with this product is that as the child gets older, he/she figures out how to twist open the top using the handles and water spills out. This sippy cup is therefore more suited in my opinion for 6-9 month olds.

Chicco Transition Cup

The Chicco transition cup is another great beginners sippy cup. It has a soft spout, handles and interchangeable lids and bases. It’s ideal for 6 months plus age group.

IKEA Borja Training Beaker

I absolutely love this training cup. Easy to use and clean. The child can easily drink from spout. The spout has small opening that helps to regulate the flow of liquid.

Its value for money, practical design, but, not meant for diaper bags, more for at-home use.

BEST SIPPY CUPS 9 MONTHS+

Munchkin Miracle 360 Cup

The Munchkin miracle training cup comes with handles for ease of use. The unique design is such that the cup automatically seals the flow of water when the child stops drinking. This design makes the Munchkin 360 spill proof.

It is easy to clean and use and a good option for older infants and toddlers.

Here is a stainless steep sippy cup of the same brand.

Philips Avent Straw Cup

Once the infant learns how to drink with a straw I would recommend transitioning to the Philips Avent Straw Cup. We used this cup the most through the years.

It has a handle for the child to hold, the straw inside the bottle is bent so as to get water even when it is nearly empty.

Besides that it is recommended to move onto open cups and straw bottles as early as possible for better oral development. You can introduce this sippy cup from 9 months of age.

Oxo Tot Transition Straw Cup

This is another great option in transition sippy cups for children 9 months and above. It has an almond-shaped, spill-proof straw that conforms to the child’s mouth and minimizes mess.

I like that it comes with measurement markings so that you can measure out liquids like milk when serving.

The straw is soft and comfortable for infants to drink from. Also a convenient option for the diaper bag.

Little Rawr Weighted Sippy Cup

This cup comes with a specially designed straw that has a unique 2-way valve and that ensures no-leaks.

The weighted straw makes it easy for the child to drink to the very last drop, making it the best toddler cup for bedtime milk.

Koochie-Koo Straw Sippy Cup

This sippy cup also contains a weighted straw for better emptying of liquids and a push button flip top.

It has 2 types of handles, one an ergonomic handle and another a strap option. You can choose what handle you want depending on use.

Pura Kiki Sipper Stainless Steel

The Pura Kiki Bottle is a stainless steel bottle that grows with your child. It can be converted into a sippy, straw, or small water bottle by swapping with another Pura Silicon lids.

Klean Kid Kanteen Stainless Steel Sippy

We have been using the Klean Kanteen stainless steel sippy cup for years now. Its durable and made with food grade quality stainless steel and easy for the child to drink from.

I do find cleaning the bottle spout a little challenging though.

You need to have a thin cleaning brush that can get into the edges of the silicone sipper. The top sipper can be changed to an age appropriate sipper as the child grows.

The cons though are the price, not only is the bottle more expensive compared to other bottles in the market, but, if you try to buy the separate parts to replace old worn out pieces each component is also expensive. This adds to overall cost in the long term with regards to maintaining these steel bottles.

HOW TO CLEAN BABY BOTTLES AFTER EACH USE

First dismantle all the pieces of the bottle. Throw out any leftover liquids.
Rinse under running tap water.
Soak in baby utensil wash and wash individual parts using appropriate bottle brushes.
Dry the bottle and lid separately on a drying rack.

For details on how to wash and sterilize infant bottles do read this resource.

DO SIPPY CUPS CAUSE TOOTH DECAY?

I know there is a concern among parents about sippy cups leading to tooth decay. I asked Dr. Akshatha Nayak about dental decay and sippy cup use, here is what she said,

“Sippy cups aren’t bad, only thing is it should be age appropriate.

For example- start with a soft spout, then hard spout and then straw bottle.

What is offered in sippy cups matters more than usage of sippy cups itself.

For example, I gave only water in sippy cups, it’s as good as bottle feeding because of seal it forms.

Change and discontinue sippy cups regularly and focus on graduating to straw bottles as early as possible. The key here is to use it for water only – hygienically also it’s better.

Most importantly, nothing is better than open steel glass, the faster the baby master’s it’s better.

Definitely there will be spills – but use smaller size cup so that baby can hold properly.”

Dr. Akshatha Nayak recommends routine dental checks for children and where needed fluoride treatment. Always consult your local dentist to detect any early cavities.

I hope this post has been useful to you in understanding how to select the right Sippy cup for your baby.

If you have any questions about the products I mentioned I am happy to answer them for you. Leave me a comment below.

For more baby product reviews head to the Reviews tab on the top. Until next time!

Natural Baby Bath Soap: Deyga Baby Bath Bar Review

Ophira3 CommentsMay 10, 2021March 4, 2021

Read time: 3 minutes

One of the first surprises for me when I became a mom was the amount of time I had to spend reading labels, understanding and researching ingredients in commonly available baby products in the market. With so many different products available in the market, (some even marketed as natural baby care) it was a tough task to find effective baby care products that used clean and natural ingredients.

This post is sponsored by Deyga, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Baby skin is very soft and delicate and the baby’s immune system still new and unaccustomed to the long list of chemical ingredients present in baby care products. Due to which chances of baby developing an allergic reaction to some ingredient increases.

One area that concerns most parents is choice of the right baby bath soap.

It is the one baby product that we use the most and therefore imperative that we choose a mild and natural product.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN LOOKING FOR A NATURAL BABY BATH SOAP?

Some common chemical culprits to avoid when selecting a baby soap are sulfates, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, and quaternium-15.). To know about the harmful effects of these chemicals on baby refer to this EWG article.

Note: Always remember to perform a patch test with any new baby product on your baby’s skin before you start using it.

DEYGA NATURAL BABY BATH BAR REVIEW

Packaging

The soap comes wrapped in a paper and packaged in a cloth bag. I appreciate the thought put into the packaging and effort made to be plastic-free. I will reuse the cloth pouch to store puzzle pieces or for carrying small toys on our travels.

Price

Available at

Website

Ingredients

Extra virgin olive oil, unrefined shea butter, sweet almond oil, cold pressed coconut oil, and cold pressed castor oil.

Deyga Claims

Cold Pressed • Raw • Natural • Vegan • Paraben Free • Fragrance-free
Handmade

Instructions to use

Wet skin with warm water.

Gently apply soap to create a lather.

Rinse clean

OUR EXPERIENCE USING THE DEYGA BABY BATH BAR

The first thing I liked about the baby bath bar is that it is fragrance free. If you are sensitive to strong scents like me, you would appreciate this too. I am always looking for baby products that are fragrance free or ones that carry a mild scent.

Another great point is that there are no added dyes or color added to the soap. Fewer the ingredients in a baby soap that much better it is.

The bar is a good size to hold. It creates a mild lather and rinses off easily.

We have been using similar baby bath soaps and I can already tell the difference in hydration of skin after using Deyga baby bath bar. This bar is suited to the Indian climate. It nourishes the skin without drying.

If you are looking for a natural baby soap definitely give this one a try.

We have also been trying the Deyga baby butter which is another great option from their baby collection. It is unscented and made using a nourishing mix of oils and butters.

I am looking forward to trying more by Deyga Organics.

Related reading: A Guide To Natural Baby Washes In India

Have you tried any of their products? Do comment below which Deyga products are your favorite?

The Best Open-Ended Toys For Toddlers And Preschoolers

OphiraLeave a commentJune 12, 2022October 7, 2020

Read time: 7 minutes

Has this happened to you? A beautifully wrapped toy is given to the child and the child leaves the toy aside and ends up playing with the cardboard box it came in instead? I am sure this scene has played out in your parenting life at least once so far. What is it about nondescript materials like boxes, kitchen tools, and fabrics that attract a child’s attention so much?

All of these are open-ended in nature and provide the child with an opportunity to manipulate the materials in any way he likes. This type of open-ended play allows the child to express through play. Express how he likes things, what order he wants to put these materials in, how he wants to build using these, or mimic the world he sees around him.

And while you don’t need many toys for your child to make such creative games of his own, a few well-placed open-ended toys can allow the child the tools he needs to express his creativity through play.

WHAT IS OPEN ENDED PLAY?

Open-ended play or free play is play that has no rules or instructions. The child is free to use his creativity and imagination and play a means to express. There is no right or wrong way to play when using open-ended toys.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OPEN-ENDED TOYS?

Boosts creativity and imagination.
Allows the child an opportunity to practice independent play.
Encourages problem-solving.
Good for motor skills.
Encourages communication and expression.
Allows the child to interact and learn from his environment.
Social and emotional skills development when child practices role play.
Teaches the child self-regulation.

Disclaimer: Before we discuss different types of open-ended toys you must note that all play must be monitored by adults. Especially when the child is still mouthing toys, some of these toys can pose a choking hazard. Never leave the child alone with toys that contain small parts. Better yet, buy age-appropriate toys. I mention the appropriate age for each toy listed below as a reference.

THE BEST OPEN-ENDED TOYS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Stackers

Stackers can be the first open-ended toys your child is introduced to. They encourage hand-eye coordination, the beautiful rainbow colors attract and hold the child’s attention. Besides rainbow stackers add a level of whimsy to the child’s playroom.

As the child grows older he can use the rainbow stackers in different ways in pretend play games. These are a must-have in every child’s toy collection.

Recommendations:

Shumee Wooden Rainbow Stacking Rings

Piccolo Toys Pastel Wooden Rainbow Stacker

Leg & Go Wooden Rainbow Stacker (Get a 5% discount on the all Wooden Montessori toys and Waldorf Toys by Leg&Go, use code easymommylife5 at checkout. They make some gorgeous legacy wooden toys, you must check their website.)

Blocks

Including different types of blocks is another great way to keep a toddler busy in independent play. For younger toddlers start with Mega Bloks (Age 1-3) Lego Duplo (Age 2-4) gradually moving on to Lego Classic (age 4 and above)

Other variations like wooden blocks or bristle blocks are great additions to a child’s toy library.

Blocks are one of the most versatile toys that can be used by children for many years. Toddlers and Preschoolers use such blocks to sort by color, arrange in order, build, create scenes during pretend play. The play ideas with blocks are limitless.

Construction Sets

construction toys- open ended toys for toddlers

One type of toy that is very effective in helping with fine motor skills is a construction set. Toddlers need to use their fingers and wrists in a very coordinated manner to get the construction set to work.

You can start with this type of builder set for younger children ages 3 and above and as the child grows older you can move on to more complex construction sets like this one.

Magnetic Tiles

Magnetic Tiles are creative open-ended toys that encourage hours of independent play. A good time to introduce magnetic tiles is after age 3. The child by now has stopped mouthing toys and is more interested in creating larger builds using blocks. The magnetic tiles don’t fall off if the child builds larger and larger designs.

These are usually an investment buy, but well worth the price in my eyes since we have used this toy the most since we bought it.

Art

Art supplies-open ended toys for 2 year olds

Buy a few child-safe paints, crayons, brushes, and art supplies, and let your child explore.

Toddlers can start with simple finger painting and as they grow older try using different natural materials like cotton balls, leaves, flowers, or vegetable skins for art or different techniques like wet on wet painting.

Children love painting and playing with colors. Not only is art good for fine motor skills it also helps the child calm down and feel more relaxed.

We love using Dabble Play Art non-toxic paints, crayons and brushes for art explorations. They are non-toxic and safe for toddlers to use and easy to clean up after. These paints don’t stain furniture or cloth. You can use my code DM09 to get a 10% discount on your purchase from the store.

Play Doh

Rolling, molding, and pinching the dough into different shapes improves fine motor skills. In fact, playing with play-doh is recommended as a pre-writing exercise.

All such activities that involve the use of hands help the child feel more calm and confident in his being which is why such activities as art and play-doh should be part of the daily toddler routine.

Wooden Figurines or Animal Sets

These beautiful wooden animals and peg dolls are perfect for endless pretend play games. You can include them in different sensory bins for the child or the child can dress the dolls, paint them, play little people games. Such toys bring the child’s creative play alive.

Pretend Play Sets

Every toddler and preschooler goes through phases of obsession with a particular theme mimicking real life. You may find your toddler trying to set up a pretend restaurant, play kitchen or playing pretend doctor games. Invest in a few good quality pretend play sets that the child enjoys and watch how the creativity and imaginative play flows.

Shumee Wooden Toys- Lil Chef’s Wooden Cooking Set

Get a 15% discount on Shumee wooden and educational toys, books and nursery decor. Use code LYLEASYMOM at checkout.

Vehicle sets

If your toddler or preschooler is obsessed with vehicles, there is no better option than different types of vehicles as open-ended toys. Here are some really cool vehicle sets I am sure your toddler will love;

Hape Race Track Station

Webby Unbreakable Construction Automobiles

Lillabo Toy Vehicles

Lillabo 45 Piece Train Set

Sand

Sensory play helps the child find his calm on a rough day. Build a sandpit or set up a sandbox with kinetic sand with some tools like toy shovels or scoops. Depending on what interests your child you can add as many toys to create a fun and engaging sand bin for the child.

Ideas like themed sand bins are also a great way for the child to learn as he plays.

Loose Parts

At other times you don’t even necessarily need toys to create an open-ended play environment for your child. You can build a tray with bits and bobs from the house like bottle caps, some threads, silky scarves, different shaped stones or seashells, small twigs from the garden and create an invitation for the child to play and use these materials in his play.

To know more about how you can use loose parts in play read here.

I hope these ideas help you set up a creative play space for your child. You don’t need all of these, just a few that you feel your child may enjoy and then watch the child use these in different ways.

Do write to me in the comments what open-ended toys your child loves to play with? Did I miss any?

10 Best Toys For 4-Year-Olds

Ophira1 CommentMarch 25, 2022July 7, 2020

Read time: 4 minutes

Four-year-olds are a self-assured lot. By age 4 most parents know what types of games and toys the child prefers. Each child has his own area of interest and prefers fine-tuning skills and knowledge in his area of interest. Popular topics of interest are dinosaur play, building toys, fascination with planets and solar system, toy houses, and dolls. Let us take a look at some of the best toys for 4-year-olds. Be it a selection for your child or as a gift for another these toys won’t disappoint.

Some of the toys from this list are featured in the list of toys for 3-year-olds too. They are open-ended toys that can be played with in many ways over the years.

BEST TOYS FOR 4 YEAR OLDS

Magnetic tiles

As creativity expands so does creative play. You will observe a 4 year old setting up elaborate creative play set ups. His mind is looking to explore more deeply and use every toy on hand. Magnetic tiles lend to this creative process. The child can use his imagination and build different 3-D structures, then go on to use these structures in pretend play games.

Flying Start Magnetic Tiles

Lego sets

Another toy that leads to hours of independent play is Lego. There are many to choose from and 4-year-olds love building and creating using Lego. You will be amazed at your child’s creativity. Building with lego blocks is also great for fine motor skills for preschoolers. Playing with blocks develops spatial skills that can help build stronger arithmetic abilities in schooling years.

Classic Lego Toy

Puzzles

Besides creativity, now is a good time to get your child observing patterns, solving puzzles, and using reasoning skills. All of these skills are used later on to read and solve problems.

Expose the child to different types of puzzles that challenge the brain to sort, reason and solve.

Some of the different types puzzles we use at age 4 are :

Logical reasoning puzzle

Magnetic tangram

Jigsaw puzzles

Construction toys

Get children used to building and creating designs. These construction sets are great for fine motor skills, problem solving and spatial skills.

Wooden construction building sets

Construction builder set

Blackboard

Having an easel in the room motivates the child to pick up the chalk and draw or write. We love the Easel by Ikea Mala, its large in size and comes with a whiteboard at the back and a set of crayons and duster.

Abacus

The colorful beads of an Abacus make learning fun. Start with simple counting, addition, and subtraction and later use the abacus for multiplication and division operations.

Scooter

Age 4 is when preschoolers are honing in on those gross motor skills like balance. A scooter is a great introduction to this age group. Watch your 4-year olds zooming away on their scooters and trying new moves with confidence.

Wooden blocks, rainbow stackers and sticks

Another set of open-ended toys is wooden rainbow stackers, blocks, and sticks. Children can use their imagination and come up with elaborate setups for pretend play.

Toys made of wood also last a very long time and can be used to hand down the generations in a family. We love these quality wooden toys for children by Leg&Go. They make the best active play and Montessori toys.

Sand toy set

Creating opportunities for the child to indulge in sensory play is important. Sensory toys like sand pits help the child motor skills, hand eye coordination and even promote social skills as children learn to play together. You can find many sand trays in the market or you can build one yourself at home.

We used an old IKEA cardboard box and some beach sand we bought from a gardening store. Add in some scoops, cups, moulds, shovels, or include some toys like dinosaurs, construction vehicles, farm animals for dramatic play.

Read here to learn more about the benefits of sensory play.

Vehicle play

Most 4 year olds have by now decided on what vehicle they like. Some children obsess over planes and others over construction vehicles.

A battery operated train is sure to catch your child’s attention.

Here are a few sturdy and cute toys for vehicle play, you can choose one that suits your child’s interest.

LILLABO IKEA 45 piece train set

Hape Toys firetruck

Skola Toys school bus

A combination of these toys are used by our 4 year old everyday. We love watching how he expresses his creativity through some and how he uses analytical thinking with others. Its wonderful watching little ones play.

I hope this list helps you as you decide on the best toy for your 4-year-old. Until next time, Ciao!

10 Best Bento Boxes For Kids

Ophira4 CommentsJune 1, 2022January 25, 2020

Read time: 5 minutes

One of the first things I shopped for once our son was ready to go to school was his Lunchbox. I started researching different types of lunch boxes, especially toddler-friendly lunch boxes. I wanted a bento box styled lunchbox because I was going to offer a variety of mini snacks for his snack break at school. Finally, all that research, googling and discussions with other mommy friends gave me a good idea of what type of bento box was best suited for us. Here is a list of the best bento boxes for kids.

My hope is that this post can help you narrow down on one that is best suited for you.

The 10 Best Bento Boxes For Kids

Yumbox

If you follow me on Instagram (which, by the way, if you are not your missing out!) you have seen my stories on toddler bento box ideas featuring the Yumbox. I absolutely love our Yumbox. We have the Yumbox Panino that comes with 4 sections. It comes with an airtight seal on the lid that helps keep fruit and veg fresh.

One of the reasons I chose this style of a bento box is because it is an easy-open lunch container for toddlers. It comes with a snap-lock system that helps to close the box tightly yet opens up easily even by little hands.

The only con using the Yumbox is that it weighs down the school bag for a preschooler aged child.

If I had to rate the box, I would give it a 9/10.

Here is a look at some ideas on how to pack with the Yumbox Panino

Lunchbots

We bought the small protein snacker by Lunchbots. If you are looking for the best toddler bento box for dry snacks this is the one. When selecting make sure to go on their website and check the size and different layouts on offer. I made a mistake when I first ordered the lunch bots not aware that I ordered the small size. But this size is perfect for our pre-schoolers bag on days he has to carry his homework books to school. Its light-weight and easy for him to open and close.

Here’s how we are packing snacks and lunches in our Lunchbots.

Planetbox

The Shuttle Lunchbox by Planetbox is perfect for toddlers’ snack breaks in school. It holds small meals (around 3.5 cups) for younger kids with shorter days at school.

You can pack in a sandwich and some fruit, or a wrap with some nuts and seeds or apple and pear slices with nut butter for a snack break.

If you are looking for a bigger size lunch box the Rover lunchbox by Planet box may be more suited to you.

Bentgo

The Bentgo lunchbox is another popular bento box company. They come with the open and close latches and leak-proof lids. The 5 compartments make it easy to add in a variety to your child’s lunch box. The Bentgo kids lunchbox comes highly recommended for the 3-7 age group.

OmieBox

The Omiebox bento boxes are popular for storing hot foods. The boxes come with two temperature zones, one to store cold foods and one to store hot foods.

The separated leak-proof compartments keep the foods separated and fresh. The materials used are FDA approved and BPA free.

Milton stainless steel box

If you are looking for the classic Indian food-friendly lunch box you can select the Milton stainless steel box.

The tiffin is made of steel on the inside and the lid has a snap lock that is easier for young children to open on their own. The price is also budget-friendly, though it may be a heavier box for young children.

Preschooler Playtym

The Preschooler Playtym is a stainless steel bento box styled lunch box made right here in India. It’s sturdy and affordable and comes with 3 sections and can be used for 3-7-year old’s.

Kurtzy Wheat Straw Lunch Box

This bento box is made up of wheat straw, its eco-friendly and biodegradable. It is airtight and comes with 3 compartments. A budget-friendly option that is also non-toxic and safer compared to plastic lunchboxes.

Jaypee Stainless Lunchbox

The Jaypee lunch box is an insulated lunchbox made with stainless on the inside. It has the snap lock feature and comes with a leak-proof stainless-steel container on the inside.

Krauss Eco-Bento Lunch Box

This bento box is made of recycled wheat fiber and is non-toxic and biodegradable. It comes with 3 spacious compartments making it handy to use for schools, offices or even picnics.

I hope this list helps you as you shop for a bento box for your child. I tried to include options for toddlers, preschoolers, and older children so that you find something for each age group.

For bento lunch box recipes and ideas for school check this post.

Until next time,

Ciao

10 Best Books for 3 Year Olds

OphiraLeave a commentJune 12, 2021October 1, 2019

Read time: 5 minutes

The three’s have been an exciting time for us as parents. Our son is finally expressing clearly what he likes and dislikes. He is actively looking for content and topics to learn more about. This makes it easier for us as parents to curate his toys and books. No more guesswork required! In this blog post, I will feature the best books for 3-year-olds that match their curiosity levels and bring out the giggles.

Before I go ahead, I want to mention three books that are all-time favorites in our house. But since I already covered them in previous book lists I will keep them out of this one.

All three by Julia Donaldson. We are huge fans of her books. In fact, our son loves The Gruffalo so much we had a Gruffalo themed birthday party for him too.

mother and child reading- best books for 3 year olds

10 BEST BOOKS FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS

Flap Your Wings – P. D Eastman

This story is about two birds who find an abandoned egg in their nest and go on to kindly help the egg hatch. On hatching, they find a creature different from themselves, a baby crocodile, yet they continue feeding the little baby. When he is finally too big for the nest its time to bid adieu.

This story was one of our favorite bedtime stories this year and highlights the helpful nature of Mr. and Mrs. Bird.

Usborne Peep Inside Animal Homes

Age 3 is a time when children have many questions about life around them. Our son is very interested in knowing where other animals live. This prompted me to buy this beautiful Usborne book. The illustrations and information are just right for ages 3-5.

The book covers different habitats and a variety of animal homes, for curious little readers.

The Paperdolls – Julia Donaldson

As I adready mentioned, Julia Donaldson is our all-time favorite children’s book authors. Her rhyming storytelling engages little readers in rapt attention.

Paperdolls is a sweet story about a little girl and her paper dolls. It showcases how some family traditions continue on through the generations.

Tyrannosaurus Drip – Julia Donaldson

This book has been read on loop nearly every night in our house. Once again Julia Donaldson knows how to create engaging stories for little ones.

In this story, a Duckbill dinosaur egg gets misplaced in a Tyrannosaurus dinosaur nest. The Tyrannosaurus family end up raising the Duckbill dinosaur as their own. But the little duckbill dinosaur feels out of place in this family of large meat-eating dinosaurs. To know how this story ends, read the book. Any dinosaur-loving child will love this read.

5. Gajapati Kullapati – Ashok Rajagopalan

I like to add stories around Indian themes to our collection and Tulika Publishers is one of my favorite Indian publishers. This series follows the central character Gajapati, the elephant and his various experiences and adventures. The sing-song storytelling style is perfect for toddlers.

You, me & Empathy – Jayneen Sanders

The perfect book for preschoolers. The book exposes the child to the emotion of empathy and different situations when one can empathize with those in difficulty. It gives the child a perspective of what it feels like to be in another’s shoes.

Knock! Knock! – Kaori Takahashi

One of the best interactive book for 3-year-olds, Knock! Knock! takes you on a journey with a little girl in search of her teddy bear. A wonderful adventure unfolds as you turn each page.

Ten Wriggly Wiggly Caterpillars – Debbie Tarbett

A simple counting book that makes counting fun for preschoolers. My son loves this book and is often seen sitting in a corner flipping through the pages counting the caterpillars on each page. You must buy this book in hardcover with the little 3-D caterpillars jutting out through each page. The counting rhyme ends beautifully with a pop-up surprise on the last page.

Trumpet The Little Elephant With A Big Temper – Jane Clarke

A book about big emotions. Trumpet can’t seem to control his anger and frustration. His mother is teaching him how to manage his anger by counting to 10. A fun twist at the end brings home the point that anger is a futile emotion. A must-have in every 2-3-year-olds book library.

Meg & Mog Series – Helen Nicoll

Our son loves this series of books on Meg, the witch and her pet cat, Mog. The stories are fun and the spells in the book make read-aloud fun. Meg and Mog Books are great books for 3-year-olds learning to read. Here are some of the titles we own and enjoy reading in this series;

Previous book lists:

Books for babies

Books for 1 year olds

Books for 2 year olds

These are books that our 3-year-old absolutely loves. I hope you find a few picks for your child’s book library. What are some of your 3-year-olds favorite books?

10 Most Age Appropriate Toys For 3-Year-Olds

Ophira1 CommentJanuary 4, 2022June 27, 2019

Read time: 5 minutes

There are two criteria for selecting toys for kids, safety and age appropriateness. Many enthusiastic parents buy toys without giving any consideration to the age of the child. Before you buy the next trending toy, ask your self, does this toy match my child’s current skills?

Each child develops at his own pace and often buying toys meant for higher age groups only leaves the child overwhelmed and disinterested.

In order to encourage creativity in play you first need to buy materials (toys and games) that are suited your child’s current skill set.

I always look to my child when I need to buy him a toy. What is his current area of interest? What skills do I see him develop at the moment? Has he spotted something that he wants to try? Using his innate curiosity for things around him we slowly introduce him to new concepts and materials.

There is no rush for him to try everything within a specified time frame. There have been times I buy something I like and my son rejects the toy immediately. Then after a while has passed I see him take a liking to the same toy he rejected earlier. This is because he was not ready to explore when he was first exposed to the toy. There is no rush. More on child led learning here.

Here are a few toys and ideas I think 3-year-olds will enjoy. These are age-appropriate toys for 3-year-olds, some of them also make great 3-year-old birthday gift ideas.

Age Appropriate Toys For 3-year-olds

Puzzles And Pattern Blocks

You can introduce puzzles at age 2 and by age 3 most kids can solve 9-10 piece puzzle sets. This is also a great time to use pattern blocks and allow the child to use his creativity and come up with his own designs.

A few puzzles and pattern blocks to try;

Creative Educational Aids (5 – 9 piece puzzles)

Shumee Animal Floor Puzzle

Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks

Magnetic tiles

Magnetic tiles is one of the best birthday gift ideas for 3-year-olds. By now most 3-year-olds know how to build using building blocks and magentic tiles add another level of creativity to the mix. The colored tiles hold 3-year-olds attention for long periods of time. This is one toy our son can be seen playing with first thing in the morning.

Coloring And Art

Toddlers love using crayons and paints and getting really messy with them. Copy coloring becomes a particularly interesting activity at this age as toddlers begin to figure out how to color within the lines.

Paint using materials from the kitchen like okra or potatoes. Paint on stones or eggshells. There are many ways to add variation in art and craft.

Outdoor Toys

As 3-year-olds develop gross motor skills engage them in a variety of outdoor play and activities. Toys like a sandbox, trampoline, cricket bat and ball, football, and beach toys all engage little ones to get out there and catch some Vit D and exercise.

Ride-on Toys

This age group also enjoys ride-on toys. They are figuring out balance and motion and ride-on toys are a lot of fun.

Example: Ride on tricycle, bicycle, scooters, and cars

Vehicle Sets

Anything that moves and has wheels can catch the eye of little ones. Most 3-year-olds are beginning to name the different modes of transport and this is a great time to introduce them to pretend play with vehicles

Some of great vehicle toys,

Melissa & Doug Car Loader Truck

Hape Classic Train Toy

Hape Wooden Train Set

Activity Subscription Services

Activity boxes are a great way to introduce little ones to different themes and learning concepts. There are many subscription services these days that provide interesting materials for art and craft activities. These are to be done with the help of a parent and can be used as a way to have conversations around the themes and gauge the child’s interest and likings.

Some of our favorite subscription activity boxes are,

Firstcry Intellikit

Flintobox

More educational toys for 3 year olds.

Dress-up

Pretend play is a huge part of a young child’s games. If your child is enjoying a particular role play buy him that outfit for dress up. Dress up games are a great way to allow the child’s inner creativity to shine.

Blocks

After using the mega blocks since age 1, it is now time for your child to graduate to building blocks that require advanced motor skills.

We really like these bristle blocks, our son finds the texture of the blocks interesting and they require the use of fine motor skills to be made into different structures.

Pretend Playsets

And of course, I am going to end this list with pretend play. If you follow me on Instagram you know we are big on pretend play in our house. We use a Kitchen set, a teepee tent and lots of stuffed toys to build endless hours of fun.

You can catch my reviews on our Hape kitchen set and Cuddly Coo teepee tent here.

Use your child’s interest and find toys that cater to his creativity. There are so many pretend play toys out there from doll houses to doctor sets. Find a few that interest your child and use pretend play as a way to spend one on one time with your child.

I hope this list is handy to moms of three-year-olds. What toys does your child like to play with?