Toys For 1-2 Years Old Toddler

Our baby is now TWO!!! *Eeeek*

In this strange and isolating time of year 2020, we have had to acquire more “tools” to keep our daughter appropriately stimulated. We have long been a fan of create-more-buy-less philosophy, as well as having lived in small dwelling for much of our life, we have always try to be very conscious of our purchases. A great YouTube channel The Parenting Junkie has a very informative video on Minimalism and Toys which outlined ten categories of toys to inspire children of all ages. For us, we found that the list had helped us immensely on choosing the type of toys to buy. 

Between the age of one and two, these items had been our child’s favourite:

1. Blocks

We have acquired quite a few different types of blocks for our little one. Many of them are second-hand and some we picked up free from our neighbourhood spring cleaning. But our daughter’s favourite has been a simple beginner Duplo set. They are big enough for little hands to grasp and easy to stack sturdily. We also added a Building Plate to give her creation some anchor, as well as an IKEA Bygglek Lego Storage Box to gather the blocks. Another Montessori tools within this category is the Stacking Pegs. The colourful pieces can be stacked or threaded together for motor-skill training. They are also great for teaching colours and numbers. 

2. A Doll

When our daughter was younger, she was not really pretend playing with her doll. It was rather a good tool to help her express her emotions by encouraging her to describe her feelings through the doll. Now that we are thinking of a second child, the doll also works to instill the idea of tender care of baby. We love the Baby Stella Doll that comes in a variety of ethnicity to match our dark-haired, dark-eyed daughter.

3. Figurines

Currently, one of our daughter’s favourite subject is dinosaurs. A bucket of these Dino Figurines had all the types of dinosaurs she can play with for hours. Also great are this small Duplo Farm Animal set which can be integrated with her basic blocks for extra fun.

4. Balls

We have one Glow-in-the-dark Sensory Ball that is lightweight and fun to play indoor. And we have a sturdy 7-inch Rubber Ball for rough-and-tumble outdoor play. Both have been essential for our little one to relieve her throwing impulse and occasionally letting off some steam.

5. Art Materials

A handful of Jumbo Size Chalks has a permanent place in our going-out gear. Not only is the playground a far easier place to clean up after her chaotic genius, but it is also a great way for her to learn sharing with other children. If she desperately needs to draw at home, we will bring out these Ultra Washable Crayon. They go on the paper brightly but wipe off from other surfaces easily with a damp cloth. Otherwise, there is also the Water Colouring Book that uses only plain water for colouring. MUMMY LOVES THOSE EASY TO CLEAN ARTS! If we are looking for more tactile fun,  we always have a bag of Colourful Pom Poms, Tissue Paper stack and Painted Wood Sticks for some extra crafty moments.

6. Gross Motor

We have a second-hand scooter for the little one, but she found the tilt-to-turn mechanism more difficult to learn. So we bought her a little Balance Bike which she now loves to ride around. To save our poor old back, we have the Balance Buddy Learner Handle mounted at the back wheel for easy parental support. Of course a Cycling Helmet is also indispensable for protecting her from those inevitable falls.

7. Vehicles

Choo choo train has a universal appeal to people big and small. Both daddy and daughter enjoy this classic Wooden Train Set and an extra battery-powered Locomotive considerably. Adding to the mechanical collection is her best toy buddy, The Digger, of whom she takes to her nap almost every day. 

8. Books

Reading has been one of our child’s greatest love. Aside from her favourite subject of Trains and Trucks, we discovered the wonderfully illustrated lost-and-found series of Adele and Simon. We have also given her an ABC Alphabet Book to help develop her reading skill further. A few cute books on Potty and Toilet Tale were introduced at 18 to 24 months to begin familiarising the child with the concept of using the toilet. 

9. Sensory

We were sad to see the big box craft store A. C. Moore closed down in Philadelphia earlier this year. But we were able to score some half-priced Kinetic Sand for some sensory play. We lay out an old shower curtain and dumped the sand into a large storage crate sat in the middle of the curtain. Adding a few kitchen utensils and container and the toddler would happily play by herself.

10. A few extra MVPs

During this Safer-at-Home period, in order to allow mummy and daddy to get things done, we have had to put in some extra effort to encourage independent play both inside and outside of the home. As well as a dollhouse, I made a play kitchen out of the Amazon delivery boxes we en-massed. To make it extra attractive, we added a Play Kitchen Set that included metal pot, pans and utensil, a set of chef apron and hat, and an assortment of cuttable vegetable and a knife. For travelling, just one or two sheets of these Reusable Stickers offered her 30 minutes of alone play. These Vinyl Sticker Bomb were also great for her to decorate and breath new life into her existing belongings. 

What are some of the great kids toys and products you discovered this year? Share with us below!