As parents, we are always looking for the best products for our kids. Is it safe? Is it durable? Will my child love it? These are questions we ask ourselves when purchasing a new toy or product for the most important person in our lives. Another question I always ask myself is, “Will it enhance development?” Many toys can keep a child engaged, but they don’t all foster learning. I believe that toys, travel, and experiences should encourage a love of learning, which is why I started Mommy University. I wanted to share these ideas with all of you.
Infantino has become a household name when it comes to quality baby/toddler toys. Their products are reliable, durable, and offer hours of learning through play opportunities for little ones. Infantino offers products for babies through to toddlers, all providing a unique experience. From sensory-based, musical, movement, to even electronic, there are toys to meet every child’s interest and need. In this post, I am going to highlight some learning toys that I recommend…and LOVE!
Play, Learn, and Grow with Infantino
Tower Stackers
If you have been following Mommy University since its conception, then you know how much I LOVE building toys. They offer the ultimate learning through play experience. I believe in introducing building toys to kids as soon as possible which is why I love the Tower Stackers from Infantino. The set comes with 3 different stacking toys (rings, stars, and pegs), all made with bright and colorful objects. Each stacker offers a unique learning experience for little ones. While building, kids develop fine motor, perceptual reasoning, spatial awareness, and problem solving skills. They also learn to use trial-and-error as well as creativity. This set is perfect for at-home play, but would also be a wonderful addition to any daycare or preschool classroom.
Shape Sorters
Photo Provided by Infantino
I absolutely love shape sorters. These toys offer so many opportunities for children to learn and grow. For those that don’t know, a shape sorter can come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes, but the premise is always the same, fit the shape inside the same sized opening. While playing, kids not only learn shapes and colors, but they also build fine and visual motor skills as well as problem solving skills. They also learn cause and effect and build frustration tolerance when they cannot solve the problem right away. Hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness are also enhanced when playing with shape sorters.
Infantino offers a range of shape sorter options to choose from. Activity Triangle and Shape Sorter offers the shape sorter experience along with other fun learning activities. Orca the Whale is another option which can also be used in water making it perfect for bathtime or summer fun in the baby pool. The Jumbo Shape Sorter is an adorable toy shaped like an elephant. Not only do little ones have to match shapes, they also match colors which enhances the learning experience. There is also a cause and effect aspect as once the shapes go into the elephant, they then fall out of his trunk so the play can start all over again.
Blocks
Photo Provided by Infantino
One of my favorite and most recommended toys for little ones are blocks. It sounds so simple but they offer endless learning opportunities. Blocks often start as a sensory toy. Kids put them in their mouth, feel them, touch them, or even throw them. Once they pass this sensory phase, blocks become a toy with so many amazing uses. Kids can stack them, make patterns, match colors, create new worlds by building castles and buildings, the possibilities are endless. While playing, kids are building cognitive, academic, and motor skills. With each tower, a child enhances his spatial awareness, dexterity, problem solving skills, visual-motor skills, perceptual reasoning skills, and so much more.
Infantino has a wide variety of blocks to choose from. Each set is bright, colorful, and durable. You can also purchase sets like the one I was provided: Balls, Blocks, and Buddies. This set comes with 8 soft counting blocks, 8 textured balls of varying shapes, and 4 squeezable animals. This set offers a true sensory learning experience for little ones, plus it introduces academic concepts at an early age. Other sets are Balls, Blocks, & Cups, Tub O’ Toys, and Building Blocks Play Mat & Activity Station.
Water Toys
What child doesn’t love water play? Whether it’s in the bath, baby pool, or playing in a puddle, most kids love playing with water so why not add to the experience with some fun toys?! Infantino has a wonderful selection of water play toys that your kids will love. Each one is soft, colorful, and adorable. These toys and playsets encourage pretend play and creativity which is so important in building language, cognitive, and social skills. The Splish & Splash Bath Play Set is the perfect choice because it comes with a variety of toys that little ones can play with. It includes a play fishing set to improve fine motor and problem solving skills, bath squirters to enhance hand strength, stacking cups that encourage cause and effect play, and a water wand for pretend play.
Not only does Infantino offer water toys, they also offer a unique inflatable bath tub. When my boys were babies, I loved using an inflatable bath tub. It was so much easier than putting them in a large bathtub. I used the inflatable tub for a long time, and they both loved it. What’s unique about the Infantino tub is that it can also serve as a ball pit. While taking a bath, kids can play with the 10 floating balls that come with the tub. Once bathtime is over, empty the water and fill the tub with balls and toys for a whole new experience. The inflatable tubs are shaped like a whale and come in orange and teal.
Make sure to visit the Infantino website to check out all their amazing learning toys and products!
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