{30 Days of Simple Toddler Toys} Day 20: Nesting Blocks

Nesting blocks are one of Greyson's go-to favorite toys.  It's such a perfectly simple toy that so much can be done with them (much more than just stacking and nesting!).  We have a Melissa and Doug set (shown below) with the alphabet on them.  Greyson will stack the blocks, and then we sing our alphabet song while pointing to the letters (forward and backward just for fun).  We'll also use the nesting blocks as a mountain for our Army men to climb, as well as hiding spots when the Army men climb in the boxes.  Nesting blocks are one of those versatile toys that's just begging for an imagination to turn it into all it can be.

Is anyone else as excited as me that there are Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss sets of nesting blocks?

Skills:

• problem solving
• sequencing

"And She Loved a Little Boy" is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

{30 Days of Simple Toddler Toys} Day 19: Musical Instruments

Have you ever met a toddler who doesn't love music?  Music is not only fun for them, it also stimulates a lot of learning.  Greyson dances to any musical beat that he hears, and has really begun to love singing and playing his own music.  I much prefer instruments that only make noise when he causes it to make noise, not one that requires batteries and plays on it's own when it's touched.

Skills:

• cause and effect
• music
• fine and gross motor

"And She Loved a Little Boy" is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

{30 Days of Simple Toddler Toys} Day 18: Alphabet Letters

The more exposure to alphabet letters children get, the better!  There's so much to do with alphabet letters, you cannot go wrong with them.  We have felt letters for our flannel board, letters on blocks, magnet letters, bath letters and more.  Keep in mind when shopping, it's nice to have both uppercase and lowercase letters in your collection.

Skills:

• early literacy
• fine motor
• letter identification

"And She Loved a Little Boy" is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

{30 Days of Simple Toddler Toys} Day 17: Sorting Board

Sorting boards are next to impossible to find in stores (at least around here), which confuses me because they are a great learning toy.  Sorting is an essential math skill, and this simple toy can help children develop it.

Skills:

• math skills
• fine motor
• concept skills (shapes, colors, etc)

"And She Loved a Little Boy" is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.