10 Best Toys for Toddlers in the Philippines 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed by Pediatrician

Dr. Joanna Pamela Cuayo-Estanislao is a pediatrician and child health specialist based in Metro Manila. Doc Joey is passionate about health education and empowering families to become informed advocates of their children's health and wellness. She uses social media to educate and raise awareness about important issues and topics in the field of pediatrics and child care.

To know more about her practice, like and follow her on her Instagram and Facebook page!

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Prioritize toys with educational value.
2. Choose pretend play toys for developing life skills.
   
3. Pick a toy that will grow with your little one.
   
4. Consider materials such as wood, BPA-free plastic, and soft fabrics.
   
5. Check if the toy passes child-safety measures.
   

For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.

Choose toys that can impart a new skill to your toddler. There are a variety of toys that are both entertaining and educational. With these toys, your kids get to enjoy playtime while improving their vocabulary and fine motor skills.

At this age, kids love songs, rhymes, and repetition. Take advantage of this interest by introducing the alphabet and numbers using wooden puzzle boards. These come with cutouts or stand-alone pieces that can match with the engraved chart.

Sing the ABCs or 123s while playing with these toys to help them identify and memorize the letters or numbers. These jigsaw puzzles can also teach them basic colors and shapes as well as reading and spelling. You can also find variations, for example, those that feature animals, fruits, and the human body.

Your toddler’s fine motor skills refer to their ability to use the small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. They use these when holding small items, turning the pages of a book, writing or coloring, and molding soft materials with their hands.

Guide your little ones in refining their motor skills by selecting toys that encourage open-ended activities. These include building blocks, shape-sorters, nesting cups, and art materials like playdough.

Kids enjoy manipulating these objects – such as creating bridges, towers, and cars over and over again. This way, they get to practice more complex movements with their hands as well as developing a stronger grip. Also, these toys help in improving their hand-eye coordination. 

Pretend play teaches kids practical life skills like dressing up, using eating utensils, as well as simple chores like cleaning the house or shopping for groceries. To achieve this, give them toys that encourage reenactments of real-life activities.

Through their little pretend play world, they learn how to solve problems and experience the process of decision making. They also get to practice their language and social skills by playing roles such as a doctor, teacher, and chef.

Examples of pretend play toys include food packs, a small kitchen set, dolls, cars, action figures, and stuffed toys. Also available these days are miniature versions of toolboxes, cash registers for playing grocery, and gardening sets for their pretend planting.

Remember the animated movie Toy Story? Most kids have a favorite stuffed toy or doll that they bring with them everywhere. While your little one is a toddler, this is the perfect time to introduce a toy that could potentially become your toddler’s “toy best friend.”

This toy can serve as your go-to solution whenever your little one is about to have tantrums or screaming sessions. This toy will also help in comforting your kids when they’re feeling sad or when you are away. Some parents purchase an exact duplicate of the toy, just in case the original one goes missing or gets damaged. 

Always check the material of the toys before purchasing them. For toddlers, wooden toys are the best way to go since they have smoother edges and are more durable. Plastic toys are also a good option because they are less expensive, just make sure that these are BPA-free to avoid exposure to harsh chemicals.

Most toddler toys come in bright colors, so also look into the paint or coloring agent that was used. It should be non-toxic and lead-free. Meanwhile, if your toddler has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions, also consider the fabric used in their toys. Choose hypoallergenic materials such as cotton and silk.

Just as important to consider is the safety of your little one while playing with toys. Check if the toy that you’re eyeing passes the following child-safety measures.

The toy should not be a choking hazard – it must be large enough so that it can’t be swallowed by your child. The toy should also be unbreakable just in case your kid decides to chew on it or tear it apart. Moreover, avoid toys with sharp ends and those with small & removable parts.

In case your little one really prefers the toy with tiny parts, always sit by their side and watch them play.

In the YouTube video above by Hapa Family, Mommy Ashley shares insightful tips on setting up Montessori-style shelves in the playroom. The Montessori Method of teaching or education encourages self-directed activities and hands-on learning.

It entails a learning or playing environment that is spacious, tidy, and inviting. This helps kids to easily choose the toys by themselves. Aside from independence, this setup can also improve their hand-eye coordination, practical life skills, and language by displaying toys that cater to different activities.

Tips:

1. Aim for a minimal quantity of toys at any given time – less is more
2. Create space between the toys on the shelves
3. Use a one-toy-per-cubby system, don’t overcrowd the shelf
4. Shelves should be low and accessible to your child
5. Toys should be low enough to be visible to your child
6. For toddlers, display just 8-10 activities or toys at a time
7. Offer variety in toys – those that cater to different ranges of skills
8. Use baskets and trays to display the toys
9. Present the activities or toys in an “undone” state, so your kids can finish it by themselves
10. Rotate toys as necessary – display a new batch of toys when your child is bored already with the current group

Whether you're a new parent or an experienced one, there will always be new things to learn. Below, Doc Joey answers some of the most asked questions online. 

There's no real hard and fast rule about how little or how many toys a toddler should have. However, it's good to note that at any one time, it's better to just let your toddler engage in just one or a few toys at a time. 

Studies on child development and psychology have shown that kids who were given fewer toys to play with were more focused and engaged, played more creatively, and interacted with their toys in more varied ways for longer periods of time. These are all important in your child's gross motor, fine motor, and cognitive development.

Play is the primary vehicle through which children learn and develop in their early childhood years. When choosing toys, it's important to be careful not to choose toys that are gender-biased. 

All children need the opportunity to explore different styles of playing and be allowed to try different kinds of toys without gender restrictions. Reducing gender stereotypes in play has been found to help reduce gender differentiation in development, ability, and skills.

With the growth and development of your child, changing up their toys is a way to help them further hone their skills. At certain ages and developmental stages, children are able to "unlock" new abilities.

As they grow older, they are able to pick up and manipulate smaller objects (fine motor development), are able to play with toys in more ways (cognitive and social development), and are now suddenly able to do more physical things, like being able to learn to ride a tricycle properly at 3 years old (gross motor development).

In general, simple and open-ended toys are always great for any age because how they are used and played with is dependent on your toddler's imagination and abilities. It's also always a good idea to keep open communications with your pediatrician to help you decide what toys can best help your child reach their full potential.

Play is the main and best avenue for young children to learn and develop different skills, so it's really important to choose toys that will help the social, mental, physical, and emotional development of children. 

While toys should be fun for your child, they should also be age-appropriate, stimulating, and safe. Go for simpler toys that allow for open-ended play (such as blocks, dolls, play objects), leaving much of how a toy is used and played with to the imagination of your child. 

Try also to avoid electronic toys and gadgets, as several studies have suggested that these pose several possible dangers to children's health and development, including hearing loss (from loud toys), weight gain (from being inactive while playing), as well as language and developmental delays.

Pretend play toys inspire your little one’s imagination and creativity. Aside from mini kitchen sets, dolls and cars - play tents and books also do the same by exposing your kids to other life situations and roles. Click the article links below to see our recommended options.

Shopping for your toddler is just as fun, if not more, as “adding to cart” for yourself. Consider your toddler’s milestones and skills development first and foremost. A toy can be entertaining while being educational at the same time.

Meanwhile, it can be also overwhelming which toys to buy. To keep it simple, a toddler will be amused by 8-10 toys at a time. This way, you’ll avoid clutter in your home and your little one gets to enjoy every single toy so much more.

Author: Ayeza E. Mangulabnan

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