If you’d like your little ones to start getting into independent play more and more, you need age appropriate toys to make it happen. These are developmentally appropriate and fun.
Independent play for toddlers and preschoolers is a huge part of a good daily rhythm.
It gives space in the day for your child to learn cause and effect, have some time alone, be outside of the normally stimulating environment of the family home.
It may be a challenge at first if your kids don’t know how to play on their own, but you can teach them step by step.
While this list isn’t exhaustive, by any means, it’ll help you get started while thinking of gifts your children will enjoy.
Awesome Toys for Babies That Are Safe For Play
These age appropriate toys for babies are great to put into a pack and play and let them gnaw on and stack up and knock down.
For babies, independent play is usually a fairly brief affair somewhere like their crib or pack and play. You’ll supervise them for the most part. This teaches your little one to be content and focus.
Don’t put more than a few toys into the pack and play at a time so they aren’t tempted to Toy Hop.
- Pound & Tap Bench
- Soft Baby Building Blocks (great for chewing teethers)
- Wrist And Sock Rattles (for mat time)
- Sit To Stand Learning Walker
Toys for Toddlers
Toddlers have a lot more variety of age appropriate toys since they are older and more developmentally able to play.
Some older toddlers are even using their imagination already.
The best kinds of toys for little ones are open ended toys that encourage pretend play. Electronic toys aren’t recommended for kids this age and anyway, the point of independent play is to encourage imagination.
Also, independent play fits perfectly into a toddler’s daily routine.
- Mega Bloks First Builder Set
- Play Doh Modeling Compound
- Tinker Toy Building Set
- Play Fabric Scarves (great for imagination games)
- DUPLO Set (very large LEGO toddlers can’t eat)
- Melissa & Doug 100 Wooden Block Set
Toys for Preschoolers
Independent play should be an integral part of a preschooler’s daily routine. They will likely be able to play for quite long periods at a time alone at this age.
Particularly if you aren’t sending your kids to preschool, you will have long days to fill. That alongside chores, obviously.
Preschoolers need age appropriate toys to help them dive into true imaginative play. It will take them into other realms and places.
- Classic LEGO Brick Box Set
- Mr. Sketch Scented Markers
- Little Tikes Trampoline
- Deluxe Pretend Food Set
- John Deere Tractor for kids
- Strider bike
Toys for Kids Aged 5-10
If your child is older and likely already in school, independent play may be harder to come by.
At the start of the day they’ll have their school morning routines and then later their after school routines. Later, after homework may be a good time to do the independent play so they can wind down from a long day.
So, these toys will help your little ones in their budding development. You’ll never regret getting these toys and putting them in the mix.