By Brittany Rowland

This Little Tikes Super Chef Kitchen may inspire a lifelong love of cooking in your little ones. Its solid construction promises hours of imaginative play for even the most boisterous children. The set has a compact design, so its footprint won’t take over the entire playroom. The oven, microwave, refrigerator, and cabinet doors open and include a little storage space. The set also makes fun sound effects like a sizzling stove and a clicking oven knob. While the kitchen set required about thirty minutes to put together, apply the stickers, and put in the two AAA batteries, it was then play-ready. It’s available for a great value, $78.99.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

With seven textured, detailed farm animals to arrange and play with, the Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Mini Barn is sure to provide hours of imaginative play for three- to five-year-olds. The two-story barn opens up to reveal multiple rooms for the animals; it also includes a ladder and a foldable corral for containing the animals. We were pleased with the durable construction of the playset and the pieces. The barn has a handle that will let your little one carry the playset easily. We only wish there were a latch to hold the barn shut for easier storage. The barn is available for $35.42.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

Toys for tots ages 2 to 4 are not only entertaining but educational, helping them develop fine motor skills, concentration, dexterity, problem solving, creative play, and imagination. As we looked at a number of toys for children in this age range, we looked for a number of important factors, including:

1. Educational value
2. Durability
3. Easy storage and cleaning
4. Long-lasting play
5. No dangerous parts
6. Fun colors, sounds, and textures
7. Suitability for boys and girls
8. Value for the price

Toys for Children Ages 2-4 Buying Guide

Picking Toys that Help 2- to 4-Year-Old Children Learn and Develop Skills

Toddlerhood is a fun, important stage for your kids. Not only are they walking and talking, but they’re learning new things every day, imitating everything they see, exploring, and developing unique personalities.

Kids of all ages love toys, and toddlers aged two to four are no exception. Not only should toys for tots be safe and entertaining, but they should help kids develop new skills, such as:

• Fine motor skills, like being able to pick up, stack, and balance blocks;
• Dexterity in the hands and fingers;
• Hand-eye coordination as they throw and catch balls;
• Creative play and imagination;
• Recognizing colors, shapes, letters, and numbers;
• Imitating real life as they play make-believe and mimic adult actions;
• Problem solving as they work out puzzles.

There are currently so many toys on the market that it can be overwhelming for parents to know what to buy. Also, you run the risk of overwhelming your kids with too many toys that only get a couple hours of playtime before being forgotten. However, there are some sure-fire toy categories that almost certainly grab and hold toddlers’ attention and allow them to learn as they play.

Toys for the outdoors

As you know, little kids love to run around, and they have seemingly endless energy. Outdoor toys let them work off some of that energy and help them learn balance, coordination, and sports skills. Look for balls they can roll, bounce, and toss. Sports sets made specifically for toddlers will foster a love for popular games like T-ball, soccer, golf, and basketball.

Board games

Toddlers can pick up the basic rules of simple games like Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. With a little parental help, they’ll learn to love working out puzzles, identifying and matching shapes and colors, and taking turns with siblings. Games also help young children’s brain development.

Imitating real-life and make-believe

Toddlers are always observing the world around them, imitating adult actions and behaviors (with mixed reactions from their parents). Many toys let kids pretend to be grown-ups, such as playhouses, kitchen sets, miniature cars, tools, and musical instruments. Not only do your kids love acting like miniature versions of mom or dad, they also develop their imaginations. Creative play makes toddlers ready for learning about the real world when they enter school.

Building and creating toys

Stackable blocks have remained an age-old classic toy for the simple reason that kids love to create and destroy their own towers. Playing with blocks, be they simple wooden pieces or interlocking LEGO blocks, helps toddlers develop dexterity in their fingers, fine motor skills, balance, and hand-eye coordination. Plus, when they knock their cities over, it’s no big deal—they can simply start all over again.

Similarly, artistic toys help children grow creatively. Toddlers love to color, paint, and play with clay, and many new art sets are easy for parents to clean up afterward.

Reading

Toddlers aged two to four have a firmer grasp on language and love being read to. At this age, they’re ready for longer, more engaging storybooks. You can share classic books from your own childhood, such as Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, and Dr. Seuss stories. Children will learn to identify the basic components of the story, such as characters and plot, and they’ll begin to understand the lessons imparted from classic fables and fairy tales. Illustrations also help spark their imaginations.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

There are so many playhouses available, but not many that kids can color and decorate themselves. My Very Own House Cottage is blessedly simple to assemble—it takes just a couple minutest to fold the single-piece cardboard into shape. With reinforced flaps along the bottom, the walls stay up quite well, and the house has an overall durable feel to it. Children can spend hours coloring the walls with the included 8 color markers. It’s the markers, in fact, that pose the only choking risk. Kids 3 and up can have sleepovers and tea parties inside—and even a grown-up can join them comfortably. The playhouse costs $45.99 and comes 97 percent pre-assembled.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

Watch your little ones focus on putting the colorful blocks through the correct hole. With this Fisher-Price block set, they’ll develop dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and identifying skills as they match shapes to the appropriate holes. The pieces are made of durable plastic, clean easily, and fit inside the carrying case for easy storage. Children will learn to concentrate and work out problems, and you’ll see how satisfied they are with themselves when they figure out how the toy works. A simple but classic toy for kids as young as 6 months, this Fisher-Price set is available for $10.95.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

These whimsical Stacrobats from Kushies immediately grab kids’—and their parents’—attention with their unique colors, shapes, and magnetic capabilities. Your children will delight in putting on their own puppet shows and circus performances with the back of the zippered storage bag that doubles as a magnetic stage. The 5 figures and 3 balls connect to each other in dozens of different ways. Kids will also have fun sticking the Stacrobats to other magnetic items, like the refrigerator. The little figures can even “catch” the balls in their hands when you toss it toward them. Parents may find themselves playing with these toys as much as their kids. The set is available for $55.95.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

A company known for its fine craftsmanship when it comes to classic wooden toys, Melissa & Doug made a hit with the wooden sandwich-making set, available for $16.51. The 16 wooden pieces, colorfully painted to look like bread, tomatoes, cheese, and meat, stack together in various ways with Velcro inserts. Kids will get a kick out of “cutting” their sandwiches with the wooden play knife and hearing a crinkling noise from the Velcro. These pieces are essentially stacking blocks but with a fun, creative twist—children always love playing with pretend food, and these pieces foster motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and learning colors, shapes, and counting.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

A classic toy comes back to life with Melissa & Doug’s deluxe 10-piece alphabet blocks. Toddlers will delight in stacking the blocks into a tower as tall as they are—and then knocking it over. Each block side features a colorful illustration with a letter of the alphabet. As toddlers get older, they’ll start to learn the ABC’s and words that begin with each letter. But even when they’re as young as two, they’ll love nesting and stacking and develop their motor skills and coordination. The blocks are constructed of heavy-grade cardboard, which is surprisingly durable and lightweight. The set is available for $10.07.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

A fun toy for the whole family, this Stomp Rocket Jr. kit includes 4 glow-in-the-dark foam rockets that shoot 50 feet when you stomp on the launch pad. Kids as young as 3 will get in on the action. The stand sets up within minutes, and even young children will quickly learn how it works. The foam rockets are lightweight so they won’t hurt anybody, and you can even play indoors (preferably in a den). It’s great having a toy that doesn’t require batteries or complicated assembly. Best of all, kids get to let off a little steam and expel some of their never-ending supply of energy in a fun, creative manner. The Stomp Rocket Jr. is available for $10.04.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

Your little kids will love learning to play golf with this golf set from Little Tikes. The rolling pull cart, 3 balls, driver, putter, and “hole” are made of heavy-duty plastic that will hold up even with rowdy play. Best of all, you can set up the game anywhere—indoors or outdoors—so your children can practice their swing and aim in the fresh air or inside on rainy days. This is a toy that little kids can grow into. Even older children up to 7 will appreciate the golf skills they acquire through practice. Durable and easy to assemble, this TotSports Easy Hit Golf set is available for $49.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

By Brittany Rowland

Bring out your kid’s inner artist with this Easel for Two from Step 2. The red double-sided easel has a magnetic dry erase board on side and a chalkboard on the other. Children can hang up their drawing paper for coloring or painting using the clips. Toddlers and older kids seem to love this easel. The good news is that even if they scribble all over it with markers or crayons, it’s easy to wipe clean. The 74 magnetic letters, numbers, and signs will help older toddlers learn; just be sure to keep them away from kids under 3 who still put toys in their mouth. This easel, available for $41.99, provides hours of fun, creative play and conveniently folds up for easy storage.

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Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany