Toys are essential for children. Regardless of their age, toys are designed to provide more than fun and entertainment.
Toys can be used to develop fine motor skills, encourage the awareness of color coordination, help kids to understand and recognize shapes, develop emotional bonds with peers, and so much more.
Aside from the physical and emotional benefits of educational toys, they are also vital for cognitive development.
The key cognitive skills include attention, perception, memory, logical thinking, and the speed of thinking.
Stacking soft blocks are a great way to develop a child’s logical thinking and attention skills.
Each block in this set of 16 pieces comes in a bright color with various indented patterns including fruits, animals, numbers, and shapes. These are designed to encourage a child to explore the shapes and feelings by touch.
Upon testing this product, we found that the soft silicone material of the blocks is non-toxic and BPA-free, meaning that they also double up as good chew toys for curious little ones.
Pros
Memory skills - Encourages color and shape association
Child-safe - Safe for chewing and teething
Other skills - Improves balance and coordination
Cons
Not water-safe - When submerged in water, it might linger in the blocks after
1 year olds spend a lot of time crawling on their tummies. This mirror toy encourages the strengthening of muscles during “tummy time” by its eye-catching bright visuals designed to improve visual development.
The toy folds in a multitude of ways, including into a cloth book and a mirror with dangling chew toys.
When we tested this product, we found that 1 year olds were fascinated by their reflection in the mirror, thus developing a perception of themselves.
Pros
Encourages crawling - Improves strengthening of arm and leg muscles
Versatile - Folds into a cloth book and mirror
Bright colors - Improves visual development
Cons
Mirror - Keep in mind that the mirror is plastic (not glass)
One of the best ways to develop cognitive skills like working and visual memory is with color matching games.
This Kidzlane toy features 12 eggs in a cartoon that contain colors and corresponding peg holes for kids to attach and remove.
Not only does this improve color recognition and logical thinking, but it also helps develop fine motor skills through hand and wrist movements.
When testing this product, we found that 1 year olds benefit most from the color recognition. Thanks to the sturdiness of the toy, it’s built to last several years.
Pros
Color recognition - Eggs contain colors to encourage matching skills
Long-lasting - Kids can grow and develop with this toy for a few years
Fine motor skills - Develops hand and wrist movements
Cons
Take practice - 1 year olds will take time detaching and attaching the eggs
Cognitive development doesn’t stop at visual memory. Auditory memory is essential for 1 year olds, because not only do kids learn through sounds, but it gives parents an idea of any potential hearing disabilities.
These baby rattle toys are ideal for encouraging children to associate sounds with shapes and feelings, thus improving their logical thinking.
Upon testing this product, we discovered that these rattle toys are also essential for assisting fine motor skills thanks to the various grips and textures.
Pros
Auditory memory - Toys produce different sounds
Eye-tracking - Colors and shapes improve visual skills
Fine motor skills - Various textures and grips encourage strengthening of hands
Cons
Not long-lasting - Longevity of rattle toys is shortened as kids age
Encouraging focused attention is a key factor in cognitive development.
The Fisher-Price activity gym works to keep babies distracted with the whimsical woodland creature toys hanging from the gym, all of which are linkable and feature their own activities.
Some play music, some make sounds, and others are just for exploring and playing.
When testing this product, we found that this was an ideal way to do chores around the house while your child plays and develops a bunch of skills.
Pros
Improves focus - Keeps children focused and distracted
Portable - Can be folded and transported easily
Stimulate senses - Bright colors, sounds, music, and textures to develop fine motor skills and cognitive development
Cons
Thin mat - Put padded blanket under the mat for comfort
The best age for a child to start playing with a shape sorter is 12 months, as it encourages them to recognize shapes, colors, and textures.
Not only is this great for fine motor skills, but it’s ideal for cognitive development such as logical thinking, focused attention, and visual perception.
As the child grows alongside the toy, it also helps to improve sequential memory.
When testing this toy, we found that children enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when they matched the right shapes.
Pros
Encourages recognition - Helps kids become familiar with shapes and colors
Sequential memory - Practice and focus encourages children to recall what shapes go where
Accomplishment - Users feel pride when they succeed
Cons
Lid doesn’t close - Lack of closing mechanism means the box can’t be turned over
Suitable for babies between 6-36 months old, the Melissa & Doug Bug Jug encourages kids to explore nature by filling their see-through jug with an array of bug toys.
This toy is designed to improve creativity, awareness of different bugs, and kindness to animals. Plus, each toy has its own texture and sound to improve audio awareness.
When testing this product, we found that this is a highly entertaining toy for kids and works as a great distraction while traveling.
Pros
Encourages creativity - Kids have freedom to name bug toys and play with them separately from the jug
Sensory play - Toys are multi-textured and have their own noises
Fine motor skills - Encourages children to put bugs in and out of jug
Cons
Small opening - Kids will need to use some force to push the bug through opening
Wooden jigsaw puzzles for toddlers are a brilliant way to start your 1-year-old’s fine motor skills, memory, perception, and color and shape recognition.
This product comes with 6 puzzles featuring various patterns and colors, which can also be balanced upright out of its jigsaw block to promote balance and hand-eye coordination.
When we tested this product, we discovered that it can take a while for some 1 year olds to learn how the jigsaw puzzle works, but it’s a good introduction to puzzles and logical thinking.
Pros
Fine motor skills - Improves hand-eye coordination and balance
Range of cognitive skills - Improves logical thinking, visual recognition, memory, and perception
Nice challenge - Provides a focus-based challenge with satisfying results
Cons
Takes practice - Some 1 year olds might struggle with the puzzles at first
Wooden bead mazes are a great way to encourage 1 year olds and toddlers to develop their fine motor skills by gripping, pushing, and moving beads across rollercoaster-like wires.
This Melissa & Doug bead maze is ideal for 1 year olds, as it only features 3 wires to prevent overcomplicating the game. Plus, the maze develops cognitive skills like color and shape recognition.
When we tested this product, we found that it was particularly useful for encouraging sustained attention and logical thinking.
Pros
Good age suitability - Not too over complicated for 1 year olds
Maintains focus - Keeps children focused and occupied
Encourages recognition - Improves color and shape recognition
This pelican toy involves opening the squeaky bill and dropping four little plush animal toys into its mouth.
Once “swallowed”, the animals drop directly into the pelican’s belly, where kids can reach in and start the process again. This repetitive activity is ideal for developing recognition and sequential memory.
When we tested this product, we discovered that once a child has mastered the art of dropping animals into the mouth, they will get creative and use other objects, too.
Pros
Repetitive activity - Improves sequential memory
Encourages creativity - Kids can use other toys and objects too
Multisensory - Each toy has its own texture and sound
Cons
Doesn’t sit upright - Might need an extra hand pushing the toys through bill
These foam building blocks allow children to do just that. With 12 soft blocks in various bright colors, kids have the freedom to build whatever they like with the big blocks - whether it’s pairing them with the same color or building a structure as tall as they can.
Upon testing this product, we noticed that toddlers specifically enjoyed pairing colors together with the blocks and other objects around them.
Pros
Color recognition - Large foam blocks come in bright and recognizable colors
Stacking rings are an excellent way to strengthen hand and wrist muscles, improve hand-eye coordination, and encourage children to recognize shapes and sizes.
Each ring in this stack of circles comes with its own vibrant color, pattern, texture, and weight - all of which are suitable for teething.
Upon testing this product, we found that children felt a sense of accomplishment after completing the age-appropriate challenge.
Pros
Fine motor skills - Strengthens hand and wrist muscles
Good challenge - Provides kids with sense of accomplishment
This light-up game is ideal for developing cognitive skills. It’s not just a simple light-up-and-hit-the-button game - instead, it comes with a variety of activities to improve color and number recognition as well as memory and concentration.
When children feel accomplished by getting something right, they strive to do it again, and again, and again.
When we tested this product, we found that it encouraged children to focus on nothing but the game.
Pros
Improves memory - Patterns get longer as the game progresses
Focus-based - Encourages kids to keep attention to the colors and lights
Leap Frog is one of the leading children’s toy brands, and for good reason.
Not only is this musical table great for improving audio perception, visual memory, and fine motor skills, but it also comes with the option to play on the floor or standing up.
Plus, it comes with a range of activities, such as alphabet and number games that can be used as the child ages.
When we tested this product, we found that the option to stand up helps to strengthen the leg muscles and improve balance.
Pros
Various activities - Lots of noises, sounds, and music to explore
Reputable brand - Made by a popular and trustworthy child’s toy brand
Strengthening - Improves leg muscles and balance when standing
Cons
Lightweight - So lightweight that it can slip on the floor unless put on a carpet
This pop-up game features four adorable animals that can be popped in and out of their colorful homes by the dress of a button. Each button is pressed, pulled, or flipped differently to allow for versatility.
This game is ideal for encouraging logical thinking and memorization skills in 1 year olds.
Upon testing this product, we discovered that children were also subsequently learning about cause and effect from making the animals appear and disappear.
Pros
Encourages logical thinking - Teaches children about cause and effect
Versatile - Each button has its own activity, providing a fun challenge
Portable - Good distraction while traveling
Cons
Stay with child - Keep an eye on child to prevent trapped fingers
For a 1-year-old to understand cause and effect, they need a repetitive toy.
This Playskool giraffe spinning toy consists of a child pressing the head of the giraffe to make the colorful balls pop and swirl inside.
This is to encourage children to understand that their actions can make other things happen. Plus, the silly popping balls are highly entertaining for them!
When we tested this product, we found that this toy also encouraged kids to stand up or use their muscles in tummy time to reach the head of the giraffe.
Pros
Enjoyable game - Very entertaining and giggle-worthy
Cause and effect - Encourages kids to understand their actions have consequences
Promotes standing or stretching - Strengthens muscles
In a world of technology and endless devices, your 1-year-old is bound to get curious. If you’re not comfortable giving them your phone to play with, satisfy their curiosity with a baby toy phone!
This baby toy phone is a digital learning toy that plays certain sounds and songs when buttons are pressed, which is good for pattern association and distraction.
When we tested this product, we found that it was the ideal way to distract your child and help them join in when parents are on the phone.
Pros
Great distraction - Keeps children busy while you do tasks and work
Pattern association - Encourages memorizing what patterns make what noises
Good for curious kids - Safely introduces them into a world of devices
Stacking games that involve bright colors and distinctive shapes are ideal for 1 year olds.
This stacking toy is designed to challenge children in a fun and satisfying way by encouraging them to stack multiple shapes into their corresponding pegs.
This is ideal for improving memory, perception, logical thinking, and hand-eye coordination.
When testing this product, we discovered that children also played with the shaped blocks separately, adding to the versatility of the product.
Pros
Montessori method - Designed to teach kids through play
Nice challenge - Sense of accomplishment when a shape is put in the right pegs
Improves recognition - Bright colors and clear shapes improve recognition
Cons
Loose pegs - After constant use, the pegs might come loose
They have to press the middle ball of the inchworm for it to move, which is highly entertaining for little ones who crawl after it.
This toy also features music and lights to stimulate the sight and sound senses.
Upon testing this product, we found that the toy can move on virtually any surface (including carpets and hardwood floors), making it suitable to bring anywhere.
Pros
Cause and effect - Encourages children to understand what their actions mean with this toy
Lots of fun - Encourages kids to crawl and play with the toy
Stimulate senses - Music and lights improve visual and auditory senses
Cons
Volume - lack of volume button means no control over noise levels
It’s never too early to get your child interested in reading! 12 books come in this bundle of soft and padded books, with each one being based on a different topic.
While a couple of the books might be too advanced for a 1-year-old (such as the vehicle book), others are far more appropriate (colors and shapes), and your child can grow up with them.
When we tested this product, we found that the range of topics and books allowed for endless fun.
Pros
Kid-friendly - Soft and padded material is safe for teething and don’t dangerous
Multiple topics - Range of books allows for kids to advance to other topics
Visual stimulation - Bright colors and simple designs allows for visual recognition
Cons
Incomplete sets- Some reviewers have said the bundle arrived incomplete
Every kid loves animal toys. This puppy toy is not only cute, but it works to build gross motor skills and cognitive development through cause and effect actions.
Children can push and pull buttons and cords to make the puppy produce music and sounds. Visually, this toy is bright and vivid thanks to its distinctive coloration and light-up nose.
Upon testing this product, we discovered that the sound is crisp and at a good volume, which is ideal for auditory stimulation.
Pros
Cause and effect - Encourages kids to remember what else function does
Versatile - Lots of things to push and pull
Colorful - Light and color stimulates visual development
Cons
Short cord - Cord is quite short to pull the dog around
Music is one of the best ways for a child to develop cognitive skills. It’s a matter of cause and effect - if you hit this thing, it makes this corresponding sound.
This music bench is multifunctional with a pull-out xylophone and bouncing balls that can be played together or separately.
When we tested this product, we found that the multifunction nature of the toy encourages kids to play for longer periods.
Pros
Multifunctional - Kids can play music, fetch balls, or push balls through the holes
Skill-building - Improves hand-eye coordination, cause and effect, and dexterity
Audio recognition - Music helps children understand sounds and notes
Cons
Loud - There’s no volume button, so be prepared for a lot of banging
Kids love to copy their parents, even when cleaning! Soothe their curiosity with this learning vacuum, which encourages your child to complete the vacuuming action of pushing and pulling while providing songs and phrases for your child to copy.
The settings are easily controlled by large and colorful buttons for your child to explore.
When we tested this product, we found that 1-year-olds were well-versed in the vacuuming action after having seen their parents do the same in real life.
Pros
Multifunctional - Both physical and mental benefits
Easy to control - Big buttons and switches are simple for your child to explore and adjust
Audio and visual recognition - Bright colors and music to stimulate sight and hearing senses
Cons
Small - Kids will outgrow the vacuum as they get older
Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. Through teaching, I have discovered that children learn in many different ways, and have seen the positive impact both STEM and Montessori toys have on children.
Through this site I hope to educate parents and adults about these toys, providing them with useful information on how they can be used, and provide some in depth reviews of different toys to consider too.
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