Parents today care more than ever about toys that encourage creativity and engagement in their children. Of all the picks here, we feel like the Little Dutch Stacking Rings represent the best of the best when it comes to encouraging open-ended play. These stacking rings are meant to be mixed and matched. They inspire infants and toddlers to move without boundaries, beyond confines of space or time, unlimited by age or size, no wrong way to play.
Parents have been clamoring over the Little Dutch Stacking Rings in Pink. These kids’ favorite toys are available wherever outdoor toys are sold. Available from Natural Baby Shower for £13.56. These tactile, sensory toys are great for infants to help develop motor skills. Parents can head to Scandiborn £15.50, Kiddies Kingdom £18.99 & John Lewis £19.99 for great value, quality playtime for their littles.
The Importance of Open-Ended Play
Open-ended, exploration-focused toys, such as this Little Dutch Stacking Rings, create an environment where children are free to interact and explore how things work. According to Julie Pearson, development manager for the Early Years Alliance, “Play involves interaction between people, so books and toys that involve being with the people they love the most will be an important part of their early development.”
Pearson urges that these types of toys encourage open-ended play, which is a necessary part of development. So really look to see what all it can do and if it’s open-ended – so something like a soft ball that they can roll and throw, or some soft blocks. This will promote babies’ confidence and help them to explore it in a variety of different ways.
It’s the versatility of open-ended toys that give infants the freedom to explore their environment in imaginative ways. As little ones develop, they become eager to stretch out and grab their surroundings. These toys are vital for developing their motor skills and improving their cognitive development.
Selecting Safe and Engaging Toys
As always, safety is the first consideration when selecting toys for babies. Read more about Larissa Hazell, founder of the Childcare Guide and veteran nanny, for 14 years! Her biggest recommendation to parents is to be vigilant about materials used to make toys. “Babies will hit themselves with toys and throw them, so it’s important to choose ones that are soft, or don’t have sharp edges if they’re wooden,” she explains.
Hazell further emphasizes the importance of communication to play. “Crinkly books with stuff dangling off them encourage parents or carers to communicate with the child, talking about how the book feels, the sound it’s making, or the colour of it.” This back-and-forth exchange not only captivates the infant’s attention, but it helps nurture the attachment shared between the developing child and their primary caregiver.
For younger infants aged zero to three months, Pearson suggests focusing on sensory exploration: “For example, books with bold black-and-white images and soft toys that make a crinkle sound when a baby grips or moves them.” These prenatal and perinatal experiences cultivate curiosity and create the foundation for future development.
Engaging Older Infants
As babies move into the six to twelve-month stage, they are more developed in their interactions with toys. They have a greater understanding of cause and effect and start to use their fine motor skills with greater dexterity. Hazell recommends selecting toys that enable manipulation: “Look for toys they can shake, bang, push or pull.”
Pearson also suggests that older infants like to empty and fill things, so it’s a great time to let them explore that. “Older babies who can sit up enjoy emptying and filling things, so look for toys that have the opportunity to put something in and take it back out again,” she suggests. This type of play builds autonomy and helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
To maximize sensory stimulation, Pearson suggests moving brightly colored scarves or ribbons back and forth in a baby’s line of sight. “If you wave scarves, ribbons and things like that across a baby’s eyeline, they’ll start to reach out and grasp them,” she explains.