Toys that get active toddlers to sit & play
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If you have a busy toddler like me, you know it takes a special toy to get them to sit and play. Fun fact- there’s actually a science to this. Proprioceptive input (an overlooked 6th sense that supplies feedback on body awareness and muscle movements through movements, like pushing and pulling) provides regulating and calming feedback to the nervous system. Giving our little ones play opportunities with proprioceptive input helps them get those sensory needs met. It’s common to see lots of lists of gross motor activities that meet these needs (Check my list out here). Proprioceptive input needs can also be met while engaging with toys. Here’s my favorite toys to meet those sensory needs and hold even the most active toddler’s attention:
Kinetic sand allows our kiddos to push, pull, and squeeze while sitting and playing. It’s as mesmerizing for me as it is for them.
Pretend play is an important skill that develops during the toddler years. It can be especially challenging for our active kiddos to sit and develop play schemes when their sensory needs are not met. Carrying weighted stuffed animals can provide that input within our play. At our house, my toddler gives our weighted puppy rides on his back or carries him in a bag as part of the imaginative play. This extra weight can be just enough to keep kids engaged longer because they are getting that needed sensory feedback.
Squigz are a super cool suction cup toy that are great for bringing along to restaurants, car rides, and waiting rooms. They stick to just about any hard surface and allow our active toddlers to focus their energy on pulling them apart.
I often help families brainstorm what toys they already have that provide proprioceptive input. We look around at their toys and find the ones that require pushing and pulling to start challenging attention to play. Mr. Potato Head is one of the most common toys we identify. It’s a great budget-friendly fine motor and visual motor challenge, and the body parts require extra force to push into place.
Bath toys are one of my favorite ways to start addressing seated play for extra active toddlers because water in the bath already provides proprioceptive input. By using bath toys where we can scoop, dump, and pour, we’re providing extra opportunities for sensory needs to be met.
Play doh works in the same way kinetic sand does. We get to push, pull, roll, squeeze, and pinch, all while endless pretend play opportunities exist.
Blocks are great for building fine motor and visual motor skills. Toddlers need practice with balance, aligning, and problem solving. Bristle blocks press together and require extra force to pull apart. They can also build confidence if your active toddler is discouraged by their impulsivity in knocking over the free standing blocks.
Rollers and stamps can give more opportunities to get proprioceptive input while playing with sand or play doh. These are a great tool to bridge between open-ended free play and toddlers who need more suggested ways to play without having to tell them exactly how to play.
Shovels and buckets for outdoor sand and dirt work in the same way. The more weight they are moving, the more proprioceptive input they receive.
These pulley tubes are a favorite of mine to start providing proprioceptive input at any stage of development. They seem too good to be true because all you do is pull them apart and push them together. They make a silly noise that is just enough to keep our little friends coming back for more.
These matching dinosaurs (also come in farm animals for my Old McDonald loving friends) are a great way to pair cognitive challenges (color matching) with motor challenges (aligning the pegs) while providing proprioceptive input. Added bonus to add in some pretend play once you’ve put them all together!
All types of tongs are a great motor challenge as toddlers work toward figuring out scissors. I usually pair this with other small toys to transfer and sort between containers.
Congratulations if you have read this far. This might be the best toy on the list. Every single one of my patients have loved this STEM treasure toy from about 18 months and up (basically any child who doesn’t put toys in their mouth anymore- I have also removed a few pieces to play with those who do still mouth toys). This toy has it all- color matching, shape recognition, pretend play, fine motor, visual motor, strengthening, coordinating both hands together, and lots of sensory input. Kids use the hammer to line up and open the treasures. It’s a unique toy that really checks all the boxes.
Just like blocks but with the added sensory input when pulling them apart. Everyone is fascinated by magnet play, and these Magnatiles are a great, safe way for toddlers to explore.
Pop beads come in all sorts of shapes. Just like the name suggests, they POP together by pushing and pulling.
