Best Educational Toys for 3-12 Month Olds

Finding suitable toys for babies can be fun and challenging, especially if you want them to have fun and learn simultaneously. Here is a list of the most recommended teaching toys for babies between 3 and 12 months. These toys are made to help them reach important developmental stages, making playtime a time for learning and growing.

Toys for 3-6 Months

• Monty Black and White Card Set 
• The high contrast between the black and white patterns helps stimulate their visual cortex and promotes visual tracking. This visual stimulation supports the development of their visual perception, focus, and attention to detail. 
• Monty All-Natural Bunny Rattle 
• It nurtures your baby's auditory perception and cognitive development. The gentle rattling sound produced when shaken engages their auditory senses, helping them develop their ability to differentiate sounds and refine their listening skills. It also supports their cognitive growth by promoting cause-and-effect understanding as they learn that their actions produce specific sounds. 
  
• Monty Tummy Time Panda 
• It fosters your baby's cognitive growth and problem-solving abilities. As they observe the Panda's movements and try to grasp them, they develop their depth perception, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination. Trying to manipulate the wobbler also encourages their critical thinking skills and persistence. 
  
• The Monty Playgym 
• This will grow with your baby for a full year of play, from tummy time to sitting up and beyond. It's made with sustainable materials that are safe for babies, durable, and good for the environment. This is a piece that you can pass down through generations. 
  

Toys for 6-9 Months

• Monty Silicone Stacking Cups 
• This is an excellent way for babies to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. As they grasp and manipulate the cups, they refine their finger movements and develop their dexterity. Stacking the cups one on top of another enhances their hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness, laying the foundation for future tasks requiring precise movements. 
  
• Monty Ball Pit 
• Babies can learn and grow in many ways by playing in ball pits. They improve their fine motor and hand-eye coordination by picking up and moving balls. These skills are important for writing and feeding themselves in the future. At the same time, they create a multi-sensory setting that can either calm or excite an infant by stimulating their tactile, visual, and proprioceptive senses. When babies play in ball pits with their friends, they learn to share and talk to each other. Also, they can be places where infants can play games that help them learn to count, recognize colors, and solve problems. 
  

Toys for 9-12 Months

• Monty Jellyfish
• As babies stretch and play with it, they improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Its form lets them explore their senses; the parts they have to put together help their brain. This toy also helps infants use their imaginations, build resilience through skill, and feel good about themselves as they explore independently. 
• Monty Instruments Set
• Babies' growth improves in many ways when they play with musical instruments. They improve motor skills, help them hear better, and boost thinking skills like recognizing patterns. Also, they give infants ways to be creative, teach them social skills like sharing, and help them develop their senses and speaking skills through rhythm and touch. 

10 Steps to Engage with Babies Using These Educational Toys?

Giving a baby a toy and letting them play with it isn't the only way to play with toys. It's about interacting, bonding, and making the most of what the toy can do for growth. Here's how to make the most of your time playing with your child:

1. Be Present and Interactive: Sit with them and get to their eye level. Talk to them about each toy and show them how to use it. Your words, facial expressions, and touch significantly add to their learning.
2. Follow Their Lead: Babies are born to find out about the world. Watch what toys they like and let them decide how to play. It's okay if they don't play with the toy "correctly." It's what they find and what they find out that matters.
3. Narrate the Play: As your baby plays with a toy, talk about what they are doing. Say something like, "You put the blue block on top of the red one!" if they are building blocks. This helps them improve their speaking skills and helps them remember what they are doing.
4.  Give Challenges: Once they have figured out how to play with a toy in a certain way, give a new challenge gently. This could mean showing them how to use it differently or adding something new to the game.
5.  Use the toy to start a conversation: Even if your baby can't talk yet, ask them things they can answer in any way they want. "Where should the teddy bear go?" "What sound does this animal make?" These questions get them to think more deeply and use their brains.
6.  Show and tell: Babies learn by copying what adults do. If they don't know how a new toy works, show them. You could shake a rattle, move a car, or put a puzzle piece in the right place. But you should always let them try it out for themselves.
7. Ensure Safety: Always make sure the toys are suitable for their age. Check it often for wear and tear and ensure no loose parts or things can be swallowed.
8. Celebrate Your Baby's Successes: Whether your baby puts the right shape in a shape sorter or gets a toy to make a sound, let him or her know how proud you are. This gives them more confidence and drive.
9. Changing Toys: Babies can get bored with the same toys every day. Change their toys daily to keep them interested and provide new learning and physical experiences.
10. End on a Good Note: Always end playtime on a good note, even if that means stopping your baby before he or she gets too upset with a stiff toy. This makes sure they'll want to play with the toy again later.

Safety Tips for Playtime

Your baby must have a safe place to play. Accidents can happen quickly, but most can be avoided by being careful. Here are some important safety tips that will let you play without worrying:

1. Check Toys Often: Toys should be checked often for signs of wear and tear. Watch out for sharp edges, broken parts, or things that could get stuck in their throat, especially if the toy has small parts.
2. Avoid Small Choking Hazards: Infants should not be given toys with small parts that could be eaten. Generally, a toy can be dangerous if it can fit inside a toilet paper roll.
3. Materials that aren't harmful: Make sure toys are made of non-harmful materials. Look for signs that say this, like "BPA-free" on toys made of plastic or "non-toxic" on crayons and paints.
4. Sturdy: Choose toys that won't break or split easily, especially if your child likes to throw or hit their toys.
5. Secure Batteries: If a toy needs batteries, ensure the battery box is locked with screws so that curious little hands can't open it. If batteries, especially button batteries, are swallowed, they can be very dangerous.
6. Avoid Toys That Are Too Loud: Some toys can be very loud and could hurt your child's ears. Your baby probably feels the same way if you think a toy is too loud.
7. Soft Landing: Playmats or soft rugs can help protect babies when they fall. Make sure the play area doesn't have any sharp edges or corners.
8. Supervision is Important: Always watch your child when playing, especially if they are trying something new or playing with their bigger siblings' toys.

Conclusion

Choosing the appropriate educational toys to stimulate your child's growth and curiosity is one of the most important decisions you will make as you embark on the path of parenthood.

As your child explores and learns more about the world with each passing day, it becomes increasingly important to provide them with tools that not only engage them but also support their holistic development. We've attempted to shed light on the relevance of age-tailored toys through this blog in the hopes of simplifying your decision process.

You're not just picking toys when you work with Monty Toys; you're investing in your child's formative years of exploration and enlightenment. We are your allies in nourishing your child's early learning journey, dedicated to providing products that enlighten, motivate, and delight.

So, as you enjoy every moment of your little adventurer's growth, know that by choosing Monty Toys, you're providing them with the best-stepping stones to a vast expedition of knowledge and wonder.