Preschool Toys to Encourage Thinking Skills

Buckley Boo comes in both monkey and lion forms. These two cuddley friends pictured are 12 inches high and have three buckles on ribbon straps to match, buckle, and unbuckle. The company also makes a larger 18 inch version of each which has five straps to buckle.

Children learn skills in steps with their Buckley Boo stuffy. First they must match polka dot strap to polka dot strap, stripe strap to stripe strap and large dot strap to large dot strap. They then learn to unbuckle the straps in side by side play with the adult who can buckle the straps for them. By about three years old, the child has enough strength in the fingers to buckle and unbuckle independently.

This game can keep them busy for a while as they buckle and unbuckle straps. Little Buckley Boo can be buckled into a (pretend) car seat or stroller or high chair or shopping cart. The child uses fine motor, problem solving, and matching skills in playing with this toy.

Besides, Buckley Boo makes a fine stuffy friend to cuddle and love.

How Do I Encourage Preschool Learning?

For a little child, every moment is new and filled with possibilities. Kids seem to be programmed to learn right from the start. They are curious and want to try new things. Parents and caregivers can help nudge them in the right direction by providing little ones with things to play with that encourage and stimulate growth.

Of course, you don't have to rush out and buy new gadgets to help kids develop their minds. There are lots of things right in your own home and yard that can stimulate their little brains to grow. But maybe you want to get a gift for a grandchild or a friend's child or something special for your own little someone. That's why I have gathered these ideas on this page. They are all toys that have educational value but are appealing to lots of kids for a variety of reasons.

They are all fun to play with.

Preschool Learning with Patterns, Colors, Matching, Counting, and Categorizing

This set of lacing beads by Melissa and Doug are made in bright colors that will appeal to the eye. Their wooden construction feels good in the hands and are a nice size for a child to hold. 

Lacing beads is a skill a preschool-aged child needs to learn to develop good hand-eye coordination. You can also play matching games and patterning games with your child using these wooden beads.

Make a pattern of different colored beads on your shoelace and see if your child can match the pattern. Then let the child take the lead and create a color and shape pattern which you match on your string. Your child can get practice learning colors and counting (2 blue, 1 yellow, 3 red, etc). Practicing with patterns and categorizing (putting all the same colors together in the box when finished playing) set the stage for mathematical thinking.

This is a simple toy that encourages some very good thinking skills.

Preschool Learning Develops Spatial Skills, Logic, Matching, and More!

Kids need blocks! A quality set of wooden blocks provide years of open-ended play for kids. Children find so many ways to adapt a set of blocks for what they need for imaginative play. There are no right and wrong ways to play with blocks, and blocks are so good at providing experience with spatial thinking and three dimensional measuring. 

Melissa and Doug's set of wooden blocks are a great start for a set that will be passed down in your family.

Here's another suggestion for a creative gift idea: an apron printed with a recipe for playdough or for dryer lint clay. These aprons come from one of my Zazzle stores called "Recipes for Fun."

They would make a welcome gift for anyone who works with kids or for kids who like to play with playdough themselves. Having a handy recipe right where you need it can be useful.

If you know someone who struggles with laundry or complains about the lint trap always being full, this dryer lint recipe could either be a good joke gift or a useful suggestion, depending on the person receiving it.

I hope you have found a toy on this page that you and your child will enjoy playing with together. Your involvement with your child is the most important thing for both of you. The relationship you share, built up over time, is what will best ensure your child's reaching the heights to which he or she can go. No toy can replace that relationship!

But toys can be tools to help the process.

Have fun, and give that little one a special hug!

Preschool Science Activities
Projects to do with young kids.

Children Learn Through Play
Ideas on children and play.

Supporting Early Math Skills
How to help your child with numbers and pre-math fun.

Projects for Recycling Milk Cartons
Ideas for making things with recycled milk cartons.