Toys for
Physical Health
From simple classics like building blocks and push-and-pull toys to more advanced options like balance bikes and climbing structures, these toys support the enhancement of coordination, balance, and motor skills. As children engage with these toys, they're not just having fun; they're actively developing strength and agility in an enjoyable and playful manner, laying a solid foundation for their physical capabilities.
Toys play a crucial role in fostering physical development in children by encouraging movement, coordination, and motor skills. Toys that prompt crawling, walking, and jumping, such as soft play mats with textured surfaces or ride-on toys, aid in muscle development and coordination. Additionally, objects that require manipulation, like puzzles, threading beads, and stacking rings, contribute to refining hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Items like building blocks, ride-on toys, and puzzles stimulate hand-eye coordination and balance while allowing children to explore their spatial awareness and dexterity. Moreover, sports equipment such as balls and trampolines promote strength, agility, and teamwork, instilling healthy exercise habits from a young age. These toys not only provide hours of fun but also lay the foundation for a lifetime of active and healthy living, fostering physical development in a way that is both enjoyable and educational.
Proceed with caution...
When engaging your child in active, physcial play, be sure to consider safety measures to avoid injuries. Precautions, such as safety nets, proper installation, and age-appropriate guidelines, should be strictly enforced to prevent injuries on larger toys. Be sure to only engage in these activities with appropriate adult supervision.
take a look at our top picks for physical health...
Push & Pull Toys
What we like: They encourage mobility and stimulate the development of motor skills, especially in younger toddlers who are just beginning to walk. By pushing or pulling these toys, children engage their muscles, aiding in the development of balance, coordination, and strength. These toys often require the use of both hands, enhancing bilateral coordination. Push toys also assist in refining gross motor skills as kids navigate obstacles or inclines, improving spatial awareness and body control.
Skill targets:
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Gross motor
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Balance
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Coordination
Types of push & pull toys:
Climbing Gyms
What we like: Climbing structures encourage children to engage in full-body movement, enhancing their strength, coordination, and motor skills. By navigating various climbing structures, kids develop muscle strength in their arms, legs, and core, fostering physical fitness and endurance. Climbing also improves balance and spatial awareness, as children learn to navigate and judge distances while ascending and descending. Moreover, these activities help in developing problem-solving skills and risk assessment, as children learn to plan their movements and make decisions about how to safely maneuver through the structure.
Skill targets:
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Muscle development
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Spatial awareness
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Coordination
Types of climbing gyms:
Ride-on Toys
What we like: Scooters, bikes, and toy cars encourage movement and physical activity, providing kids with an opportunity to exercise and develop their gross motor skills. Riding these toys involves the use of leg muscles, enhancing strength and coordination. It promotes balance and spatial awareness as children learn to steer, maneuver, and navigate around obstacles, improving their overall body control. Ride-on toys also encourage outdoor play, which contributes to cardiovascular health, as children engage in physical exercise, strengthen muscles, and burn energy.
Skill targets:
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Gross motor skills
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Spatial awareness
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Whole body coordination
Our favorites:
Rocking Toys
What we like: Toys, such as rocking horses or chairs, engage a child's core muscles as they sway back and forth. This movement helps in developing balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. It also encourages the use of leg muscles, as children push against the ground to create the rocking motion, thereby strengthening their lower body. The rhythmic movement of rocking can have a calming effect, promoting sensory integration and improving focus and attention. Additionally, rocking toys often stimulate imaginative play, fostering cognitive development while also providing a form of physical activity.
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Skills to target:
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Balance
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Coordination
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Muscle strengthening
Types of rockers:
Trampoline
What we like: Trampolines offer a fun way to engage in aerobic exercise, improving cardiovascular health and stamina. Jumping on a trampoline involves a full-body workout, engaging various muscle groups, enhancing strength, flexibility, and coordination. The repeated jumping motion helps in strengthening the legs, core muscles, and improving bone density. It also assists in improving balance and spatial awareness as children learn to control their bodies in mid-air. Furthermore, trampolines offer a low-impact way to exercise, reducing the risk of stress on joints compared to activities like running or playing on hard surfaces.
Skill targets:
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Muscle strengthening
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Balance
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Spatial awareness
Our favorites
Sports Equipment
What we like: soccer balls, basketball hoops, and mini-golf sets facilitate the development of various motor skills and promote an active lifestyle. Children learn fundamental movements like kicking, throwing, catching, and running, improving their coordination, agility, and motor skills. Playing with sports toys introduces kids to the basics of teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship, fostering social skills and cooperation. These toys encourage cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength as children engage in physical exercise. They also contribute to the development of hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Skill targets:
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Whole body coordination
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Gross motor skills
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Hand-eye coordination