There’s nothing more frustrating than watching
other toddlers play independently, while your 2 year old clings to your leg and
won’t let you get more than two feet away. Don’t despair! By using toys which are
age-appropriate and will gently encourage their independence, you can take your
first steps towards having a toddler who will happily play alone.
Toys to avoid Some toys are definite No’s if you want to
encourage a 2 year old to be independent. This applies to any toy that is
beyond their current level of development. A child will inevitably need your
help if their toys are too advanced. For this reason, avoid toys such as jigsaws and
puzzles that a 2 year old is likely to need help with, toys that require
supervision for safety reasons or toys which require assembly.
Toys that encourage independence The following toys are the right stage for most
2 year olds. They’re fascinating to this age group and are simple enough for
them to play with alone.
Ball pools 2 year olds love ball palls. They’re safe, fun
and brightly coloured, which fascinates and captures their attention.The Bestway
train-shaped inflatable ball pool is a
fantastic ball pool for 2 year olds. Children can pretend they’re riding in a
train as well as having fun with the balls.
Pretend play toys 2 year olds are just starting to be interested
in pretend play. To encourage a 2 year old to play alone, provide simple
pretend play toys that don’t require adult help. For example toy cars without
any complex accessories, or a doll and pushchair. Show the child how to do a
simple activity such as pushing a car around or putting a doll in a pushchair.
Popular pretend play toys for 2 year olds:
Sorting toys A 2 year old’s mind is getting more and more
organised. They love simple toys that involve sorting things into shapes and
colours.
Popular sorting toys for 2 year olds:
· Leomark
Wooden Farm House Shape Sorter - this is
a fantastic shape sorter because it’s a pretend play toy too. Toddlers can
enjoy putting the animals in the hole that matches their shape, or they can use
them as actual toy animals for twice the fun. Stacking
and sorting rings - 2 year olds will love sorting the rings into
the correct colours and putting them back together. Some 2 year olds will spend
ages concentrating on this toy but only buy it if your 2 year old isn’t the
type who will constantly ask for help. Elephantastic
Wild Animals - a well-made wooden shape board where the 2
year old has to put the animals into the correct shaped space
Push along toys 2 year olds love push and pull along toys. Now
they have mastered the art of walking, they can easily use these toys without
adult help. My favourite is the wooden
push-along lion which is brightly coloured and makes a pleasant
tinkling noise when you push it.
How to encourage 2 year olds to play alone With all the toys I’ve listed above, start by joining
in with the child. Don’t plonk the toy in front of them and expect them to
entertain themselves straight away. Play together at first and give them some
ideas of what to do.
As the 2 year old gets more and more engaged,
gradually decrease your own involvement. Move slightly further away and do your
own thing close by - whether it’s reading a book, using your mobile or doing
housework. If the child asks for you, go back and play
together again. Wait until they’re starting to play on their own again, and
repeat the process. If the child is ready then over time, they will
be able to play on their own for longer periods. You have to stay close at
first, but they will eventually realise how much fun they can have playing on
their own. It’s a slow process and requires lots of patience, but it will be
worth it!
Katie Keith is a Mum and writes the Best
Toys for 2 Year Olds blog. She loves to help other parents to make
informed decisions on choosing the right toys for a 2 year old’s level of
development. Katie lives on Dartmoor in Devon with husband Andy, daughter
Sophia, cat Popple and 4 alpacas.