‘Tis the season!

Hope everyone enjoys some turkey tomorrow for Thanksgiving and THEN it’s time to start shopping for presents and soaking up the holiday season! I’m sure a lot of you are faster than me and have already started shopping lol. Anyway, I’m here to guide you on what to look for when shopping for toddlers aka the tiny humans! 🙂

What to consider: toys with batteries vs. toys without batteries

If you’ve been following my IG page for a while, you’ll know that I am NOT a fan of “high-tech” toys, specifically the ones that claim to be ‘educational’. You know, the ones that make annoying sounds, flash with lights, recite the alphabet/numbers. No thanks!

I will always choose a toy without batteries. Why? Toys without batteries promote increased communication & allow for your child to actually use their imagination. When toys are already making noises/sounds (all the while being super overwhelming), there is no need for the child to attempt to make the sounds on their own. The toy has already decided how it should be played with, BUT a toy without batteries is much more open ended and allows a child to really be creative in their play!

What to remember: children learn best through play

…And sitting in front of an iPad or “educational app/toy” is not considered play. Our little ones learn best IN CONTEXT with real life experiences and play experiences that are meaningful to them. Is learning letters, numbers, shapes, & colors important? Yes, BUT for our little ones who are still learning how to communicate, these are not the priority. What is the priority? Functional words that help them to get their wants and needs met (i.e. “help”, “all done”, “ouch”, “yes/no”, “uh oh”, “more snacks”).

Personally, I think “more snacks” is the most important – girls gotta eat lolz.

Where to shop:

HomeGoods & T.J. Maxx have great toy/book sections with discounted prices too! They carry a lot of Melissa & Doug toys (the ULTIMATE).

I have also linked all of my favorite brands, toys, and books in my Amazon storefront which you can find by clicking HERE. Go to the section that says “Holiday Gift Guide for Toddlers”. Woohoo!!

I know the holidays can be tough with all of the spending. Just remember toddlers LOVE to keep it simple – a book, little puzzle, homemade sensory box, pots/pans, a cardboard box LOL so we don’t really have to go super fancy either!

Whatever you decide to get your little ones, there are SO many ways to play, no worries! Hope you all enjoy the holidays, stay safe, and have fun! I’ll be spending it with Joe (fiancé), Josh (pup), family, and good friends. Grateful for it all!

With love & good health,

~Tiffany 🙂