A parent deals with a constant battle of choosing toys for their toddlers. It is so because toddlers lose interest real quick. Nowadays, phones have added more to the problem. Within minutes children head straight back to their parents asking for phones.Certainly, handing a phone to children keeps them engaged for hours. However, it isn’t the correct way to promote development. But then again, finding toys that genuinely hold a young child’s attention isn’t easy.
6 Jul 2026 | 14:01
What factors did you consider, or would consider, before choosing the right school for your child?
Parenting influencer Sukhleen Aarora was going through the same struggle. But now she has found the right toys for her kids that keeps them busy. According to her, these are the toys her children keep returning to voluntarily because they are fun, challenging and open-ended rather than flashy or overstimulating.Here’s a look at the toys she recommends and why they can support a child’s healthy development along with keeping them engaged.
Hanging bat ball
One of the mom’s top recommendations is the hanging bat ball, a simple toy that keeps children moving without needing much space.The toy consists of a lightweight ball which is attached to a string or cord and hung from the doorway or ceiling. With the plastic bat, the child hits the ball. The ball swings back after every hit, and keeps children chasing the ball.One of the relieving parts for parents is that this toy doesn’t require an adult to be engaged with the toddler. Simple supervision is enough.Beyond keeping children entertained, the hanging bat ball also supports several developmental skills. It helps improve hand-eye coordination, timing, balance, reaction speed, and focus.
Magnet tiles
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This toy is a long term investment for toddler and preschoolers as it evolves as their creativity grows.Magnetic tiles are colourful plastic shapes with magnets sealed inside their edges. Children simply bring two tiles close together, and the magnets snap them into place. As a toddler, a child might stack these tiles like a flat surface and as they grow older, they may even build houses and castles with it.Beyond fun, magnetic tiles can help strengthen a child’s problem-solving, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills.
Mini sports champ
This is perfect for the toddlers with endless energy! A mini basketball and soccer combo can turn that excitement into healthy, skill-building play.The set typically includes a toddler-sized basketball hoop, a small soccer goal, and lightweight balls that are easy for young children to hold, throw, kick and catch.Balance, coordination, hand-eye and foot-eye coordination- this simple toy set can support several aspects of early development.
Story box
A story box is a screen-free audio player filled with nursery rhymes, bedtime stories, mythological tales and educational content. A story box is a child-friendly audio device that plays preloaded content with the press of a button. The mom says she has two versions- a millennial one and one with Gen-Z inspired content.Unlike watching cartoons, listening to stories encourages children to imagine the characters, settings and events in their own minds. This active form of listening helps develop language skills, vocabulary, memory, listening comprehension and attention span.
The dancing mat
The mom says it’s “the best game we’ve ever had.” A dancing mat is an interactive floor mat with coloured spots or pressure-sensitive buttons that light up or play music. As the game begins, children are prompted to step, jump or hop onto the correct spot based on the lights, sounds or voice instructions.This toy can help improve gross motor skills, balance, coordination, body awareness and reaction time in toddlers.
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There are also some other toys the parenting influencer swears by. These include- An activity walker, a whiteboard, a musical white noise machine, and a classic block set.No single toy can keep every toddler engaged, and what works for one child may not work for another. However, one thing stands out from this mom’s recommendations- they are all open-ended toys that encourage children to move, imagine, build, create or listen, rather than simply watch.
