What you need to know: This play set comes with 7 squishy plastic forest animals and a tall plastic tree.
The idea is to insert the forest friends inside the holes of the tree and remove them. Think of it as a pegboard type toy for toddlers.
Did I mention the animals were squishy?
Why this is even cooler than it looks: First, squeezing the animals develops hand strength in toddlers. Then, inserting the animals into the tree requires children to play on a vertical surface which builds shoulder and wrist stability (basically, an OT’s dream toy), needed for the development of good fine motor skills as children grow. Also, pushing the animals into the slots requires use of both hands together and develops coordination (as one hand holds the tree while the other inserts the animal).
See how my wrist is automatically extended as I push the animals in.
Tip: This is also a great opportunity to teach animal names to toddlers and encourage imaginative play.
You can learn more about this toy and purchase it here.