Since my work often brings me into the homes of young children, I can’t help but notice some obvious similarities from toybox to toybox. Many families tend to select the same common toys for their children. Their intentions, of course, are always positive – They aim to select toys that appear to be enjoyable filled with tons of colors and activities. While these toys can typically be relatively good options in theory, the most commonly found toys are often not your best bet. Good quality toys usually require a bit of digging. Let me explain…
Please note: I am a participant of the Amazon Services Associates Program and have included “affiliate links” for all the toys. This means that when you click the pictures or links provided and make a purchase, I receive a small commission on the toy at no extra cost to you. You can read more about the Amazon Associates Program here.
Just because a toy is widely available in stores, doesn’t necessarily make it the most worthwhile option. For example, take a look at the common shape sorter below. If you’ve been around kids, you’ve likely seen it. It’s everywhere! It even comes up first in search results. However, I did some research and would like to present you with alternative options that I feel are more beneficial for a child’s growth and development.
This shape sorter (below) by Big Jigs, is beautifully made with calm and soothing colors. Here kids can also practice matching by color not just shape. The wooden pieces also have a little more weight than plastic, making it great for encouraging motor skills and coordination when stacking. It’s also great, because here kids can actually understand the concept of matching instead of using a trial and error approach since the shapes remain visible at the top.
This option by BeginAgain is the triple-threat of shape sorters. When laying flat, it can be used as a traditional sorter to practice shapes and matching. Each piece also offers the added feature of having the color written across the front, which can help children begin to identify those words and relate them to each shade. When you stand the sorter up, it also acts as a fun balancing game, which is helpful with keeping a child’s attention and encouraging problem solving, coordination, and fine motor skills.
This one is a bit more challenging, because it doesn’t have the matching colors on the bottom to provide visual cues. Children have to rely solely on their recognition of each shape in order to make the right matches. It is beautifully made with a clear design free of extra distractions.
This is another great one for beginners that offers the traditional shape and color matching benefits. I also appreciate that children are encouraged to scan a large surface area for the correct spots, promoting visual attention and concentration. This one also offers a bin underneath to neatly collect the pieces as they drop in.
This shape sorter is a wonderful option in that it’s slightly more difficult and offers an extra challenge. This goes beyond the average beginner-level sorter and requires children to turn the cube around to find the right match. They should already have an understanding of how to use a shape sorter, and then they can graduate to an option like this one that will help them practice sorting and shape recognition in a more challenging way. It is well made and not overly distracting, which gives kids an opportunity to focus more closely on the task at hand.
As always, these are only a few suggestions. There are really so many wonderful and unique shape sorters out there, and you’re encouraged to look around for new options that speak most to you and offer what your child needs.