| Your baby has grown and developed in an exciting | | | | many books that feature pop up pages, lights and |
| little person who is ready to explore the world. While | | | | sounds attached to the book and some even have |
| children who are two or three years old are not | | | | tactile pages allowing little hands to caress the tiger |
| ready to take on complex tasks, choosing the right | | | | or feel the softness of a baby blanket on the pages |
| toys for them can help them develop the skills that | | | | of the book. Children this age will be entranced with |
| will prepare them. Parents need to keep in mind that | | | | the special effects that are possible in today's books. |
| this is a time of rapid change and an increasing need | | | | Interactive books can be highly entertaining for kids |
| for independence for their child and they will want to | | | | ages two and three and get them ready to move on |
| choose toys that will allow those skills to further | | | | to pre reading books. |
| develop. So whether you are the parent of a two to | | | | Hop on or ride-on toys- While some three year olds |
| three year old or someone looking for a great gift, | | | | may be ready to ride a tricycle, most kids in this age |
| here are some ideas for the best gift toys for ages | | | | group will do better with a hop-on or ride-on toy. |
| two to three- | | | | Since two to three year olds tend to be highly active |
| Arts and crafts- Children who are in this age group | | | | and looking for ways to develop gross motor skills, a |
| will look on arts and crafts with a high degree of | | | | hop-on ball can be a great gift. In addition, this type |
| enthusiasm. They are eager to be creative and doing | | | | of toy helps them develop better coordination as |
| arts and crafts can help them further develop better | | | | they work to balance themselves while hopping. |
| coordination and motor skills and help them gain | | | | Ride-on toys tend to work well also as kids will have |
| better visual perception. You can provide them with | | | | to learn how to push themselves while steering (and |
| the opportunity to do arts and crafts through the | | | | working on visual perception by not running into |
| use of paints and brushes (watercolors work best | | | | things). Best of all, these types of toys help prepare |
| for this age group), markers, crayons and colored | | | | them for riding a tricycle and bike in the coming |
| pencils. Many art kits are put together with a variety | | | | years. |
| of art materials in a handy carrying case so that any | | | | Take apart toys- While most two to three years will |
| youngster wanting to do art can carry all of their | | | | be somewhat interested in building, there seems to |
| materials with them. Parents are cautioned however | | | | be universal love in this age group for taking toys |
| when selecting all art materials to make sure that | | | | apart. Now there are several toys that are meant to |
| they are non-toxic since this age group still has a | | | | do just that-come apart. These toys are designed to |
| tendency to put things in their mouths. | | | | come apart in easy to remove pieces that help |
| Books- Children this age are highly entertained by | | | | satisfy a two to three-year old's curiosity and |
| books. Today's children's books have beautiful | | | | creativity. Parents can find these toys in various |
| illustrations with well written stories to hold the | | | | shapes: airplanes, cars, trains and even telephones. |
| shortest of attention spans. However if you wish to | | | | You can simply choose the style of toy that will |
| up the "wow factor" on your book gift, there are | | | | delight your two or three-year old the most. |