Engaging in the activity of putting in and taking out toys offers significant developmental advantages for 12-18 month olds. This simple yet captivating playtime ritual enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as toddlers grasp and manipulate toys, promoting their physical dexterity.
Furthermore, the process encourages cognitive growth by introducing fundamental concepts of cause and effect, fostering logical thinking and problem-solving abilities as they experiment with various ways to fit toys into containers.
In addition to motor and cognitive benefits, this activity nurtures essential social and emotional skills. Playing alongside caregivers or peers cultivates social interaction and cooperation through turn-taking and sharing.
As toddlers explore different sizes and shapes of toys, they develop spatial awareness and an understanding of order and organization. Through this process, they gain a sense of accomplishment, fostering self-esteem and independence while sparking imaginative thinking and creative exploration.
Top pick
Rtlvio Montessori Toys
If you’re looking for a toy that can help your baby improve cognitive skills, logical thinking skills, and hands-on skills, then the RtLvio Montessori Toys is the perfect choice for you.
Editor’s choice
Adena Montessori Infant Toddlers Coin Box
This toy will enhance your child’s hand-eye coordination, attention, and curiosity about the disappearance and reappearance of objects,
Best value
Learning Resources Peekaboo Learning Farm
The adorable learning farm is well-designed and easy for little hands to use. Children love playing with the animal finger puppets and the challenge of matching the barns with the right animals.
RtLvio Montessori Toys
The sensory bin with unique shape design and eye-catching colors will immediately catch baby’s attention, exercise their hands and improve cognitive skills too.
We were also impressed with the safe materials and design of the toy. It is made of high-quality ABS plastic, BPA-free, and all edges and patterns are polished into a smooth and rounded shape.
What We Loved
- The unique shape design and eye-catching colors make the baby interested in it at once.
- It is made of high-quality ABS plastic, BPA-free, and all edges and patterns are polished into a smooth and rounded shape.
- It can develop and enhance the baby’s color recognition and fine hands-on skills.
What We Didn’t Like
- The balls are not very durable and may dent easily.
- It is a little tougher to put the toys back in.
- It is not suitable for babies under 12 months old.
Adena Montessori Infant Toddlers Coin Box Montessori Toys
This two-way baby coin box allows you to experience opening, closing, and putting items into the holes; the other side of the box is the door lock, allowing the child to experience the action of opening the door.
After they have opened the drawer to discover the coin is still there, watch as they perform this same task over and over again until they master the skill. A great toy for improving cognitive skills and understanding cause and effect
What We Loved
- Enhances hand-eye coordination
- Promotes attention and curiosity
- Made of sturdy wood
What We Didn’t Like
- Drawer doesn’t stay flush when pushed in
- Some edges are a bit pointy
- Coins can’t be pushed all the way in
Learning Resources Peekaboo Learning Farm
The Peekaboo Learning Farm is a great educational toy that will help your child develop important skills while having fun.
We highly recommend it for parents who want to give their children a head start in learning their animals, colours and matching skills.
What We Loved
- The Peekaboo Learning Farm is a great way to teach your child counting, color, matching, and sorting skills.
- The toy comes with 5 numbered two-piece barns in different colors, each of which pops open to reveal 5 different animal finger puppets.
- The Peekaboo Learning Farm grows along with your child, helping them build new fine motor skills during early games of pretend, then moving on to early math and color identification.
What We Didn’t Like
- The toy may not be suitable for children younger than 18 months.
- The animal finger puppets may be too small for some children to use comfortably.
- The toy may not be durable enough to withstand rough play.
Object Permanence
TOY Life Object Permanence Box with Tray and 3 Balls
Little ones love dropping the balls into the box and watching them roll out again- developing both cognitive and motor skills.
Develop Multiple Skills
LiKee Montessori Toys
Little ones will be entertained for hours on end with this colourful shape sorter, which will promote logical thinking and fine motor skills, as well as teaching about shape and colour.
TOY Life Object Permanence Box with Tray and 3 Balls
One of the best things about this toy is its simplicity. The wooden box and balls are colorful and engaging without being overwhelming, and the object permanence concept is easy for babies to understand. We also appreciate that it’s made with non-toxic materials and is safe for little ones to play with.
What We Loved
- The simple design and colorful balls captivate young babies’ curiosity.
- The toy teaches the concept of object permanence, which helps improve cognitive development.
- The 3 wooden balls help babies improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
What We Didn’t Like
- The balls are heavy, which may be difficult for some babies to handle.
- The wooden pieces may not be as sturdy as some parents would like.
- Some babies may lose interest in the toy after a while.
LiKee Montessori Toys
Babies will love reaching in and grabbing the toys inside and putting them back in again and again, helping them develop their fine motor skills. As they got older, they will be able to sort the shapes in the correct holes, which is great for learning shapes and early logic.
Pros
- The toy keeps babies entertained and helps them with being patient.
- The box is designed with “double bands” on one side and “single band” on the other four sides, providing a difficulty level to help develop fine motor skills by sliding the shapes through.
- As babies get older, they can sort the shapes in the correct holes, good for learning shapes and early logic.
Cons
- The shapes that go into the shape sorter are small.
- The toy may be too small for some babies.
- The toy may not be durable enough for rough play.
Why Voluntary Release is Important to Baby’s Development
Voluntary release is the ability of a baby to let go of objects intentionally rather than reflexively. It’s a vital developmental milestone, reflecting a baby’s growing motor skills, cognitive abilities, and understanding of their environment.
| Aspect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Fine Motor Skill Development | Voluntary release is a precursor to more refined motor skills, such as pointing, pinching, and eventually writing. Perfecting this skill means the baby is gaining control over their hand and finger movements. |
| Cognitive Development | Intentionally releasing an object demonstrates that a baby understands cause and effect (e.g., “If I let go of this toy, it will drop”). |
| Problem-Solving Skills | As babies experiment with dropping and releasing objects, they learn about their environment (e.g., how sounds differ when various objects fall or how some objects fit inside containers but others don’t). |
| Visual-Motor Integration | Coordinating the action of letting go with visual input (e.g., aiming to place a block into a container) is foundational for tasks requiring hand-eye coordination. |
| Social Interaction and Communication | Babies often release objects as a form of interaction or communication, such as handing an object to a caregiver or dropping food to indicate they’re done eating. |
| Transition from Reflex to Intentional Action | Early in infancy, babies grip reflexively. The ability to release voluntarily signifies the transition from innate reflexes to purposeful, controlled actions. |
| Preparation for Advanced Skills | Voluntary release sets the stage for more complex skills like stacking blocks, manipulating tools, and using utensils. |
| Exploration and Play | By mastering voluntary release, babies can engage in more varied play, like playing catch, which benefits their physical and cognitive development. |
| Sensory Feedback | When babies release objects of different textures, temperatures, and weights, they receive varied tactile feedback, enriching their sensory experience. |
Overall, voluntary release is not just about letting go of objects; it’s indicative of a baby’s growing understanding and interaction with the world. As with other developmental milestones, there’s variability in when babies perfect this skill.
Some might achieve it earlier, while others take a bit more time. Encouraging play with a variety of safe objects and offering opportunities to grasp and release can help babies refine this skill.
FAQS
How can container play benefit a child’s fine motor skills development?
Container play, involving filling and emptying objects, not only keeps toddlers occupied but also enhances their gross motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and orientation skills.
What are some examples of container play activities that toddlers can enjoy?
Toddlers can have fun by taking toys out of a container and putting things back in. This simple yet engaging activity helps develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness.
What are the other benefits of putting in and taking out toys from containers?
Besides motor skill development, this activity encourages cognitive growth as toddlers learn cause and effect, develop problem-solving skills, and understand spatial relationships.
How does putting in and taking out toys help with a baby’s development?
This activity supports a baby’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. As they explore small objects and manipulate them within containers, their dexterity improves.
What can I do to keep my baby busy and engaged with container play?
Provide a variety of containers and objects with different shapes and textures for your baby to explore. He’ll enjoy the sensory experience while learning valuable developmental skills.
Little ones tend to love dumping things on the floor, the fun part of emptying containers is the clatter of noise on the floor!
