toys for toddlers Archives - Bilingual Beginnings

20+ Best Bilingual Toys for Babies & Toddlers

Lorena — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 05:07:51 +0000

Are you raising a bilingual child in Spanish?

If so, you have come to the right place because here at Bilingual Beginnings, we offer bilingual parenting tips and free educational resources to supplement your child’s Spanish at home or in the school setting.

I am raising my almost-four-year-old son, Lennox, in my nonnative language Spanish, using the Minority Language at Home bilingual parenting approach.

Even though I consider myself fluent in Spanish, I have encountered many obstacles over the years trying to keep the minority language strong at home. One of which was not having the proper materials.

Thus, I started searching and searching for the best resources to supplement Spanish at home with Lennox, and that search inspired me to start this blog and share my tips with you all!

Well, today, I want to share a list of the best bilingual toys in Spanish to reinforce the minority language in your home.

Enjoy.

Does your child have a fantastic interactive bilingual Spanish toy that is not on this list? Please share your knowledge in the comments below to help out fellow bilingual padres. =)

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

The best toys to encourage language use are open-ended toys

First, I want to say that I am the biggest advocate of learning languages through play.

The interactive Spanish bilingual toys that I will mention below are great supplements for language acquisition. They introduce new vocabulary words to babies and toddlers, as well as provide entertainment.

However, I recommend not filling your house with these toys because they are “one and done toys.” One and done toys are considered the toys that light up and sing. Your child will explore all the toy’s features and sounds until exhaustion, and then once they have, they might never pick it up again. This is the case in my household, at least.

But I am not completely writing off all of these toys (obviously not, because i’m writing this post) because they can be resourceful for parents who do not speak Spanish and want to expose their kids to the Spanish language. It’s also a great way for parents to learn Spanish along with their child.

In my personal opinion and from experience, I have seen language flourish among children who are playing with open-ended toys like the ones listed in this post or simply with loose parts play.

You can find out more about loose parts play here. We are huge advocates of loose parts play, especially in nature!

Interactive Bilingual Spanish Toys

Last year, I did a guest blog post with LeapFrog titled “Encouraging Bilingual Beginnings in Young Children.” In return, I received a bundle of the LeapFrog bilingual products, and I can honestly say that I was super impressed.

Out of all of the toys Lennox received, his absolute favorites are the LeapFrog Learning books. Lennox received two the LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 words book and the 100 Animals book.

Let me say that, for starters, I was dumbfounded by the technology of these books. The touch quality is impressive. The pages are super skinny and feature different images and vocabulary on both sides of each page. Somehow, the slightest touch generates a word, sound, or music, depending on the three settings of the book.

Also, the vocabulary is extensive. I even learned new words!

I was mind blown, and Lennox too!

He loved to hear all of the words and sounds, and by the end of each read/exploration of the book, he would start DJing the different sounds!

These books also have a handle, so your toddler can carry it with them wherever they go!

You can buy both of the books for a discounted price here.

Lennox enjoyed the rest of the products too, but not quite as much as the books. Below you can find the rest of the bilingual Spanish toys by LeapFrog that came in out kit:

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Shakin’ Maracas

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table

If you have a baby, get this activity table! It is so much fun and sings a bunch of fun songs in Spanish that will have your babies clapping along. Soon they will being cantando también!

LeapFrog My First Learning Tablet
LeapFrog Level Up and Learn Controller
LeapFrog Learn & Groove Drum
This toy was not in our kit, but is a fun musical Spanish bilingual toy from LeapFrog too! With this adorable drum, your child can learn about colors, opposites and counting numbers in Spanish!
Related: 50 + Best Christmas Gifts for 5-Year-Old Boys

More interactive bilingual Spanish toys

Here are some other great recommendations that I have found in regards to interactive bilingual toys.

Mochoog Toy Piano
This bilingual piano has 18 cognitive cards in Spanish and English that will teach your children about the following categories: marine animals, nature, sports, stationery, transportation, instruments, food, fruit.
Musical Turtle Toy
Explore four play modes that teach about happy songs, cute patterns, count numbers and ABC letters. And the turtle will crawl with the happy songs.
Spanish Speaking Electronic Pet Dog
You child will love learning Spanish as this adorable Dalmatian chases her all around the house!

Sesame Street Rock and Rhyme Elmo Talking Toy

With this interactive Elmo, your kiddos will learn 12 phrases and 5 songs in Spanish and English! Who doesn’t love Elmo?

Baby Einstein Glow and Discover Light Bar Activity Station
Your baby will love tummy time with this light up bilingual station!
Nick Jr Canticos 8 Bilingual Songs

Vtech Starshine the Bright Lights Unicorn
Choose from seven charms in the heart-shaped dish and place them on the three magic hearts to hear colors, objects and phrases in English and Spanish
Bilingual Talking Poster
This poster is great learning tool for toddlers. It is great for working on numbers, letters, animals, and everyday items.
INTMEDIC Baby Musical Toy

Other resources in Spanish for your toddler

I hope you enjoyed that list of fun and interactive bilingual toys!

I quickly want to mention some other resources that can help supplement Spanish input at home.

Flashcards are a great way to work on vocabulary! These Mudpuppy Illustrated Ring Flashcards are a set of 26 durable and laminated bilingual flashcards. They are great for toddlers and preschoolers!

But you could get FREE seasonal printable flashcards in Spanish by subscribing to Bilingual Beginnings using the form below.

There are also a few open-ended bilingual toys available on Amazon, such as the Ingenio Bilingual Learning Puzzle , the Wordy Macaroons Bilingual Playset , these Alphabet Block Toys , and these Wordy the EnSALADa food figurines.

How fun are these!

KIDS KORNER Alphabet Blocks Toys for Toddlers

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I have series of posts going on called Library Lunes, where on the first Monday of every month, I make a list of thematic picture books in Spanish. We own many of the books and have enjoyed them!

Check out all of our picture books in Spanish list here !

I can’t even begin to reiterate how much Spanish Lennox has learned from reading.

Even if you do not own books in Spanish, you can check out ways to read to your toddler in Spanish here.

Lastly, through open-ended play and sensory activities, you can get on eye level and play along with your child in Spanish. You will be surprised how much language they will pick up in the play setting. Check out some of our play-based activities below!

Thank you so much for sticking around til the end. I hope you found some inspiration in this post. If you did, let me hear what you think in the comments below!!!

Keep reading:

The post 20+ Best Bilingual Toys for Babies & Toddlers appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

33+ Best Outdoor Toys for 1 Year Old Children

Lorena — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Are you looking for the best outdoor toys for 1 year old children this summer?

Then you have come to the right place because today, I will share a list of some of our favorite toys that have been absolute essentials in our household.

Not only are these the best outdoor toys for 1 year old children, but they will also grow with your young children through their toddler years.

Enjoy this post and let me know which outdoor toys YOUR toddler and I will add it to this growing list of best outdoor toys for 1 year olds!

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

The best outdoor water toys for 1 year olds

1. Water table

The best toys for toddlers outdoors is the holy water table!

The water table is a MUST HAVE! So if you do not own a water table, I recommend getting one right now.

Water tables are amazing and super multifunctional. Your toddler will love playing and splashing in the water. It can also be used with other elements than just water. You can fill it up with sand and make it a sand table or add, ice, animals, etc.

Get your water table from Amazon now>>>>

Check out some activities below that we have done with our water table:

We use the water table to make sensory bins such as this ocean-themed sensory bin, or this construction bean box sensory bin.

We also got our animal figurines really dirty and then did an animal wash by adding water and soap stations to our water table.

Furthermore to do other fun activities such as the free figurines STEM activity for toddlers using ice!

Lastly, another one of favorite water table activities is to fill up the water table with blue water using food coloring. I add a little bit of Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap so it looks like foam in an ocean. Then we add in our aquatic animal figurines.

There are literally endless ways to use your water table!

2. Waterfall Discovery Wall

Another fun outdoor water toy is the Waterfall Discovery Wall.

Your toddler will have fun executing their fine motor skills as they scoop up water from the bottom basin and pour it into the top to start a fun water maze.

They can also rearrange the maze and get creative with how the water flows.

This is a fun activity for multiple little kids. It will encourage creativity and social skills as the work together to run the water maze.

Our Pick

Step2 Waterfall Discovery Wall for Kids, Double-Sided Sand and Water Table, Toddlers Ages 1.5+ Years Old, 13 Piece Toy Accessories

$64.99

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02/17/2026 01:04 pm GMT

3. Rushing River Falls

Here is yet another fun water toy for one-year-olds. It is a multi-level outdoor water table that expands and connects to the hose.

It includes 9 water table play accessories to keep your little one’s hands entertained for hours as they dump, pour, and fill! How fun!

4. Splash pad

Number three comes in with some more water play, a splash pad!

Splash pads are a great physical activity for 1 year olds, especially on a hot day!

Let them jump and use their gross motor skills to feel and stop the water flow. They will also have fun falling and splashing in the water!

I love this splash pad by Arfbear that has the alphabet on it.. When your toddler gets a little older you can play a physical ABC game by having them jump to the correct letter without falling!

RenFox Splash Pad,Sprinkler for Kids Summer Outdoor Water Toys, 68 in Inflatable Water Splash Play Mat, Outside Backyard Kids Sprinkler Pad Pool Gifts for Baby Boys Girls Toddlers 1-3 Years Old

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5. Water park

An outdoor, home water park? Oh yeah! Your tot will love this Banzai Big Blast water slide splash activity pool

It comes with a cushioned slick slide and splash activity pool, basketball hoop, overhead sprinkler to create lots of sensory, gross motor fun for your toddler!

If you are looking for a basic kiddie pool, check out this colorful Intex kiddie pool.

BANZAI Big Blast Water Park, Length: 14 ft 5 in, Width: 10 ft 7 in, Height: 7 ft 11 in, Inflatable Outdoor Backyard Water Slide Splash Bounce Climbing Toy

$335.99

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02/17/2026 01:04 pm GMT

6. Water Blasters

What is more fun than squirting people with water? Once your toddler gets the fine-motor of squirting down, these toys will keep him entertained for quite a while.

Best sports outdoor toys for 1 year olds

Another great outdoor toy for toddlers are sports toys. Try out a variety of sports outdoor toys to see which sport will interest your child the most.

9. Soccer Goal

I’ll start with a soccer goal because soccer is our favorite family sport.

Lennox loves soccer thanks to his Papi, who is also obsessed with this sport. Together these two have spent never-ending hours kicking balls into this portable soccer goal.

It is the perfect item to collapse and take with you to the beach, on camping trips, etc. Don’t forget your soccer ball!

If soccer isn’t your toddler’s sport, below are a few more outdoor, toddler sports toys!

10. T-Ball Set

Your toddler will enjoy hitting the baseball with this Little Tikes T-Ball set that comes with a stand, a baseball bat and five balls to practice hitting.

T-ball sets are a great activity to practice hand-eye coordination.

11. Toddler Golf Set

Another great outdoor sports toy for little kids is golf!

This Little Tikes Tots Sports Easy Hit golf set includes three balls, two clubs and a case that your one year old can wheel around.

12. Basketball Set

13. Toss & Catch set

Remember these classic toys from the 90s? This kit includes multiple velcro toss and catch set with velcro. The velcro makes it easier for your youngster to catch.

It also comes with a scoop set with soft balls as well as a fun slingshot!

This is a great toy that you can play with outside, but can also bring indoors on rainy days. Kids of all ages will have fun with this toy set.

Gross motor outdoor toys for 1 year olds

14. Balance bike

It is never to early to start working on balance with your 1 year old.

I highly recommend starting your child off with a balance bike where they can learn to push themselves on the bike. Once they get a hang of it, you can move to small hills where they can push themselves down and work on their balance!

I regret not starting my son, Lennox off with a balance bike at 1 years old. We started off with a Radio Flyer Classic tricycle which was pretty difficult for him to learn to use.

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to get him a balance bike, and let me tell you; he is OBSESSED.

Within two weeks, he could ride down a hill and not lose his balance.

Rascalrides.com goes into seven benefits of balance bikes here!

Make sure you have a helmet for ALL of the ride-on toys to prevent head injuries!

15. Little Tikes Coupe

Remember these push-your-self cars from when you were a child? I never had my own, but I remember going to preschool and always wanting first dibs! If your toddler is like mine—obsessed with cars— he will love this!

Little Tikes Ladybug Cozy Coupe Ride-On Car - Amazon Exclusive (Multi color), 91cmx75cmx42cm

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16. Lightening McQueen Racer Ride On

*updated 3/11/2021

This Lightening McQueen Race Ride On Car was one of Lennox’s favorite outdoor toys when he was one to two-years-old.

He was always, let me repeat, always, in this car. If he’s not zooming around the house or trying to run over the dogs, he is using this car to follow behind me on my walks or taking it down hills. My little daredevil! See picture below!

Note: don’t leave this toy outside, because it does have batteries.

17. Micro Kickboard

If you don’t have a scooter yet, I highly recommend getting your toddler this Micro Kickboard.

Your one year old will not quite get the hang of it at the beginning of the year, but let them practice and by age two they might just be scootering around the neighborhood! My little man was!

This is the best scooter for toddlers and older children because it has a third wheel that helps with balance. It also has lean-to-steer design with offers a stable ride that supports toddlers and small children as they master balance and coordination.

It will also grow with your child. Its weight limit is 110lbs! That’s a lot of years of use!

Our Absolute Favorite!

Micro Kickboard - Mini Deluxe 3-Wheeled, Lean-to-Steer, Swiss-Designed Micro Scooter for Kids, Ages 2-5

$99.99

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02/17/2026 09:03 pm GMT

18. Tricycle

Tricycles are an excellent outdoor toy for toddlers.

Tricycles are great for gross motor development, balance, and coordination. They also encourage independence and confidence in toddlers.

We have the Radio Flyer Classic tricycle, and Lennox loves it.

19. The Classic Sit & Spin

This Sit and Spin classic toy is a great activity for toddlers 18 months and up. It get’s them whirling and twirling and helps them practice balance, coordination and motor skills!

20. Toddler Trampoline

Does your toddler have an overwhelming amount of energy? What better to get it out than with a trampoline.

This Little Tikes 7’ Climb ‘N Slide is perfect for younger toddlers. It is big enough for them to jump around and have fun, it comes with a climbing wall and slide for easy entry and exit.

It will also grow with them throughout their toddler years.

21. Toddler slide

If you are looking for the perfect beginner slide, Little Tikes FIrst Slide will do just the trick for your little ones!

It can also serve as a ramp for your car-loving-toddler!

22. Toddler Rocking Toy

Little Tikes Rocking Horse will have your one year old toddler rocking away outside.

23. At home play and swing sets

If you have the space, having an outdoor playground set is so resourceful. I’ll recommend two sets below that have good ratings.

This Simplay 3 Young Explorers Adventure climber is a great outdoor OR indoor year-round playset for children. It has the perfect size slide for young toddlers and has lots of openings that your child can crawl through and climb up onto.
If you are looking for a permanent structure in your backyard, this KidKraft Appleton Wooden Swing Set is a great gift that will grow with your child. It is recommended for kids 3-10, but with supervision, you could help your one year old climb up and go down the slide.

More best outdoor toys for 1 year olds

24. Gardening tools

First up on this list of best outdoor toys for 1 year old children is this gardening set.

Gardening is so beneficial for kids, so why not start them off young with this adorable set of gardening tools.

Kara Murphy with National.Macaronikid.com gives the following ten examples of the benefits of gardening for children.

Engages all five senses.
Encourages healthy eating.
Enhances fine motor development.
Gardening is science.
Teaches responsibility.
Is a great family activity.
Helps kids learn to plan and organize.
Creates environmental stewards.
Develops math skills.
Teaches patience.

With all of these benefits of gardening, I thought this outdoor toy needed to be number one on this list of best outdoor toys for 1 year olds! Never too early to get them gardening!

25. . Helping Hands Fine-Motor Tool Set

This tool set is great for developing your toddler’s fine-motor and is a perfect accompaniment for the water table.

26. Toddler Camping Set

Get your littles reay for their first camping trip with this toddler camping set.

It comes with a play tent, as well as 18 camping accessories such as pretend play battery powered stove, binoculars, utility knife, cooking pan and more!

27. Wagon

Every toddler needs a little red wagon to be transported in or to play with!

28. Sand box

Sand play is so beneficial for children, and it is an excellent resource for unstructured play.

I love watching Lennox and his preschool friends gather around the sandbox and get creative with loose parts. I’ve seen them making soups, make monster truck ramps, volcanoes, and more!

According to Pathways.org, sand play develops social skills like problem-solving, sharing, and communication.

Sand is a great resource for bilingual children, especially during bilingual playdates or in a bilingual immersion school!

Best Choice Products 47x47in Kids Large Wooden Sandbox for Backyard, Outdoor Play w/Cedar Wood, 2 Foldable Bench Seats, Sand Protection, Bottom Liner - Brown

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7. Bubble Machine

What is more fun for 1 year olds than bubbles! However, it can get a bit tricky with traditional bottle of bubbles because young toddlers struggle with blowing bubbles.

That’s why I suggest investing in a bubble machine for some fun outdoor play.

8. Bubble wands

Bubble wants are another great way to get 1 year olds involved with bubbles.

This bubble wand kit comes with six different wands and a bubble tray. Simply add a bubble solution to the tray, then show your toddler how to dip the want in the solution and run with the wand so they can see the bubbles magically appear.

29. Chalk

Once your toddler is past the fascination of eating chalk, chalk is a great way to keep your toddler busy outside.

Lennox loves to draw on anything and everything, and as much as my OCD mom brain aches inside, I have to remind myself that it is washable, and can be cleaned up! They are only young once!

Check out our Mosaic Chalk Heart activity Lennox and I did last year during quarantine!

Below is a toddler friendly chalk set to keep your toddlers from breaking and eating the chalk!

30. Large blocks

For some open-ended play, check out this 96 pc BiggoBlock Jumbo Blocks set.

Watch as your littles ones use their imagination to build unlimited designs outside.

You could also use regular Duplo blocks for outdoor use as well. They are easy to wipe down and bring back inside!

BiggoBlocks 96pc Jumbo Blocks Set | Made in The USA | 80 Large Blocks | 16 Small Blocks | 4 Colors Red Yellow Green Blue

$157.99

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02/17/2026 01:04 pm GMT

31. Toddler Mower

As I mentioned before, toddlers tend to imitate adults, and what is every adult doing in the summer? Mowing the grass.

Lennox loves the mower his mom got him. He pretends he’s cutting the grass. He takes it on our walks and does the neighbors a favor by cutting their grass too. Ha!

Pretend play outdoor toys for toddlers

32. Playhouse

There are some super sweet playhouses on Amazon that your one year old will love and grow with!

I love natural elements, so this Backyard Discover Victorian Inn made out of all cedar wood is perfect and beautiful for backyards.

It comes with a telephone, plastic knife, cutting board, faucet, mounted sink, burner, fruit and vegetable basket with velcro food.

It is the perfect little pretend playhouse, but it is pricey, but I think its durability makes it a good investment!

For a more affordable price, this Step2 Charming Cottage will also bring joy to your little. It also comes with some realistic features, such as a swivel faucet, skylight and fireplace!

Backyard Discovery Aspen All Cedar Wooden Playhouse, Country Style, Dutch Front Door, Flower Pot Holders, Stove, Sink, Plastic Food, Doorbell, Mailbox, Outdoor Light Attached Picnic Bench

$549.00

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02/18/2026 07:04 am GMT

33. Picnic table

A picnic table is a great choice for toddlers. They can eat their meals on it outside and you it to engage in imaginative play with friends!

34. Kitchen

Take a plastic kitchen set and turn it into a mud kitchen for your little one year olds. Grab some old pots and pans and watch them have so much fun using natural elements make mud pies and sand soups! What a sensory experience it will be!

Well I hope you found the a few ideas from this list of best outdoor toys for 1 year old children. I tried to include as many great outdoor toys as I could, but I know there are many more. So if you think something is missing from this list, please let me know in the comments below.

Keep reading:

The post 33+ Best Outdoor Toys for 1 Year Old Children appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

What to Take to the Pool With Your Toddler

Lorena — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 00:59:00 +0000

Going to the pool with a toddler is a lot easier than it sounds.

You have to nonstop chase after them, keep them safe from the sun and water, and, if your toddler is anything like mine, you have to police toy steeling, splashing, tantrums, and all of the unexpected expectations that come hand-in-hand with having a toddler.

Having the right products can change the whole pool time dynamic.

Last summer, we joined our town’s pool association, and I enjoyed endless days of find out which items are absolute must-haves when going to the pool with a toddler.

I wanted to share these essential pool items and include a list of fun toys to pack for when you go to the pool with your toddler!

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

Beach bag

It is essential to have a beach bag to carry all of the important things on this list of toddler pool essentials.

I love a bag with a compartments, so I can neatly organize my pool essentials and know just where they are when I need them. Below are some of my favorite beach bags to take for a whole day at the pool.

If you are using a Diaper bag, you might be able to squeeze everything into that, but personally, I like the waterproof option of the following beach bags.

First aid kit

The first thing that I add to the bottom of my beach bag is a small first aid kit.

I put my first aid kit at the bottom of my bag. This provides me with a peace of mind that I have it, and also because hopefully I will not need to dig to the bottom to use it. Regardless, it’s there in case I do need it, because, well, accidents happen!

Puddle Jumper

I’m sure most of you have heard of the Puddle Jumper. It is much better than a life jacket, by far and it is a must have for little swimmers.

I didn’t know about Puddle Jumpers until the beginning of the summer when my sister-in-law let me use her daughter’s puddle jumper. I was in disbelief.

As a first-time-mom (and one who obviously didn’t think about buying a floatation device before the beach, SMH) I was still expecting those plastic arm floaties that hurt to put on and hurt even worse to get off. Remember those?

After trying my niece’s puddle jumper on Lennox, I went shopping for one as soon as I could. There are many different kinds, but I highly recommend the Speedo Splash Jammer.

This one has extra support and safety with a vest that goes over your toddler’s shoulders as well as floaties on the arms. This avoids your child’s arms slipping out of the floaties. It is the best swim vest , in my opinion!

Lennox loves this puddle jumper and gets angry if I take it off of him. He loves having it on.

**Be careful though, it can cause overconfidence in your child’s swimming skills. I took it off of Lennox yesterday, and he tried to go deep into the water, not realizing he couldn’t actually swim.

There is no better towel than a hooded, poncho towel to cover your toddler up when he’s wet and cold from the pool. I also use it after the pool to put him in his car seat instead of bringing a change of clothes.

Our favorite!

Heysplash Toddler Swim Vest, Kids Swim Vest Water Wings Swim Arm Band with Shoulder Strap and Secure Buckle for 33-70 lbs, Blue Shark

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Hooded Towel or beach towels

Bring more than one just in case your child is sensitive to used, damp towels.

Florica Hooded Bath Towels for Girls Kids Toddlers Children 2 to 6 Years Old Cotton Ultra Soft Absorbent Poncho Beach Towel for Pool Swim Pink Large Size 24"x 47" in Full-Length (Lovely Prin...

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Sunscreen

Sunscreen is obvious, but please do not make my mistake of purchasing spray sunscreen. Purchase a good sunscreen, in liquid form.

Why?

I bought spray sunscreen for the beach, sprayed it into my hands as instructed, then applied to Lennox’s face and boy did we have a problem. He screamed bloody murder and had swollen puffy eyes all day.

Most spray sunscreens are not toddler friendly! If you do decided on spray sunscreen, make sure that it is baby/toddler friendly like this one here.

Another problem with spray sunscreen is coverage. How do you know if you are applying it all over or not? Make sure you are spraying the sunscreen all over and hitting important areas such as the face, ears, feet, and scalp.

Nowadays, I always go with Babyganics and Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen Stick. Lennox has yet to get burnt and has a beautiful golden tan if I might say so myself. He also appreciates the stick a lot more than me trying to rub lotion on his face! I think next year I’ll aim for a DIY sunscreen. We shall see.

For sensitive skin, I recommend Aveeno Positively Mineral 50 SPF sunscreen, formulated to be gentle and and non-irritating.

Below is a list of some of the best sunscreens to ensure burn-free pool days:

Wet Dry Bag

It is a good idea to keep a wet dry bag on hand for all of the damn items after a fun day at the pool. Damp swim suits, towels, and clothes.

You could also use plastic bags, but we try to steer clear from using plastic when unnecessary.

What’s nice about the wet dry bag is that it has two different compartments for wet clothes versus dry clothes and it also has a strap with button strap to hang on a stroller or beach cart.

ALVABABY 2pcs Cloth Diaper Wet Dry Bags Waterproof Reusable with Two Zippered Pockets Travel Beach Pool Daycare Soiled Baby Items Yoga Gym Bag for Swimsuits or Wet Clothes L2933

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Swim Diapers and or Disposable Swim Diapers

I love this Splash About Happy Nappy Swim Diaper available in several sizes. It claims to be the most reliable and advanced swim diaper in the world, plus is looks super comfortable! Babies and toddlers will feel glorious in this swim diaper.

Splash About Happy Nappy Little Ducks, 3-6 Months

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Bathing Suit & Sun Shirt

Target has the most adorable selection of toddler swimwear right now. The Cat and Jack brand is the cutest, and I love that the boys’ swimsuits are not ridiculously long like a lot of the swimsuits on the market.

The other day I went to buy a girl’s swimsuit for a one-year-old little girl I watch, and I kid you not, I couldn’t make up my mind between five. They were all too darn cute. Below are Lennox modeling his three Cat and Jack Suits!
Baby wetsuits are also a good idea for fair-skinned toddlers and simply for extra protection.

Sun Hat

Lennox’s thick hair is his sunhat, however, if your babes have light hair, or a small amount of hair, cover those heads up to avoid a bad burn!

Here is a list of some of the best sun hats for toddlers:

YOBAAF UPF50+ Baby & Toddler Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat
JAN & JUL Original GRO-with-Me Adjustable cotton sun hat
Veyo Kids- Noggins Sun Hat with a safety chin strap

Water shoes

Water shoes are also an essential, especially at public pools where the concrete can stub your toddler’s wee toes.

We love these iplay water shoes. They are easy for young children to slip on, they dry quickly and they have great traction for slippery surfaces!

FEETCITY Baby Water Shoes Breathable Mesh Sneakers Beach Aqua Socks Boys Girls Shoes 12-18 Months Infant

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Swim Board

We are so very thankful to @americanlifetime @gladwellusa for gifting us these two awesome swim boards.

Lennox was a little hesitant to use it at first, but once he saw how daddy used it, it was a hit! It is extremely sturdy and lightweight and is the perfect prop for teaching your toddler how to swim. Mom and dad can also use it for exercise or physical therapy.

Cooler

A cooler is essential. I learned this the hard wa

A cooler is essential. I learned this the hard way when one day all of my hard work preparing Lennox lunch and snacks got all mushy, and our beverages warm when it was time to eat. Invest in a small-sized cooler to make sure your food stays fresh, and your toddler stays hydrated!

What to pack in your cooler:

Snacks
Fruit
Sandwiches
Plenty of Water
Juice Boxes

Baby wipes

It’s a good idea to keep baby wipes in your pool bag to clean up those messy faces and behinds!

Toy Bag

Another mom essential. I used a pool bag at first, but once I realized all of the rest of my items were getting gross from all of Lennox’s toys, I caved and purchased a mesh bag solely for Lennox’s toys. It also helps drain the excess water and avoids molding.

F-color Mesh Beach Bag - Oversized Beach Tote 9 Pockets Pool Bag, White

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Toys, Toys & More Toys

Below are some of our favorite pool toys, and pool toys that have been popular amongst all of the kids at the pool.

Green Toys

Green toys are great pool and bath toys. They have no BPA, they are made out of recycled plastic, made in the USA and are dishwasher safe!

We hope you enjoyed our list of pool essentials. Comment below and let us know if we missed any of your essentials on our list!!!!

Keep reading:

The post What to Take to the Pool With Your Toddler appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

62+ Best Open-Ended Toys for 18 Month Old Toddlers

Lorena — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 00:22:00 +0000

Open-ended toys provoke creative and imaginative play as well as encourage fine motor skills, gross motor-skills AND problem-solving skills.

It’s amazing to see how such simple toys can provide endless hours of play!

So, if you are ready to jump on board and ditch all of your close-ended toys, come along with me as I share some of the best open ended toys for 18 month old children.

While these toys are geared for 18 month olds, they will also make some of the best toys for your toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children.

Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s get browsing through this list of best open-ended toys!

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

What are open-ended toys

Susie, from Busy Toddler categorizes toys into two categories: “open and done toys,” and “open-ended toys”.

Susie states:

“Toys that talk to kids, ask questions, sing songs, light up: those are “One and Done Toys”. Those toys don’t teach, they don’t inspire, they don’t grow with our children.

Susie recommends filling our home with open-ended toys that encourage independent, free play.

Our story with open-ended toys

Last September, when Lennox started attending his play-based preschool, we met his teacher Mrs. Jo and her amazing philosophies about early childhood education.

One of the philosophies she implements is the theory of loose parts. In sum, loose parts consist of random elements in a child’s environment that provoke open-ended, independent play. Loose parts could range anywhere from rocks to scarves, to buttons.

What I love most about loose parts, besides infinite play possibilities, is that it promotes social-economic behavior and inclusiveness among children. “Loose parts encourage communication, collaboration, negotiation, risk-taking and conflict resolution.” (Daly and Beloglowsky)

These social-economic behaviors encouraged by loose parts transcend cultures and language barriers because they are items found everywhere, and they do not hold economic value.

This facet is essential in our bilingual household.

We raise Lennox in Spanish at home, using the MLAH approach, and I was nervous about how he would be able to communicate in school. However, seeing him interact with other kids in his class in a nonverbal way over loose parts is extremely fascinating.

We started implementing loose parts in our home in the fall, but first, we detoxed our home of open and done toys.

Letting go of one-and-done toys does not mean that we threw away all of our toys.

We donated some. Then, we sorted the rest and added many open-ended toys to our collection.

Today, Lennox plays harmoniously (most of the time) with his open ended-toys and loose parts.

Implementing loose parts play and adding open-ended toys has changed the way Lennox plays. He plays for hours at a time, and he even looks forwards to his nap time to have the ability to be creative and imaginative all by himself.

In addition, I find myself purchasing fewer toys and saving a lot more money!

It also causes us to get out in nature more, in an attempt to find ways to use our loose parts and open-ended toys!

Below are some of my most recommended open-ended toys for preschoolers!

The best open ended toys for 18 month old: building toys

I am going to start this list off with our favorite open-ended toys, building toys!

Building toys are a great option for little kids and older kids. What’s great about building blocks is that they can be played with by one child, or multiple children.

In her article 10 Things Children Learn from Block Play, Derry Koralek emphasizes the importance of block play in early childhood question. She explains how block play fosters:

Problem solving
Imagination
Self-expression
Mathematics
Continuity and permanence
Creativity
science
self-esteem
social and emotional growth
Development

One line of Koralek’s article that stood out to me as a bilingual parent, is a quote from Karen Nemeth that says “blocks offer many ways for young dual language learners to explore, express, and demonstrate what they are learning across languages”

Below are some of our favorite household blocks and building toys. Lennox especially enjoys the magnetic tiles and can play with them for hours end.

Below are a list of recommended open-ended building toys:

Art & Musical Open-Ended Toys

Art supplies and musical toys are great for early childhood education. Keymonne Halllists the following benefits of the arts in ECE:

Develops motor skills
Accelerates brain development
Reduces stress
Builds self-esteem
Aids concept understanding

Benefits aside, musical instruments and artistic toys are so much fun. Watch as your child’s imagination soars are she experiences some fun, sensory play with the following open-ended toys.

Below are some of our favorite household art and musical toys.

Open- Ended Animals & Figurines

Animal toys and figurines are great open-ended toy for young toddlers. They encourage imaginary play and encourage fine motor movement in those little hands.

Furthermore, figurines promote language skills and increase vocabulary knowledge.

How will your toddler play with their figurines? It’s so fascinating to watch.

Maybe your toddler will sort them into categories, or colors. Maybe he will line them up according to size, small animals to large animals. Or, maybe your child will pretend play with them. So many options!

Below are some great figurine options for your one year olds!

Check out how we use animal figurines in the beach sensory bin!

Open-Ended Floor Puzzles

Puzzles are great critical thinking resource for young children.

Some of the benefits of puzzle play are advanced cognitive skills, problem solving, fine-motor development, hand-eye coordination, social skills, and lastly, puzzles build self-esteem.

Keep a puzzle in your living room and rotate it out every few days to get your child interested in puzzle play.

Here is a list of great floor puzzles for preschoolers:

Open-Ended Transportation Toys

Transportation toys, similar to animal toys and figurines are seen so much in daily life that your child will really enjoy playing with them.

Join them with some of the earthly elements listed further down in this post and your child will be in play-heaven!

Earthly Elements & Outdoor Toys

Earthly elements are not only sensory, but they also are sensory and promote fine-motor skills.

Add some toys, or even better, loose parts, and watch your preschooler go at it!

This kids in Lennox’s preschool go CRAZY over this Jurassic Sand. It can be used indoors and outdoors! You can add it to a sandbox or even put it in a water table for some standing fun! Don’t forget the sand equipment!
Kinetic sand is great way to bring outdoor elements indoors. It is sensory and will entertain your toddler for hours!
Playdoh is another way to have some creative fun! Add in some playdoh tools and your child will be in sensory and fine-motor heaven! Maybe they will make a pizza, or a snake! Who knows?

Fine Motor Open-Ended Toys

Below is a list of open-ended toys that are great for fine-motor skills such as grasping and eye-hand coordination.

These lacing beads are great for hand-eye coordination and grasping. You could also use them to sort and learn the colors. Your child can also get creative with them in their own way!
See what your child will build with this fun wooden tool workbench.
I don’t know about you. but my son has a fascination with anything with a clip or clasp. This wooden clip set would entertain him for hours!

Gross Motor Open-Ended Toys

Gross motor toys work the big muscles such as the legs and arms. Having a few gross motor toys will encourage physical activity and if you find the right toys, can provoke open-ended play all day!

Lennox loves his Micro Kickboard Scooter. He used to ride it all over the neighborhood looking for gas stations to “fill up the gas.”

Below are some more gross motor open-ended toys!

Household open-ended toys

This last section if for open-ended toys that are great for house and role play.

This wooden play kitchen is great for indoors, or you could get a plastic toy kitchen and turn it into a mud kitchen outdoors! See if they can concoct a soup out of pinecones and leaves, or make chicken nuggets with rocks! You would be surprised how much a mud kitchen will inspire creativity!
Don’t forget about the pretend food or the pots and pans to add to your kitchen!
Melissa and Doug cleaning toys.
Your child can pretend which profession they will love these 27 dress up costumes.
Lastly you can’t forget about the favorites, baby dolls and the fun doll accessories!

Thank you so much for reading. I hope your child enjoy some of these open-ended toys! Let me know your favorites, or if something is missing in the comments below!!!

The post 62+ Best Open-Ended Toys for 18 Month Old Toddlers appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

Christmas Stocking Stuffers That Will Timehop Your Kiddos Back to the 90s

Lorena — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 03:56:40 +0000

In this post you can find a variety of fun stocking stuffers from the 90s that will entertain your kiddos this Christmas!

Christmas is only a few months away.

That means its time to buckle up and start your Christmas shopping now, before the lines get longer and the wallet gets thinner!

Today, I am going to share a list of fun stocking stuffers from the 90s that you can find on Amazon. These gadgets will entertain your kiddos and bring back from fun memories for all the parents born in the 90s!

Enjoy, and let me know what your favorite gadget is your favorite from the 90s!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but this comes at no additional cost to you.

Why stocking stuffers from the 90s?

One of the ways I like to sloooow down the Christmas holiday is by starting my shopping early. Waiting to shop last minute is Is stressful both emotionally and financially. I experienced this last year during our December move, and I will never do that again.

If you start your chrismas shopping early, not only can you catch good deals before they skyrocket during the holiday season, but you can put more thought and emphasis behind your gifts.

I always start my shopping off with stocking stuffers. Stocking stuffers are super fun to buy and a lot easier to hide from sticky fingers. I love conjuring up silly ideas for hubby, baby, and fur babies.

This year, in honor of my last year in my 20s, I want to go old school and stuff my stocking with 90s gadgets.

Not only will they be unique for my toddler, but I can’t lie, I am super excited to get my hands on them myself!!! Enjoy. Below you can find The Ultimate List of Stocking Stuffers That Will Timehop You Back to the 90s.

Time to timehop back to the 90s with this list of stocking stuffers from the 90s

All of the following affiliate links will open up to a new page. This is so that you don’t loose your place in this post if you wish to come back and keep browsing.

1. Lisa Frank Coloring Book and Stickers

2.The Rainbow Fish

3. Butterfly Hair Clips

4. Micro Bop It

5.Matchbox Jurassic World Jeep Wrangler & Rescue Net

MATCHBOX JURASSIC WORLD '93 Jeep Wrangler

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6. Pogs

7. Scrunchies

8. Silly Putty

9. Fruit String Things