It may not seem like it to you, but playing is your toddler's
job. As he focuses on his puzzles or play sets, trucks or
teddies, blocks or books, he's a little scientist at work,
conducting experiments and exploring his world, using toys as
the tools of his trade. Now that your child is more mobile and
can manipulate things more easily than when he was a baby, toys
are also a way to help him gain control of his environment and
be the boss of his world (even when it's frustrating). So when
it comes to buying (or borrowing) playthings, variety is key.
Every kind of toy can teach your toddler something — cause and
effect, say, or how to communicate and take turns — and hone his
skills, from hand-eye coordination to recognizing patterns. The
best playthings do many things at once (pint-sized shopping
cart, anyone?) and are open-ended enough to continue to
fascinate your little explorer as he grows. Simple puzzles can
stimulate so many skills. They boost your toddler's hand-eye
coordination and teach him about sha