In today's tech-savvy world, engaging kids in robotics and engineering early can set them up for success. Let's talk about Tobbie the Robot, an award-winning educational toy that combines hands-on building with fun robotics. Perfect for kids aged 8 and up, Tobbie the Robot is one of the coolest STEM toys available. It provides an exciting introduction to robotics, engineering, and coding concepts—all while keeping them entertained without screens. Whether your child is an aspiring engineer, a curious tinkerer, or just loves interactive toys, Tobbie the Robot offers an educational experience that feels like pure fun.
So, what's Tobbie all about? It's a build-it-yourself robot kit that transforms individual pieces into a fully functional, interactive robot buddy. With its unique six-legged design, expressive LED eyes, and responsive sensors, Tobbie the Robot brings robotics to life, sparking kids' imaginations while teaching valuable STEM skills.
The kit has everything you need to assemble it—motors, gears, sensors, body panels, and detailed instructions. You only need two AAA batteries to bring Tobbie the Robot to life. The assembly process is educational, taking about 1 to 2 hours depending on your child's experience level, and it's a great chance for focused project work.
Once built, Tobbie the Robot becomes an interactive friend with several modes. In follow mode, he uses infrared sensors to detect and follow hand movements, making a fun game of robot tag. In explore mode, Tobbie the Robot navigates his environment independently, avoiding obstacles and finding new paths. It's an award-winning robot that combines the thrill of building something from scratch with the excitement of watching your creation come to life.
Hands-On STEM Learning That Sticks
Tobbie the Robot offers practical experience with science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in a fun, age-appropriate way. Instead of passive learning from books or videos, kids learn by doing—assembling circuits, understanding mechanical systems, and seeing firsthand how sensors and motors work together. This hands-on learning helps them understand and remember STEM principles better, serving them throughout their education.
Develops Critical Problem-Solving Skills
Building Tobbie the Robot involves following detailed instructions, picking the right parts from many components, and figuring out what to do when things don't work as expected. Did a gear not fit right? Is a wire loose? These aren't just frustrations—they're chances to learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Kids learn to tackle problems step-by-step, test ideas, and keep trying until they find solutions—skills that are useful beyond playtime.
Boosts Confidence and Independence
Successfully building and programming Tobbie the Robot gives kids a huge sense of achievement. There's something really empowering about creating a working robot with your own hands. This success builds confidence in their ability to tackle complex projects, follow instructions, and learn new skills on their own. Many parents say that completing Tobbie inspires kids to take on other building projects with new enthusiasm.
Encourages Creativity and Experimentation
Once built, Tobbie the Robot becomes a platform for creative play. Kids can test different commands, create obstacle courses, design challenges for Tobbie the Robot, and imagine new ways to interact with their robot friend. Some even customise Tobbie's look or create stories around their robot. This open-ended play nurtures creativity and imagination alongside technical skills.
Quality Screen-Free Interactive Play
Even though Tobbie the Robot is high-tech, he offers screen-free entertainment that gets kids involved in physical play instead of passive screen time. In a world where kids spend more time on tablets and phones, Tobbie the Robot is a refreshing alternative that's both educational and fun.
Perfect for Solo or Collaborative Play
Tobbie the Robot is great for both independent projects and collaborative activities. Kids can build Tobbie the Robot on their own, developing focus and self-reliance, or work with siblings, friends, or parents to complete the project together. Collaborative building teaches communication, teamwork, and the value of different perspectives in solving problems.
Engineering and Mechanical Skills
Building Tobbie teaches kids basic mechanical engineering principles. They learn how gears transfer motion, how motors turn electrical energy into movement, and how different parts work together to create complex functions. These lessons provide a foundation for understanding how machines work in the world around them.
Robotics and Technology Fundamentals
Through Tobbie the Robot, kids discover how robots sense and respond to their surroundings using infrared sensors. They learn about input and output systems—how sensors gather info and trigger actions. This intro to robotics shows kids that robots aren't magic; they're logical machines anyone can understand and create.
Following Instructions and Sequential Thinking
The assembly process helps kids develop the ability to follow multi-step instructions and understand the importance of sequence in achieving outcomes. They learn that Step 3 follows Step 2, and skipping steps can lead to mistakes. This kind of thinking is crucial for coding and many real-world tasks, like cooking or doing science experiments.
Spatial Awareness and Fine Motor Skills
Handling small parts, understanding how 3D pieces fit together, and visualizing the final product from diagrams all boost spatial reasoning. Connecting wires, fitting gears, and assembling panels develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination—skills useful in everything from handwriting to sports.
Patience and Perseverance
Building a working robot isn't always easy on the first try. Parts might not fit smoothly, instructions might need careful reading, and mistakes happen. Tobbie the Robot teaches kids patience, careful work, and perseverance. They learn that setbacks are normal and success comes from persistence, not perfection.
Introduction to Coding and Programming Logic
While Tobbie the Robot doesn't need traditional coding, his modes and responses to commands introduce kids to programming logic. They learn that specific inputs create predictable outputs—when I move my hand this way, Tobbie the Robot reacts that way. This understanding is the foundation of computational thinking, preparing kids for more coding experiences.
Tobbie the Robot fits right in with the Australian Curriculum's focus on STEM education and digital technologies. The Design and Technologies curriculum encourages creating solutions through investigating, designing, planning, and producing—just like building Tobbie the Robot. It offers a fun way for kids to develop important skills in our tech-driven world, while enjoying playtime parents can feel good about.
Parents and Educators are always on the lookout for educational toys that offer real learning value without skimping on fun, and Tobbie the Robot is just that. It's an investment in your child's education that doesn't feel like homework—it feels like an adventure.
Ready to introduce your child to the exciting world of robotics? Tobbie the Robot is available at KidzInc Australia, your go-to place for top-notch educational toys and STEM resources.
Whether you're hunting for an educational birthday gift, a school holiday project, or a way to spark your child's interest in robotics, Tobbie the Robot offers exceptional value and endless learning opportunities.
When it comes to building your baby's first toy collection, the choices can feel overwhelming. Walk into any toy store, and you'll be confronted with hundreds of options, each promising to be "essential" for your child's development. But if there's one toy that genuinely deserves a permanent spot in your baby's toy box, it's Tobbles Neo from Fat Brain Toy Co.
This isn't just another stacking toy gathering dust in the corner. Tobbles Neo has earned its reputation as a must-have through innovative design, genuine developmental benefits, and an almost magical ability to captivate babies from 6 months through toddlerhood and beyond. Let's explore why this award-winning toy has become a staple in nurseries across Australia and around the world.
Before we dive into what makes Tobbles Neo special, let's talk about stacking toys in general. Stacking toys are exactly what they sound like – toys designed to be stacked on top of each other. Traditional examples include ring stackers (those colourful rings that fit onto a central post) and nesting cups that fit inside one another.
These simple toys have been childhood staples for generations, and there's a good reason why. Stacking toys teach fundamental concepts that babies need to master: size relationships, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and cause and effect. When a baby successfully stacks one object on another, they're not just playing – they're learning physics, developing problem-solving skills, and building the fine motor control they'll need for everything from using utensils to writing.
But here's the thing: not all stacking toys are created equal. Many traditional stackers are too easy (rings that slide effortlessly onto a post) or too difficult (blocks that require precise placement), leading to either boredom or frustration. This is where Tobbles Neo revolutionises the category.
Tobbles Neo takes the concept of stacking and adds an element of wonder that traditional stackers simply can't match. The secret lies in its unique weighted design.
Each of the six brilliantly coloured spheres contains a different weight distribution. When your baby touches, pushes, or attempts to stack a sphere, it wobbles, spins, and teeters in unpredictable ways. This dynamic movement creates an irresistible invitation to explore. Unlike static stacking toys that sit perfectly still, Tobbles Neo spheres seem almost alive, responding to every touch with mesmerising motion.
This wobbling action serves multiple purposes. First, it captures and holds your baby's attention far longer than traditional stackers. Babies are naturally drawn to movement, and the unpredictable wobbles create a sense of delight and surprise with every interaction.
Second, the weighted design makes stacking easier for beginners while still providing an appropriate challenge. The spheres want to balance – their weight distribution helps them settle into stable positions – but babies still need to develop the coordination and problem-solving skills to make it happen. It's the perfect sweet spot between too easy and too hard.
1. It Grows With Your Child
One of the biggest frustrations with baby toys is how quickly they're outgrown. You invest in a toy, your baby loves it for a few weeks, and then it's relegated to the donation pile. Tobbles Neo is different.
At 6 months, your baby will be captivated by grasping the spheres, watching them wobble, and exploring the smooth textures and vibrant colours. The sensory experience alone provides months of engagement.
By 9-12 months, your baby will begin experimenting with stacking, learning about balance and gravity through hands-on exploration. The wobbling action provides instant feedback – they can see and feel when a sphere is balanced versus when it's about to topple.
From 18 months through 2+ years and beyond, children master increasingly complex stacking challenges. They'll create towers, experiment with different stacking orders, and invent their own wobbling games. Some children continue playing with Tobbles Neo well into preschool years, using it for imaginative play or as a calming sensory tool.
This longevity makes Tobbles Neo an exceptional value. While it's priced higher than basic stacking toys, the years of use you'll get from it make it a smart investment.
2. Genuine Developmental Benefits
As parents, we're bombarded with toys claiming to be "educational" or "developmental." Tobbles Neo actually delivers on these promises, and the benefits are backed by child development research.
Fine Motor Development: Grasping, manipulating, and stacking the spheres strengthens the small muscles in your baby's hands and fingers. These are the same muscles they'll need for self-feeding, drawing, and eventually writing.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Successfully stacking a wobbling sphere requires your baby to coordinate what they see with how they move their hands. This crucial skill develops through practice, and Tobbles Neo provides hundreds of opportunities for that practice.
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: When a sphere wobbles off the stack, your baby learns to adjust their approach. Should they try again the same way? Try a different angle? Use a different sphere? This trial-and-error learning builds resilience and problem-solving skills.
Spatial Reasoning: Understanding how objects fit together in three-dimensional space is fundamental to mathematics and science. Tobbles Neo teaches these concepts through play, long before your child encounters them in school.
Cause and Effect: Every action creates a reaction with Tobbles Neo. Push a sphere – it wobbles. Stack it carefully – it balances. Stack it carelessly – it falls. These immediate consequences help babies understand that their actions matter and have predictable results.
3. Screen-Free, Battery-Free Engagement
In our increasingly digital world, finding toys that genuinely engage babies without screens or electronics is more important than ever. Tobbles Neo captivates through elegant design and physics rather than flashing lights or sounds.
This screen-free engagement is crucial for healthy development. Research consistently shows that hands-on, open-ended play supports brain development better than passive screen time. With Tobbles Neo, your baby is actively exploring, experimenting, and learning – not just watching.
The battery-free design also means no annoying sounds, no dead batteries at inconvenient times, and no electronic components to break. It's pure, simple play that works anywhere, anytime.
4. Award-Winning Design You'll Actually Want in Your Home
Let's be honest – many baby toys are eyesores. Garish colours, cheap plastic, and designs that scream "baby toy" can make your living room feel like a daycare centre.
Tobbles Neo is different. Its sleek, modern design and beautiful colour palette make it a toy you won't mind having on display. The smooth, rounded spheres are visually appealing, and the quality construction means it looks good even after months of use.
This aesthetic appeal isn't just about parent preferences – it matters for babies too. The vibrant but not overwhelming colours are visually stimulating without being overstimulating. The clean, simple design lets babies focus on the play experience rather than being distracted by unnecessary details.
5. Safe, Durable, and Built to Last
Tobbles Neo is constructed from BPA-free plastic with smooth, rounded edges perfect for mouthing (because everything goes in baby's mouth at this age!). The spheres are sized appropriately – large enough to prevent choking hazards while still being easy for little hands to grasp.
Fat Brain Toy Co's commitment to quality means Tobbles Neo can withstand the rigours of baby play. Drops, throws, chewing, and enthusiastic handling won't damage these sturdy spheres. Many parents report that their Tobbles Neo set looks nearly new even after years of daily use.
6. Perfect for Independent Play
While interactive play with parents is crucial, babies also need opportunities for independent exploration. Tobbles Neo is ideal for solo play sessions. The open-ended nature means there's no "right" way to play – babies can explore at their own pace, following their curiosity wherever it leads.
This independent play builds confidence and self-reliance. When your baby successfully stacks the spheres without help, they experience genuine accomplishment. These small victories build the foundation for a growth mindset and love of learning.
Australian parents consistently praise Tobbles Neo for its ability to hold their baby's attention. "My 8-month-old will play with Tobbles for 20 minutes straight – that's an eternity in baby time!" shares one Melbourne mum. "I love that it's not electronic but still completely captivating."
Another parent notes, "We've had Tobbles Neo for over a year, and my daughter still plays with it daily. It's one of the few toys that hasn't been relegated to the back of the toy box."
In a market flooded with gimmicky toys that promise the world and deliver little, Tobbles Neo stands out as a genuine must-have. It combines beautiful design with real developmental benefits, grows with your child for years, and provides the kind of open-ended, hands-on play that supports healthy brain development.
Yes, it costs more than a basic ring stacker from the discount store. But when you consider the years of use, the developmental benefits, and the sheer joy it brings to babies, Tobbles Neo represents exceptional value.
At KidzInc, we've been recommending Tobbles Neo to Australian parents since it first arrived in 2015, and we've yet to hear from a family who regretted the purchase. It's one of those rare toys that lives up to the hype – and then exceeds it.
Ready to add Tobbles Neo to your baby's toy box? Shop our collection of Fat Brain Toy Co products and discover why this award-winning stacking toy has become a nursery essential for families across Australia.
Magna-Tiles are one of the most trusted magnetic construction tiles for children, used widely in homes, classrooms, and therapy settings. Parents, educators, and occupational therapists often ask whether the higher price is justified, how Magna-Tiles compare to other brands like Connetix or PicassoTiles, and the age range for which they are suitable. In this article, we break down the benefits, longevity, and professional insights to help you decide.
What Are Magna-Tiles? A Guide to Magnetic Construction TilesMagna-Tiles are magnetic construction tiles that allow children to build both two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures simply by connecting the edges. Each tile contains strong, securely sealed magnets encased in high-quality ABS plastic, making them safe, durable, and easy to handle for little hands. Because the tiles are transparent or brightly coloured, they also add a visual learning element, helping children explore colour, shape, and symmetry as they play.
First introduced in 1997, Magna-Tiles were the original magnetic tile construction system and have remained popular for over two decades. They have won numerous international toy awards, which is a testament to their educational value, safety, and durability.
The beauty of Magna-Tiles is their open-ended design. Unlike toys with fixed instructions or outcomes, children can freely experiment, test their ideas, and create structures limited only by their imagination. This makes them a powerful tool not just for play, but also for learning and development.
Magna-Tiles are widely used in homes, classrooms, early learning centres, and occupational therapy settings. Educators and therapists value them for teaching spatial reasoning, geometry, balance, and fine motor skills, while parents appreciate how they engage children independently, encourage collaborative play, and spark creativity.
Magna-Tiles provide a wide range of educational and developmental benefits, which is why they are trusted by parents, teachers, and therapists:
Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating tiles strengthens hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Spatial Reasoning & Geometry: Building structures teaches symmetry, balance, and geometric concepts.
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Children plan, test, and rebuild, developing cognitive skills.
Creativity & Open-Ended Play: Magna-Tiles allow unlimited imaginative possibilities.
Collaboration & Social Skills: Ideal for group projects or classroom play.
Occupational Therapy & Developmental Support: Used by Occupational Therapists (OTs) to improve coordination, bilateral skills, and spatial awareness.
Magna-Tiles are highly adaptable and grow with children, providing challenges and learning opportunities from ages 3 to at least 12 years.
Magna-Tiles are not just for younger children. At 7 years and beyond, children can engage in more complex builds, planning and experimenting with symmetry, balance, and engineering concepts. Educators and occupational therapists find Magna-Tiles useful for teaching spatial awareness, problem-solving, and motor coordination well into the upper primary years.
We recommend Magna-Tiles for children from 3 years old up to at least 12, although they can continue to engage older children in more complex and imaginative play. Our own children, now 13 and 15, played with Magna-Tiles every day for over 10 years, and we can confidently say you can never have too many tiles.
Magna-Tiles cost more than some other magnetic tiles because of their high-quality materials and rigorous safety standards. Each tile is made from durable, food-grade ABS plastic, with magnets safely sealed inside to prevent breakage. They also meet strict international safety requirements, ensuring they are safe for repeated use in homes, schools, and therapy rooms.
While lower-cost alternatives exist, their plastic is often thinner, magnets weaker, and durability limited. For professionals and families who value long-term educational toys, Magna-Tiles represent a worthwhile investment.
Many families ask whether Connetix Tiles are better than Magna-Tiles. Magna-Tiles remain our preferred choice due to their consistency, durability, and quality. They are designed for a wide range of ages and are ideal for early learning, primary education, and therapy applications.
Connetix Tiles were developed in Australia during a period when Magna-Tiles were less available. They are compatible with Magna-Tiles and can be used together. This makes it easy for families or schools to combine brands without issues, although our experience testing multiple magnetic tile brands shows that Magna-Tiles perform best over time, particularly in high-use environments.
When comparing Magna-Tiles to PicassoTiles, the decision usually comes down to durability and long-term use versus initial cost. Magna-Tiles are thicker, more durable, and maintain consistent magnet strength over years of use, making them ideal for classrooms and therapy settings. PicassoTiles may suit casual home use or lower budgets, but they typically do not provide the same longevity or reliability for daily play and learning.
Across homes, classrooms, and therapy settings, the feedback is consistent: Magna-Tiles remain in frequent use long after other toys have been rotated out. Parents appreciate that they engage children independently, while educators and therapists value their versatility, adaptability, and alignment with developmental goals.
Because Magna-Tiles do not rely on screens, batteries, or rigid instructions, they encourage independent thinking, creativity, and collaborative play.
Magna-Tiles are not the cheapest magnetic tiles available, but they are the original and most trusted magnetic construction toy. With a history dating back to 1997, numerous international toy awards, and decades of consistent use in homes, classrooms, and therapy spaces, they are a long-term investment in children’s learning and development.
We have been selling Magna-Tiles at KidzInc since 2014, and based on our testing of most brands, we continue to favour Magna-Tiles for their quality, durability, and versatility. This is one toy that truly grows with children, from 3 years up to at least 12, and beyond.
KidzInc has been an authorised seller of Magna-Tiles for many years, bringing these trusted magnetic construction tiles into homes, classrooms, and therapy spaces across Australia. Ready to introduce the creativity, learning, and hands-on fun of Magna-Tiles to your child or students?
Shop now at KidzInc and discover why families, educators, and occupational therapists have trusted Magna-Tiles for many decades.
Looking for one of the best balance toys for preschoolers in Australia? The Fat Brain Toy Co Teeter Popper is a hit with kids and parents alike! This award-winning toy (Parents’ Choice 2014, ASTRA Best Toys for Kids 2014) encourages active play, strengthens coordination, and makes learning balance fun—indoors or outdoors.
Since it first hit the Australian market in 2015, KidzInc was one of the first stores to sell the Teeter Popper, and our own kids have used it at home and had an absolute blast!
Absolutely! The Teeter Popper is perfect for children aged 3 and up to improve balance and motor skills. As kids bounce, wiggle, and teeter on the popper, they develop core strength, coordination, and body awareness. It’s a fun way to get toddlers and preschoolers moving while building confidence in their physical abilities.
The Teeter Popper is designed for children aged 3 years and older. While younger toddlers may need supervision, preschoolers love the challenge of hopping, bouncing, and balancing. It’s ideal for educational and active play for young children, helping them stay engaged while developing essential skills.
Yes! The Teeter Popper works perfectly as a fun indoor toy for preschoolers to improve coordination. Its soft, bouncy surface is safe for playrooms, bedrooms, or areas with floor boards or hard surfaces. Just make sure there’s enough space for kids to jump and balance safely. And yes, it’s sturdy enough for outdoor fun too!
Why is this toy so popular? The Teeter Popper combines fun, fitness, and education in one compact toy. Benefits include:
Boosts balance and coordination for toddlers and preschoolers
Strengthens core and leg muscles through active play
Encourages screen-free, indoor and outdoor movement
Builds confidence as children master new movements
Supports sensory development with motion and tactile feedback
Award-winning design, recognised by Parents’ Choice 2014 and ASTRA Best Toys for Kids 2014
Parents and kids love using the Teeter Popper in creative ways. Some fun Teeter Popper activities for active play at home include:
Bounce and hop: See how high your child can go!
Balance challenges: Stand, kneel, or try mini balancing games
Obstacle courses: Incorporate the popper into indoor or outdoor courses
Partner play: Take turns bouncing, counting jumps, or racing across the room
Balance develops gradually. Many children can stand on one foot between ages 2–4, while more refined coordination comes around ages 5–6. The Teeter Popper is a safe, fun, and engaging way to help children practice balance and coordination, supporting healthy physical development.
If you’re looking for safe and fun educational toys for preschoolers, the Teeter Popper is a winner. It’s perfect for indoor active play toys for young children, birthdays, holidays, or everyday movement at home. With its award-winning design, endless playful possibilities, and our own positive experience at home, it’s more than just a toy—it’s a tool for growing balance, confidence, and motor skills.
Give your preschooler hours of active fun with the Teeter Popper, one of the best balance toys in Australia. Boost coordination, encourage movement, and enjoy screen-free play— Shop now at KidzInc!
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The holiday season is filled with magic, anticipation, and cherished family traditions. If you're looking for a Christmas countdown that’s more meaningful than chocolate and plastic toys, the Magna-Tiles Advent Calendar is the perfect choice.
Designed for kids aged 3 and up, the Magna-Tiles Advent Calendar offers an engaging experience based child play format that’s both fun and educational. This holiday themed Magna Tiles set combines the joy of hands-on creativity with the excitement of daily surprises.
Behind each of the 24 numbered doors lies a surprise—no sugar, no clutter—just a themed Magna-Tiles piece, such as stars, sleighs, trees, and ornaments. These superior quality Magna-Tiles pieces are built to last and seamlessly integrate into any collection.
Kids can track inside the back cover as they collect each piece, watching their build come to life day by day. By the final day of December, your child will have a complete experience based child led holiday scene they built themselves—tile by tile.
Families call it a fan favourite alternative to traditional advent calendars. Here’s why:
Creativity Unlocked: Each day adds a new layer of possibility to your child’s imagination.
STEM Learning Built In: Helps children develop spatial awareness, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities.
A Bonding Experience: Building together becomes a joyful part of your family’s festive routine.
Grows with Your Child: These tiles work with all purpose Magna Tiles sets, meaning the fun doesn’t stop at Christmas.
This is more than a seasonal gift—it’s a learning tool disguised as play:
STEM Foundation: Kids explore shapes, patterns, and balance through play.
Fine Motor Skills: Magnetic pieces are ideal for building hand-eye coordination.
Safe Frustration Free Building: The signature lattice prevents cracking, ensuring durability and ease of use.
Creative Playtime: Watch kids design anything from a space pet playhouse downhill to festive scenes straight from their imagination.
Unlike calendars filled with chocolate that vanish by morning tea, the Magna-Tiles Advent Calendar becomes part of your child’s toy rotation. You can even add Magna Tiles classic or explore Magna Tiles sets including new emergency-themed designs.
Whether it’s a pet playhouse downhill duo or a festive reindeer sleigh, the creations your child builds will represent their curiosity, patience, and creativity.
Purchase your Magna-Tiles Advent calendar from KidzInc Australia, an authorised Magna-Tiles seller with over a decade of experience. Magna-Tiles have been the original magnetic tiles since 1997, known for safety guaranteed all Magna-Tiles, and loved by families and educators worldwide.
So whether you're shopping for adventure loving kids ages 3 and up or expanding your current collection, the Magna-Tiles Advent Calendar is the kind of gift that builds joy—day after day.
Choosing a doll for your child is often a tough decision. How can you know whether your child will appreciate and enjoy a specific doll? Bonikka Dolls are an amazing choice. These soft dolls, rag dolls, and cloth dolls are handmade with gorgeous fabrics. They come in both contemporary and traditional designs that are soft and huggable and safe for babies and toddlers as well as older children. This timeless, classic soft toy is sure to become a favourite for your child or children.Â
There are many benefits associated with allowing kids, including both boys and girls, to play with dolls, and Bonikka Dolls, with their timeless design, are some of the best options available.Â
It takes a lot of imagination to play with Bonikka Dolls and other toys. Children get to imagine who their dolls are and what their relationship is to the other dolls and toys around them--as well as to the child themselves. Playing with dolls encourages creative thinking skills and encourages the child to explore imaginatively. Playing with dolls, including Bonikka dolls, offers endless opportunity for creative exploration and a wide range of potential scenarios that can help encourage creative thinking.Â
Those vital creative thinking skills often help kids in many other areas of their lives. Children who are creative thinkers are adaptive, ready to handle challenges, and often highly engaged with their environments.
As your child plays with their doll, they will have the chance to manipulate the doll, bounce it, and hold it. Soft dolls are great for little learners who are developing their early fine motor skills and for older learners who may want to pose their dolls, put food or other items in their hands, or engage with them in a variety of activities.Â
Motor skills are incredibly important at all stages of a child's development. A child with strong motor skills is often better able to handle schoolwork down the road as well as being better able to take on a number of tasks, including dressing, eating, and picking up toys after playing.Â
Playing with dolls is a great way to encourage little ones to develop a strong sense of empathy that may carry them later in life, too. Often, playing with dolls helps encourage children to view concepts and situations through the lens of someone else's experience. Playing with dolls also helps them imagine what future life, including life with kids, might look like. Many of the children playing with dolls today will be parents in the future, and the skills they develop playing with those dolls may help carry them as they parent their children.
In addition, many children will relate and talk to their dolls, sharing their secrets with them and taking comfort in them when they feel sad or lonely. Bonikka dolls, with their soft construction, are ideal for developing empathy and connection.Â
When children role play with a doll, they have the opportunity to pretend that they are the grown-up and that the doll needs their assistance. Playing with dolls can help encourage children to take on more independent tasks, from setting the table to tying their own shoes. As they "help" their dolls with those tasks, many children will develop a deeper understanding of how to perform the task on their own, which may better prepare them to take on those tasks in everyday life.Â
Bonikka Dolls are beautiful, soft, timeless toys that can help bring your child immense comfort and encourage a variety of creative play opportunities. With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find a doll that will fit your child's unique needs and personality.Â
You can go to our Bonikka Doll Range to purchase your next soft doll.
Rag dolls have a wonderful history over centuries of family life and child-rearing. Mothers in the 17th and 18th centuries would save cloth from sewing projects to make into dolls for their children, earning the doll's name. Each doll's body would be stuffed with rags, while the clothing would be made of cloth scraps. Rag doll faces would be stitched into simple happy smiles by the mother or even painted on by the children themselves.
Today, we rarely make rag dolls by hand, but rag dolls still serve an important role in early childhood development.
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Rag dolls play an important role from a very early age. A baby's first soft toys become essential to their comfort and sense of safety. When a baby sleeps with a rag doll, it acquires a familiar scent, just like their blanket. The doll can be used to provide familiar comfort when traveling and make a new crib feel like home. Babies are comforted by the presence of a beloved rag doll. When your child is old enough to sleep on their side or stomach, a rag doll becomes a snuggle buddy, and less bulky than a typical stuffed animal.
Rag dolls can be made to be safe for infants and young toddlers by minimising the small or detachable pieces. Rag dolls without hair and with stitched instead of button features are safe to snuggle in the crib.
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One of the wonderful things about rag dolls is their simplicity. Young children need simple toys that inspire open-ended play. Young children are learning how to think, imagine, and explore. Their toys can become anything or anyone - provided they are not too specific. This is why young toddlers love toys like blocks and soft dolls that can become anything they want.
Rag dolls typically have simple features, often without even requiring a gender for the doll. This leaves everything to your child's imagination. Rag dolls provide a companion and a prop for many adventures, from their first game of House to riding on the back of their trike as your toddler grows up.
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Dolls are an important part of play for both boys and girls. A doll is a pretend person who can play the baby in a game of House, the patient in a game of Doctors Office, or the damsel in a game of Super Heroes. A doll can live in your child's block castle, ride their largest stuffed animal, or become their closest friend to tell their secrets to. Rag dolls, with their friendly yet simple design, let your child write them into every role-play adventure.
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Finally, rag dolls can make bedtime easier for children from babies to elementary school. A comforting soft toy helps to ward away nighttime worries, provide something soft to snuggle, and that familiar smell that means "my bed" for small children. A rag doll can stay with your child for years as a favourite bedtime toy, even after they stop being a part of daytime playtime.
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Are you looking for the perfect set of toys for your baby, toddler, or preschooler? A rag doll can provide comfort, imagination, and companionship for a young child by letting them write everything except the snuggly softness of the doll itself. You can find a wonderful collection of handmade, organic, and baby-safe rag dolls at Kidzinc. Explore our selection to find the perfect rag doll for your toddler or a young child in your life. Not sure which doll is the right choice? Contact us for pointers from our natural toy enthusiasts.