I have [11 TOY CATEGORIES] in my system for quiet time, toy rotation, and independent play. The smallest category (in terms of how many toys we have) is by far nurturing toys. But in terms of importance, nurturing toys is one of –if not the most–important category of all.
That’s because these toys teach your child how to care for others, help others, help themselves, seek help when they don’t know how, and build productive, kind members of society. š§ø
What is Nurturing Play?
Nurturing play is any play where a kid takes care of something else… Or perhaps their own self-care. This can be a doll, a stuffed pet, a plant that needs water. The common thread is responsibility for something outside themselves.
A lot of nuturing play overlaps with pretend play, which is completely fine. A child feeding their baby tiger stuffed animal, giving it a bath, and putting it down for a nap is nurturing as well as pretend playing a parent or veterinarian.
Sometimes nuturing toys (like dolls, digital pets, dress-up sets, and play kits) can be rotated into the current toy rotation. Othertime, things like a plant that they take care of, or brushing their hair before bed can stay out as permanent fixtures in the house.
When Nuturing Play and Pretend Play Collide
One minute my two boys are changing their baby doll’s diapers and sweetly talking about “when they become daddies,” later on š„°… The next minute, the dolls have become semi-automatic poop machines and they are chasing eachother around the house pretending to poop on one another š¤¦āāļø.
This was definitely a moment that I look back on often as a good example of how a nuturing toy can quickly get swept into a pretend play scenario, and a very sweet moment then makes you question everything you’ve ever taught them š.
Sometimes it’s important to redirect the play:
- They are pretending to hurt the toy, someone else, or themselves
- They are actually breaking the toy or using it to cause property damage
- They are talking about the toy inappropriately (ex: my doggy was being bad so I am going to make him sit out in the rain)
Sometimes it’s ok to wait and teach later:
- Let them serve poop cakes from their pretend kitchen
- Let them hide their baby in a dark cave
- Let them pretend shave all the hair off their stuffed kitten
And then, once the fun has passed, explain how food safety is important for keeping everyone in the house healthy. That a baby left by itself might get scared and need it’s mommy or daddy. And that animals have fur to regulate their body temperature and protect their skin.
…And sometimes, it’s ok to just let the silly play be silly play.
In the case of the great poopocolipse I was describing above š© I never intervened, I never corrected. Afterall, they we’re hurting eachother or the dolls, they were simply using their imaginations (gross imaginations) to run around and have fun like a 2 and 4 year old child might.
The Best Types of Pretend Play Toys
1. Baby Dolls & Accessories
This shouldn’t be a huge surprise, but baby dolls are the best ways to teach little children about new life, nurturing, and raising caring mommies and daddies.
I will forever remember the Christmas where I gifted my sons baby carriers for their dolls, and everyone watching laughed as the boys tossed them to the side with their eyes set on the LEGO sets and Monster Trucks. Meanwhile, what was the very first thing they did when we got back to our house after opening toys? They went right to their baby dolls, grabbed their carriers, and spent the evening playing “mommy.” š
JC Toys Boutique Folding Umbrella Doll Stroller
Strollers make great walkers for little ones who are just starting to walk, and continue to be used for pretend play around the house.
Corolle 12" Soft Baby Doll
I love Corolle dolls from when I lived in France as a kid. There are other great baby doll brands out there like JC Toys and Melissa & Dog.
- Perfect First Doll: Ideal soft baby doll for toddlers; Lightweight 12-inch size with bean-filled body makes this cute baby doll easy to grasp and carry; Realistic baby doll girl features create special bond between child and toddler baby doll for nurturing play
- Sensory Experience: Delicate vanilla-scented vinyl skin appeals to the senses; Soft body baby doll with realistic features including eyes that open and close; Perfectly sized doll babies for little hands to hold and cuddle. muu00f1ecas para niu00f1as
- Quality Design: Trusted Corolle brand with over 30 years of experience creating realistic baby dolls; Designed in France with premium materials; Soft body construction allows doll to be posed like a real baby for lifelike play
- Developmental Benefits: Baby doll for girls ages 18 months and up encourages nurturing skills and imaginative play; This real baby doll becomes a treasured companion for years of loving playtime experiences, like a realistic reborn baby doll
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Carrier
My kids love playing mommy and carrying their baby dolls around.
- Adjustable cloth baby carrier for stuffed animals and dolls up to 18 inches; sturdy high-quality construction with reinforced border bindings
- Includes butterfly rattle, baby bottle, stuffed toy bear, reusable double-sided activity card
- Mine to Love accessories encourage empathy and help kids express themselves as they explore grown-up roles and responsibilities
JC Toys Deluxe Disappearing Magic Bottles
These are a classic that make your kids feel like they are really feeding their babies.
- PERFECT SIZE and LIGHTWEIGHT // SEALED liquid moves just like the real thing when you feed your doll.
- SAFETY TESTED AND APPROVED // Made with non-scented, BPA free, safety tested.
- TEACHES CHILDREN NURTURING SKILLS // Doll accessories promote holding, cuddling and special care. Perfect accessory for any doll.
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Bathtime Play Set
Teach your kids about how to bathe and the hygeine needs of others.
- 19-piece realistic diaper-changing and bathing accessories sized just right for dolls and stuffed animals
- Bathtime items include soap and dish, shampoo and bubble bath bottles, rubber duck, bath book, washcloth, hooded owl towel
- Mine to Love accessories encourage empathy and help kids express themselves as they explore grown-up roles and responsibilities
Melissa & Doug Wooden Play Cradle
Help your little ones soothe their dolls and stuffies, sing them lullabies, and put them in their crib for sleep.
2. Little Live Pets
My youngest goes nuts for these things, so we have invested a lot into the Little Live Pets ecosytem. They provide feedback when you give them love, food, and attention. They express their needs, and are overall a great nuturing toy.
Little Live Pets My Baby Monkey
This little Monkey needs love, attention, cuddles, and milk! Teach your child to care for others and build empathy toward animals and their needs.
- Interactive Plush Toy Design: This monkey plush toy has a realistic look and feel with soft fur, big monkey ears, and cute details; Mango the monkey comes with a bottle, adoption certificate, and instruction booklet for added fun and bonding
- Responds to Touch: Tickle your baby monkey doll on the tummy to hear giggles, lay him down to hear a sweet lullaby, or let him nap while hanging upside down; these boys and girls toys react to love and attention, making playtime more engaging
- Realistic Actions: The grippy hands and feet allow this toy monkey to grab onto things, hang from branches, or even your childu2019s arm; swing the monkey interactive toy around in the air, and these monkey toys will react to you, just like a real animal
Little Live Pets Mama Surprise
This toy is a lot of fun because your child needs to care for both the mama and the babies. It helps teach them about life cycles, and how caring for parents is important.
- Interactive Mama Guinea Pig: Nurture your mama guinea pig toy for kids by patting her, feeding her, and brushing her to make her heart light up in joy u2013 this guinea pig talking toy is ideal for nurturing play for ages 4 and above
- Magical Birth Surprise: Our soft, interactive guinea pig plush toy for girls and boys comes with a deluxe hutch u2013 witness the magic as our stuffed guinea pig figurine enters her hutch and reveals her three adorable babies
Little Live Pets Ouchies Vet Kit Hamster
These Little Live pets teach kids about caring for animals.
- 20+ SOUNDS, LIGHTS & REACTIONS – These kids toys are super interactive and respond to your touch with adorable sounds, and their cheeks even glow when they're sick or hurt to show you how they're feeling
- INTERACTIVE VET KIT – This critter clinic is complete with everything you need to nurse your hamster back to health, including a thermometer, vet bed, medicine, an ice-pack and more
- HEALED & HAPPY – This animal care toy lets kids heal Coco, once healed, Coco's cheeks will stop glowing and she will play a happy sound to let you know she's feeling better!
3. Pretend Play Costumes & Kits
Let your little one pretend to take care of sick patients, or clean someone’s teeth. How about washing and styling someone’s hair?
Just know that (like I said above), sometimes pretend play can go awry and suddently the doctor is no longer a doctor but a mad scientist.
Parent Tip: If your kids never use pretend play toys for nuturing, consider showing them every once in a while how to “properly” play with the instruments or tools. Or, skip pretend play toys when you’re looking for nurturing toys.
Melissa & Doug Get Well Doctor Kit
Our kids have used this set for years. The set is complete, so your kids can use tools just like their doctors do at their checkups. It's great for pretend play, and learning to care for others.
- Imaginative Doctor Play: Kids check on patients, give pretend shots, and write prescriptions for endless imaginative medical play that sparks creativity and role-playing fun every day
- 25-Piece Doctor Kit: Includes stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, syringe, hearing tester, and more, all stored in a handy tote for toy storage and on-the-go play
- Open-Ended, Screen-Free Play: Builds empathy, communication & problem-solving through preschool learning activities that encourage creativity, confidence & social interaction through pretend play
Top Bright Veterinarian Kit
Believe it or not this is a STEM toy! When the dog is sick, it's nose will change a certain color. To heal the dog, the child must complete a series of actions (give medicine, listen to heart, etc.) in order. These are the foundations of coding!
- Interactive Vet Play Set: Watch as kids learn to respond to their puppy's health signals! With different colored lights representing various ailments, toddlers will help the dog get better with diagnostic card. Kids will hear the delightful licking when feeding the pill and get a playful response when using the syringe, the perfect vet role-play experience. Note: The puppy's nose changes color randomly every 1-2 minutes.
Melissa & Doug Super Smile Dentist Play Set
We bought this for our son who was apprehensive about his first dentist visit, and we wanted to show him all of the tools that he would see at the office. He brought the kit to the dentist with him, and too this day they call him "doctor," when he walks in š
- Complete Dentist Play Set: Featuring oversized teeth & big, chunky dental toolsu2014a vibrating drill & polisher, cavity stickers, floss, wiggly teeth, braces & moreu2014just like in a real dental office
- Skill-Building Pretend Play Toys: Kids can role play teeth cleaning, putting on braces & even tooth extractions, with premium-quality dentist toys, that will complement any doctor kit for preschoolers 3-5
- Open-Ended, Screen-Free Play: Teaches dental hygiene & preschool learning activitiesu2014counting, hand-eye coordination, memory & empathyu2014using kids' dress up & pretend play to keep them active & engaged
Melissa & Doug Hair Stylist Role Play Set
Now that my kids know that brushing mommy's hair isn't hitting her on the head with the brush, I would choose to play hair stylist every day! My kids love getting to actually practice brushing and styling hair, and I can sit back and relax while they come up with their creation.
- Young stylists can brush, comb, cut and curl with this set
- Includes cool-blowing hair dryer, non-cutting scissors, headband and plastic hand mirror
- Machine-washable costume and wipe-clean accessories; this product ships in its own special e-commerce packaging intended to be easier to open and reduce waste (curbside recyclable)
Battat Kids Sweep n' Clean Pretend Play Kit
Toddlers love to clean. I wish preschoolers did š¤£. Let them pretend to be little grown ups and do chores around the house. This also functions as a nuturing toy where children learn to care for their house and surroundings.
- Five Familiar Tools: This pretend play kit includes a broom, mop, brush, dustpan, and duster.
- Wooden cleaning toy set.
Step2 Kitchen Playset
We've loved this kitchen at our house for years.
- 25 Pieces and accessories
- Dog/pet feeding area
- Realistic lights and sounds
B. toys Play Sink
My youngest LOVES this sink. The running water makes it feel just like the real thing. I can't say I'm entirely sure what he does with it… but I do know he has a blast and plays for a long time!
- Sink Play Set: Play house with a realistic kitchen sink set that features a colorful twist!
- 15 Accessories: This toy sink comes with 2 plates, 2 cups, 2 forks, 2 knives, 2 pieces of play food, a colander, a sink caddy, a scrub brush, dish soap, and a decorative flower.
- Faucet & Running Water: This playset includes a working faucet u2013 simply remove the sink, add water, pop it back in and turn on the faucet!
- Color-Changing Dishware: Pour warm water on the play dishes and watch them change color right before your eyes!
Some pretend play costumes we love!
Melissa & Doug Doctor Costume
I personally love the full Melissa & Doug doctor's kit along with the Libery doctor's costume and real stethoscope because this combo provides the most complete doctor's kit. But, this costume is a great beginner doctor set because it has the costume as well as a few tools.
- DOCTOR COSTUME PLAYSET u2013 Kids ages 3u20136 can dress up in a realistic doctoru2019s coat, face mask, stethoscope with sound effects (batteries required), thermometer, syringe, reflex hammer, and reusable name tag
- INSPIRES CREATIVITY & LEARNING u2013 Encourages imaginative play, empathy, and problem-solving as kids explore life as a doctor through dress-up, pretend checkups, and caring medical adventures
Hape Super Stylish Hair Salon Set
Teach little ones to care for their appearance, and the hygeine of others with this fun hair stylist pretend play set. This is a complete set with everything you need from fake scissors (that won't cut hair!) to curlers and clips.
- MADE FOR SMALL HANDS: Accessories are specifically designed with smooth, rounded edges, making them safe and comfortable for little hands to play with.
- REALISTIC FUN: The hairdryer makes realistic sounds, giving young children an even more realistic and engaging hair-cutting experience.
- PLENTY OF PIECES: This styling set includes a hairdryer, hair clips, hair rollers, hair straightener, brush, mirror, comb, pair of scissors, spray bottle, stylist`s apron and a client`s cape.
- REALISTIC FUN: The hairdryer makes realistic sounds, giving young children an even more realistic and engaging hair-cutting experience.
Melissa & Doug Policer Officer Costume
Just like all of the Melissa & Doug costume sets, this one is complete with everything you would need to play police officer or detective!
- REALISTIC POLICE COSTUME FOR KIDS u2013 Includes jacket, cap, badge, name tag, whistle, handcuffs, and sound-effect walkie-talkie (batteries required). Ideal for ages 3u20136 and imaginative role play fun!
- INSPIRES CREATIVITY & LEARNING u2013 Sparks imaginative storytelling, problem-solving, and heroic adventures as kids explore life in law enforcement through dress-up and pretend play
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume
We love Melissa & Doug costumes because they come with lots of fun accessories. It's like getting a costume and toy set in one.
- REALISTIC FIRE CHIEF PLAYSET – Kids ages 3-5 will love playing the part of a fire chief with this play set that includes a jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn, and the reusable name tag
4. Plants and Nature
These stay out all the time (so the plants don’t wither). Kids love responsability. Watering a small plant, pruning some leaves, or even digging and planting wild flowers.
Creative Kids Miracle GRO Root Viewer Garden Kit
Teach your kids responsability with caring for plants from seeds to seedlings. Plus they can learn about root system with this root viewer.
- Let Creativity Bloom: Personalize and Decorate your indoor garden with the stickers & measuring worm provided to add that special touch.
- Help Kids Grow: Improve fine motor skills, gain a sense of responsibility & take pride in what you can accomplish. It is perfect science project that will teach planting and growing vegetables.
National Geographic Flower and Herb Garden Activity
Teach your kids about plants and lifecycles, as well as giving them responsability for something living. Routine watering and pruning teaches them nuturing skills.
- GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN – With this complete set, kids will have fun decorating their pots, then planting cosmos, nasturtium, and basil seeds. The included materials make growing an herb and flower garden easy!
- PAINTABLE POTS KIDS CAN DECORATE – This super-fun kids garden kit includes three durable, stainless steel pots that are perfect for decorating! Kids can use the 15 stickers and 6 paints included with the kit to make their garden beautiful!
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Gargening Tote
Let your kids help in the garden and teach them about how to gently care for plants and trees.
- Brightly patterned tote, complete with child-sized garden tools
- Garden tools–shovel, rake, and spray bottle–made of easy-clean plastic
- Encourages outdoor exploration and an interest in the natural world
5. Board Games
I mainly suggest cooperative board games as nurturing toys. It makes kids listen to each other and work together toward a common goal. There is also the “Who’s Feeling What,” game which I think helps kids recognize emotions.
Peaceable Kingdom has our favorite cooperative games.
Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens Cooperative Game
Board games are a great way to introduce close-ended toys. They can follow rules, take turns, and either win or lose.
- COOPERATIVE COUNTING PLAY: Removes competitive pressure and teaches little ones how fun teamwork can be. Players work together, count their moves, and celebrate every chick they bring back to the coop
- MADE FOR LITTLE FARMERS: Created for 2-4 players ages 3 and up. Includes a beautifully illustrated board, premium wooden hen and chick pieces, a chicken coop, spinner, and easy instructions. Average play time is about 15 minutes
Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot Cooperative Game
Close-ended games can also be cooperative games (where you win or lose as a team). I love co-op games for my kids who struggle with winning and losing.
- Players work cooperatively against a common obstacle to win!
Peaceable Kingdom Race to the Treasure! Cooperative Game
Kids can learn to work together toward a similar goal. This teaches empathy, listening to others, and seeing other points of view.
- Players work together to beat the Ogre to the treasure by creating a path from start to finish; if they are successful everyone wins!
- Children learn strategy and social development skills with no reading required
Who's Feeling What? Game
In this game, parents can read clues to their child about how different people are feeling. They have to find the face that matches.
- Spot the Face, Spot the Emotion: Inspired by distance learning, this social-emotion learning game and activity set helps kids strengthen their SEL skills as they match the callers with their feelings!
- Never the Same Activity Twice: With 12 double-sided caller cards and 12 double-sided emotion prompt cards, this communication game for kids lets you design a new game board every time you play!
- A Fun Way to Talk About Feelings: Ready for use at home or in the classroom, Whou2019s Feeling What? comes with an SEL activity guide with ideas on how to use this emotion toy to get kids talking and learning!
- When kids kearn how to recognize, understand, and feel their feelings, they build the skills they need to make friends, master teamwork, and live a happier, healthier life!. school supplies, teacher supplies
6. Puppets
Kids can act out scenes of sharing, caring, and helping one another.
Melissa & Doug Safari Buddies Hand Puppet Set
Our local library has this set and it's always in use. Kids love to have a live audience and put on a performance (whether it is practiced or impromptu) and grown ups can enjoy the show!
- Set includes 6 soft, washable safari hand puppets featuring elephant, tiger, parrot, giraffe, monkey, and zebra, perfect for imaginative play and storytelling.
- Sturdy wooden puppet theater with non-tip base, plush curtains, movable clock hands, and chalkboard panel for show information.
7. Little People Sets & Dollhouses
These can set the scene and provide the characters to act out:
- playing house
- playing school
- playing doctor
- playground rules
- etc.
Bluey XL House Playset
We got our Bluey house second-hand and my kids love to re-enact scenes from their favorite episodes, and create their own new adventures for Bluey, Bingo, and friends.
Little People Sets We Love
Fisher-Price Little People Fire Truck
This fire truck is a lot of fun with the lights and realistic sounds. The kids love to use the ladder to put out fires all over the house (pretend fires, of course!).
- Push-along toy fire truck with lights, music and sounds for toddler and preschool pretend play
- Manually lift and move the ladder to act out fun rescues
- Includes 2 Little People figures sized just right for small hands to grasp & move
Fisher-Price Little People Friends Together Play House
Babies and toddlers alike love Fisher-Price Little People sets. And it *doesn't have to be this set.* There are Little People sets to match whatever interests your little one has.
- Electronic home playset that folds for storage with 3 best friend figures and 7 additional play pieces
- 6 activation points including light-up radio, light switch, front door, kitchen 'tablet,' refrigerator, oven, and toilet that 'flushes'
- Lots of play for kids to discover including 4 rooms in the house, outdoor patio with swimming pool and working tree swing
- Helps foster fine motor skills and encourages imaginative storytelling play for toddlers and preschool kids ages 1 to 5 years old
Fisher-Price Little People Play for All School
This set let's kids pretend play playground scenes and act out teachers helping students.
- Hands-on play: rock both figures on the wheelchair-accessible swing, slide the elevator up & down, spin the weather wheel, toggle the garden, and flip the table scene
- Helps strengthen fine motor skills, introduce cause & effect, and encourage storytelling for toddler and preschool kids ages 1 year and older
Fisher-Price Little People Animals Farm Playset
I think it's universal that all kids love farms. This one teaches kids to care for animals, pretend to be a farmer, and folds up for easy storage.
- 3 Smart Stages learning levels grow along with your child & teach counting, opposites, animal sounds, and colors with fresh songs, sounds & phrases
- Playset comes with 1 farmer figure, 4 animal figures & 2 food play pieces, all sized for small hands to grasp & move, helping to strengthen fine motor skills
- Helps foster fine motor skills and encourages imaginative storytelling play for toddlers and preschool kids ages 1 to 5 years old
Fisher-Price Little People Playhouse
Sometimes kids just need a familiar setting where they are cared for (like their home) to act out scenes of empathy, caring, and nurturing for others. You don't need a giant dollhouse, even this compact one is perfect.
- Interactive pretend playhouse for toddlers and kids with 50 sounds, songs & phrases
- Includes Little People Mom, Dad and Emma figures, plus table and 3 chairs; all pieces store inside the playset with a handle to travel play
- Helps strengthen fine motor skills and encourages imaginative play and storytelling for toddler and preschool kids ages 1 to 5 years old
Fisher-Price Little People School
A familiar setting, like a school where they are cared for by teachers, nurses, and friends, is a great place to pretend play and act out scenes of nuturing and caring for others.
- Interactive schoolhouse playset with fun songs and sounds that introduces kids to making friends
- Helps strengthen fine motor skills and encourages imaginative storytelling play for toddler and preschool kids ages 1 to 5 years old
8. Sea Monkeys
A simple pet like Sea Monkeys are low-maintenance for the parents, and give the kids some responsability to feed, watch, and care for.
Sea-Monkeys Ocean Zoo
If your child is begging for a pet, but you're not ready for the comittment. Give them something small to care for like Sea Monkeys. This also gives them responsability and teaches them to care consistently for others.
9. Tamagotchi Pocket Pet
Tamagotchis might be a little advanced for the 4-6 year old crowd; however, both of my boys are able to navigate the menus and resolve problems, feed, and train theirs after just a few sessions from me on how they work.
Tamagotchi Original
A Tamagotchi might be too advanced for a 6 year old. But mine (even my 4 year old) got the hang of it after a few training sessions. They love "flushing the toilet," "feeding," and "hugging," their Tamagotchi.
- The Original Tamagotchi digital pet you loved in 1997 is back! Feed it, turn lights on/off, play with it, give it medicine, flush after its used the bathroom, check itu2019s health and discipline your Tamagotchi if he bothers you when heu2019s happy, fed and all cleaned up.
- Raise your Tamagotchi from egg to child to adult and how you take care of it will decide which of the 7 Adults youu2019ll get.
10. Self-Care Tools
My husband likes to chuckle when things like a new booster seat, potty seat, or step stool make their way into our gift piles. But I know kids and they want to be independent little creatures. They get excited over things like this. And when it is a gift, they cherish it!
Dyforce Kids Step Stool
Teaching kids to nurture can also apply to themselves. Teach them to care for their hygiene and solve small problems (like getting a cup of water) by themselves. We use these foldable stepstools at home for just these uses.
- Perfect for office environments, this foldable step stool provides ergonomic support for reaching high shelves or filing cabinets, while its compact design tucks neatly under desks for space-efficient storage
Little2Big Toilet Seat
Teaching your child to care for others can look like teaching them to do things for themselves as well. This toilet seat (along with a step stool) allows them to set up their potty and go to the bathroom independently (wiping can come later!).
- Transition from Adult to Child Use with Ease: 2-in-1 toilet seat works for the whole family, the potty seat stays secured in the lid during adult use and kids simply lift the toddler seat to release
- Saves Space in the Bathroom: Built-in plastic toddler potty seat eliminates the need for an extra potty chair or insert – eliminating bathroom clutter and extra cleaning tasks
- Fits Round Toilets: This USA made seat measures 14.38u201d wide x 16.95u201d long and fits all standard elongated toilets including American Standard, Kohler, Toto and more; measure your toilet in seconds – watch our video above to learn how
- Slow Close & Quiet: Soft close toilet lid prevents loud slamming and pinched little fingers, simply tap the lid closed
Eiury Toddler Booster Seat
Teaching kids empathy and nurturing can also be demonstrated through self-help tasks at home. My kids have their booster chairs so they can get up and down from the table independently (no straps or sides). It also lets them be a part of family dinner conversation.
- Effective Heightening: The interior of our booster seat is 3.5 inches thick high-density foam, which can provide effective support and allow children to eat or play at a suitable height
- Safety and Stability: Each booster seat has 2 adjustable safety belts and unfolding fixed straps. There are also anti-slip particles at the bottom, which can effectively secure the cushion and prevent it from sliding
Wet Brush Original
Teaching your little one to brush hair (their own or yours) is an important skill. You're combining the fine motor movements with a sensory experience. It's also teaching them about how delicate nature can be.
- Untangle Your World: IntelliFlex bristles glide through tangles with ease with 55% less breakage for healthier-looking hair
- Painless: Flexible bristles minimize pain and protect against split ends and breakage.
Wooden Cooking & Baking Set
Kids can learn all about caring for others when preparing food. Food needs to be handled gently, and requires patience.
- Complete Kit For Budding Chefs: The kids kitchen tools set has all the essentials for real cooking fun – 2 kids-safe knives, a cutting board, a wooden chopper, whisk, rolling pin, 4 spatulas & 4 shape cutters. It also includes a recipe card & convenient storage bag
- Safe, Durable and Just The Right Size: Crafted for little hands, the toddler cooking set is made from durable beech & bamboo wood, BPA, PVC & Phthalate-free. Cleaning the top-notch toddler kitchen tools is easy, just wipe or hand wash (no soaking)
Colgate Kids Bluey Toothbrush Gift Pack
A toothbrush doesn't seem like a cool gift to a 7 or 8 year old, but for a 2 or 3 year old? It's amazing how excited they will get!
- Teach your little one independence with brushing teeth (supervised of course)
- Show your child how to care for their body
Why Nobody Talks About This Category
Nurturing toys do not photograph as well as a colorful block set, and they do not have the STEM buzzword attached to sell them, so they get skipped in almost every gift guide and toy list I have read. Yet, as a [FORMER TEACHER] I know that a lot of empathy is taught, “put yourself in their shoes,” “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
When it came to creating my kid’s Christmas and birthday wish lists, nurturing toys were a priority. Even if there was a new LEGO set that they really wanted.
We can’t assume that role-play toys are enough–cough, poopocolipse, cough. So we need to make sure that kids have a lot of ways to engage in the care of others, as well as the effort that goes in to their own care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any toy where a kid cares for something else, a doll, a stuffed pet, or a real plant. The skill being built is responsibility and empathy for something outside themselves, which is different from role play, even though the two overlap a lot.
Simple holding and comforting with a soft doll or stuffed animal works from around 12 to 18 months. More structured caretaking, feeding routines and pet grooming sets, tends to start closer to age 3.
Yes. Every kid benefits from practicing caretaking and empathy, and a stuffed pet or a plant to water works for any kid regardless of interest in dolls specifically.
It can be, depending on how it is played with. A stuffed animal that just sits on a shelf is not doing much. The same stuffed animal being fed, tucked in, or taken to the vet is nurturing play in action.
They overlap constantly, but nurturing is specifically about caring for something. Role play is about stepping into a character. A doll being fed is often both at once. A plant being watered is nurturing with no pretend character involved at all.
Plenty. A stuffed pet, a plant, even a real family pet they help care for all count. Doll play is the most common version of this category, but it is not the only one, and some kids respond much better to a digital animal or plant caretaking than to a baby doll.
If nurturing is the category missing from your shelf, the full 11-category system covers where it fits alongside the other 10, including what to do on weeks you cannot cover every category. š
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