Toys That Promote Health and Wellness

With the onset of the holiday shopping season, you may be searching for some great toys for the kids in your life. How about considering toys that are not only fun to play with, but also promote a child’s health and wellness?

There are plenty of toys available that help support child development and well-being. Some are produced by toymakers located here in Vermont. Let’s look at the trend toward toys that encourage health and wellness and explore some gift ideas for kids in different age groups.

Toys for Emotional Well-being

The disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect children in the U.S. and across the globe. When schools and childcare centers closed at the start of the pandemic, children experienced social isolation and increased anxiety. This lack of socialization resulted in modest delays in communication, problem-solving, and social skill development for children, according to research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Toy manufacturers have responded to this concern by placing a strong emphasis on health and wellness in their products, with mental health becoming a major focus, says Maddie Michalik, assistant manager, content and digital communications, at The Toy Association, which represents toy manufacturers and retailers.

“Recognizing the impact of isolation and heightened stress levels on kids, toy companies have introduced products that promote emotional well-being and provide outlets for self-expression,” Michalik says. “Fidget toys and sensory kits have surged in popularity because they offer kids the tools they need to manage stress and anxiety through tactile play.”

Active play items such as interactive fitness games and outdoor play kits are also popular, she notes, because they encourage movement, helping kids to stay active and healthy. “Some toys now incorporate educational elements about self-care, like DIY kits for making bath bombs or spa items, allowing kids to explore wellness in a creative way,” Michalik adds.

Hidden Health Benefits

Common toys have significant health benefits that parents might not even realize, Michalik says. Take, for example, building blocks and construction sets. “Kids may be focused on what they’re building, but they’re also developing fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities, all of which are important for cognitive and physical development.”

Playing with dolls and action figures helps kids practice empathy, social skills, and emotional expression, she says. “Even classic board games provide health benefits by helping with memory, concentration, and strategic thinking while also teaching kids to manage emotions like frustration and excitement and practicing how to take turns.”

Drawing, painting, and crafting with everyday art supplies helps kids express their emotions, manage stress, and build confidence, Michalik says. “From puzzles to outdoor play equipment, many common toys contribute to a child's overall wellness, supporting their mental and physical health in ways that might surprise parents.”

Age Group Recommendations

If you’d like to shop for toys that promote physical activity and/or mental well-being, here are some recommendations by age group.

Ages 0-2: Toys for children in this age group should focus on sensory exploration, development of fine and gross motor skills, and forming early social connections. Toys for babies that do this include:

• Soft toys
• Rattles
• Textured teethers

Toys that help with coordination and problem-solving skills are great for toddlers, including:

• Stacking rings
• Shape sorters
• Simple push and pull toys

Interactive toys like musical instruments and activity tables also encourage early speech and social-emotional connections with caregivers.

Ages 3-5: Toys that promote imaginative play, motor skill refinement, and social interaction are recommended for preschoolers, including:

• Building sets
• Puzzles
• Ride-on toys

As kids start to develop emotional intelligence, look for toys that help nurture empathy, communication skills, and creativity. They include:

• Pretend play sets
• Action figures
• Dolls

Toys that introduce basic problem-solving and foster early literacy, such as alphabet puzzles and counting games, are recommended for children in this age group. Craft kits and simple musical instruments encourage creative expression in preschoolers.

Ages 6-8: Toys that involve strategy, cooperation, and physical activity are recommended for school-age children. Toys that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving include:

• Board games
• Construction sets
• Science kits

 Recommended artistic toys include:

• Clay modeling kits
• Drawing sets
• Bead crafts

Physical activity toys help promote fitness, balance, and confidence. These include:

• Sports equipment
• Jump ropes
• Outdoor toys
• Scooters and other ride-ons (with appropriate protective gear)

To give your school-age kids important opportunities to learn teamwork, discover how to navigate rules, and develop friendships, consider group games and collaborative building projects.

Ages 9 and up: Toys for older children should challenge their analytical skills, encourage perseverance, and stimulate independent problem-solving skills. These include:

• Robotics kits
• Advanced model-building sets
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused games

To support self-expression and help children build confidence, consider gifts that are creative tools, such as:

• Advanced art supplies
• Musical instruments

Children in this age group also enjoy hobbies and collectible toys. These gifts will help provide them with a sense of accomplishment and reinforce emotional growth.

Low-Cost Games

As anyone who has visited a toy store lately knows, toys can be expensive. But Michalik says there are many low-cost ways to bring health and wellness into your children’s lives.

“The Genius of Play is an online resource that provides families with the information and inspiration they need to make play an important part of their child’s day,” she says. The site, sponsored by The Toy Association, is a resource for game and play ideas that don’t require anything other than everyday household items. There is a downloadable emotional wellness playbook, which includes instructions for kid-friendly yoga poses, making a calming bottle, and setting up a vision board. The playbook also has pages that can be printed out for kids to color.

Also on the site is a playbook for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). It has many activities and projects, along with puzzles and games that can be printed out.

Vermont-based Toymakers

If you’d like to support local companies this holiday season, Vermont has several toymakers, including:

• Hugg-A-Planet. This Colchester company produces a line of pillows imprinted with maps of the U.S. and the globe that encourage learning about the planet.
• Maple Landmark. Known for its lines of wooden toys, the Middlebury company also produces custom letter puzzles and wood trains that spell out a child’s name.
• Mary Meyer. Named after a mother who sewed stuffed animal toys for her family during the Great Depression, the Townshend company makes an extensive line of soft toys, including teddy bears, dinosaurs, unicorns, and many other animals.
• Vermont Teddy Bear. The company started in 1981 as a cart on the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington selling homemade teddy bears. Today, the teddy bears and many other stuffed animals are made in the company’s Shelburne factory.
• Vermont Wooden Toy Factory. The family business designs and builds unique wooden toys in its Charlotte shop, including wood spirals that have marbles racing down inside them.

STEAM Toys Ideas

If you’re looking for some specific ideas for toys that help kids build skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, check out the STEAM accredited toys storefront.