It goes without saying that parents want to support their children in becoming confident, emotionally intelligent individuals. While emotional development happens through everyday interactions and experiences, toys can also play a significant role in helping children understand and express their feelings. So if you have children, we want to help you turn playtime into a valuable opportunity for emotional growth.
The BEST children’s toys for emotional development
We’ve put together this simple guide that explores five kinds of toy that can work to support emotional development in children, helping them to recognise, communicate, and manage their feelings in healthy ways. From role-play to mindfulness tools, these toys aren’t just fun, but an educational learning opportunity that can nurture your child’s development.
Emotion flashcards and dice
Emotion flashcards and emotion dice are simple yet powerful tools that can help children in identifying and naming different emotions. These typically feature faces showing a range of expressions such as happy, sad, angry and surprised, along with prompts or questions to encourage discussion.
These toys are great for young children learning to develop their emotional vocabulary. Using them regularly during play or quiet moments can help children connect words with their internal feelings, making it easier for them to communicate with others. Emotion dice can add a fun, interactive element, turning conversations into games that prompt children to act out or talk about different emotions in a relaxed setting.
Role-play and pretend play toys
From dolls and action figures to kitchen sets and dress-up clothes, role-playing toys allow children to explore emotions through imagination. When a child takes on a role, be it a parent, doctor, teacher or superhero, they’re processing the world around them and experimenting with empathy, problem-solving, and emotional responses.
Pretend play gives children the chance to re-enact everyday situations and invent their own scenarios. This not only boosts creativity, but also provides a safe space to express feelings and test social roles. For example, acting out a story where a character feels left out or learns to share can help children navigate those emotions in real life.
Storytelling and puppet toys
Telling stories is one of the most natural ways for children to make sense of emotions, and storytelling toys or puppets can encourage this process. Puppets, in particular, give children a voice that feels separate from their own, which can be especially helpful if they’re struggling to express something directly.
Whether they’re creating their own stories or playing along with you, children can explore themes like sadness, excitement, fear, and kindness through characters. Puppets also offer an ideal tool for adults to model emotional behaviour in an approachable way, making complex feelings more understandable.
Calming and sensory toys
Emotional development isn’t just about identifying and talking about feelings, it’s also about learning to manage them. That’s where calming or sensory toys such as soft-textured items, squishy stress balls, fidget tools, or water beads come in. These toys can help children to regulate their emotions, especially when they’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or overstimulated.
For younger children, soft, tactile toys can be soothing and grounding. Older children may benefit from toys designed to engage their senses and offer a calming distraction, helping them to learn self-soothing techniques and cope with big feelings more independently.
Board games and co-operative play
While board games are often thought of as just a bit of fun, they can actually provide excellent opportunities for emotional growth – especially those that involve taking turns, losing gracefully, and working together. Games that focus on co-operation rather than competition are particularly helpful in teaching children patience, teamwork, and how to manage disappointment.
These experiences help children develop emotional resilience and learn how to respond to situations where things don’t go their way, which can be an essential life skill. Plus, playing these games with family provides a chance to model and reinforce positive emotional behaviours in a relaxed setting.
Where to find these toys
Once you know what kinds of toys you’re looking for, the next step is to find them at the right price. Fortunately, online shopping makes it easy to compare options and read reviews, helping you find toys that suit your child’s age and developmental needs, and match your budget.
With its wide selection and competitive pricing, Amazon is a particularly good option for browsing and buying. It’s easy to filter results by age group, educational focus, or customer rating. Plus, many of the toys mentioned above are widely available through different sellers on the platform.
Beyond Amazon, it’s worth checking specialist educational retailers or independent toy shops that focus on learning and development, particularly if you’re looking for more niche or handmade items. Sometimes these shops offer unique toys not found on larger platforms.
Emotional development is just as important as academic learning, and the right toys can provide gentle guidance as your child explores their feelings. From emotions-based games and flashcards to imaginative play and sensory tools, these toys offer meaningful ways to nurture emotional intelligence through everyday play.
Author Bio
Melody are an Amazon advertising agency dedicated to helping buyers and sellers alike navigate the online marketplace through strategic guidance, account management, PPC advertising, compelling content, and expert advice.
