Playing online toddler games gives toddlers plenty of opportunity for learning as well as fun! Toddlers are naturally inquisitive and will love the challenge of learning how to use a mouse while they play all of those exciting online games.

Toddler online games engage children in several key aspects of development-

Hand/Eye Co-Ordination- by using the mouse to drag and drop or chase moving objects

Problem Solving- recognising pairs, simple puzzles and learning about opposites

Recognition- sounds, shapes, colors and animals

Social/Interactive- songs, stories, ABC's and rhyming games

Creative- using a painbrush or bucket to color images- also teaches about cause and effect

Of course the time spent on a computer for toddlers should be limited. They only have a short attention span so sessions of 5-10 minutes will be plenty to start with. As with all activities for this age group, moderation is the key.

Selecting the right websites and games is very important for this age group. The online games that toddlers play need to be suited to their attention span, brain development as well as their dexterity with a mouse. There are plenty of kiddy websites out there but you only want the very best, preferably without advertising everywhere and easy for parents and kids to navigate.

The time spent online should be seen as valuable and relaxed time to enjoy with your toddler. Plenty of praise and encouragement will keep them involved and you can relish the chance to sit down- something that happens rarely when you are busy chasing a toddler around all day long!