Step2

Playing sports from a young age will can children to increase their physical activity and also develop physical and social skills. Here at Step2, we encourage active play and offer a variety in toddler sports toys.  Many of our products incorporate different sports into one product. We will soon have a toy that is dedicated solely to basketball.  Towards the end of summer, we will be rolling out three new basketball items, including a new basketball hoop.  In the meantime, check out these other great sports items from Step2.

Sports-Tastic Activity Center: For children 12 months and up, this activity center includes a variety of sports activities in one play structure. Your little one can drop the ball in the mini basketball hoop or hit the baseball with the bat. In addition, he or she can use the slide when they are not playing with the different sports accessories.

Kickback Soccer Goal & Pitch Back:  This sports toy encourages children to play together. Kids can play hockey or soccer with the included accessories or use the back of the goal for pitching practice.

Double Play Sports Baseball & Golf Set: Score a hole in one with the Double Play Sports Baseball & Golf set. This sports set allows little ones to play putt-putt or tee ball, which can help with hand-eye coordination and batting skills.

Do you think it is important for children to dabble in sports at an early age?

Toys”R”Us recently published the 2011 edition of the Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids as part of a collaboration with actress Eva Longoria, whose sister Liza was born with developmental disabilities. This guide includes toys that will help with the development of fine motor skills, social skills, self-esteem, creativity, thinking, hearing, language skills, visual skills, and tactile skills.  Featured in the guide are the Sports-tastic Activity Center and the Whisper Ride Buggy.

The Sports-tastic Acitivity Center was included because it features a “close-to-the-ground design, mini slide, low steps and easy-grasp handles to help children who have gravitational insecurities grow in ability, while the built-in basketball hoop and baseball help increase core strength as children sit and play.”

The Whisper Ride Buggy was included because “the deep seat well provides additional stability and promotes an upright sitting position to strengthen upper-body muscles, while straddle seating offers extra support for leg separation.”

These toys, and all the toys featured in this guide, were selected based on research from the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization that evaluates all of the toys featured in the Guide.