Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Evergreens

7 reasons an activity table for kids should be in your home right now

Why you need an activity table for the kids

Add as a preferred source on Google

For new parents, it’s exciting to buy your child’s first toys. But when shopping for your little one’s entertainment, many new parents feel unsure about the right kinds of toys to buy. After all, babies can’t talk, so they won’t tell you what they do or don’t like.

This is why activity tables for kids are an excellent choice for young children who are starting to discover the world around them. With multiple opportunities to learn, these all-in-one stations are a great solution that all parents should consider as a must-have toy for their tiny tot.

A little boy playing with table toys
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How activity tables help baby’s brain

Stimulates their mind

Activity tables are specially designed to help develop your baby’s cognitive and fine motor skills. They stimulate the senses while providing a space for your baby to learn new things. With a variety of activities to choose from, babies start to gain an understanding of how different objects work while gaining confidence in their skills.

Recommended Videos

Tables that feature knobs, buttons, and spinners allow babies to experiment safely with different-sized objects. As your baby’s curiosity grows, the activity table provides them with a place to explore and learn about cause and effect.

The development of fine motor skills is a huge perk of activity tables. They allow children to exercise their manual dexterity, strengthen the muscles in their hands, and have fun all at the same time.

Provides entertainment for all

It goes without saying that the main purpose of an activity table is to provide entertainment. You’ll love to watch your little one as they enjoy countless hours of fun. Activity tables are so exciting for a baby! What tot doesn’t love to push buttons, open and close doors, and move beads nonstop?

The lights, spinners, and sounds of your child’s activity table will simply fascinate them. Your babe will love to learn how to turn gears, slide beads, or pretend to drive. These activity tables also provide an opportunity for you to play along with your child to create some bonding time.

Additional learning components

Many activity tables today have additional educational bonuses, which is great news, as parents love any opportunity for their kids to play and learn. Your baby’s brain is like a sponge, ready to absorb new information from all sources. Teach them new words, numbers, and colors with an interactive activity table that keeps them engaged.

For families that speak more than one language or those looking to raise their kids in a multicultural environment, a bilingual activity table could be a helpful tool to introduce your baby to languages such as Spanish, French, or Chinese.

Music makes everything better

Encouraging music appreciation from an early age has proven developmental benefits for babies. Activity tables with classical music and other sounds give your baby’s brain a boost while supporting emotional regulation, language development, and sensory enhancement.

Choose a musical activity table to introduce your baby to those benefits at an early age. Empower them to make their own music with the sounds of the piano, drums, and guitars.

A group of young children at an activity table
Oksana Shufrych / Shutterstock

How activity tables help baby’s body

Physical activity

For babies who are just starting to stand and move around independently, activity tables are a handy toy to support their gross motor skills. Young children will strengthen their legs, core, and arms while they experiment with these toys.

One of the greatest benefits of activity tables is that they give babies the freedom to move around with a solid base to hold on to. Your child will sit up and down more times than you can count. After so much physical activity, your baby will (hopefully) be ready for a well-deserved nap. It’s a win-win for both of you!

Durability

One of the greatest benefits of activity tables is that they grow with your baby. As your child continues to develop their skills, they’ll get more use out of their activity table. These long-lasting toys adjust to different stages of learning and physical development, which also means fewer toys you’ll have to buy. Yes!

On average, these tables are appropriate for ages 6 months to 3 years. Some activity tables can be used in a seating position as early as 4 months old and then convert to standing as they get older. Other activity tables turn into lap toys for kids to take on road trips or plane rides. These keep your child entertained even longer, and in more places than home.

Happy toddler sitting down
Monkey Business / Adobe Stock

How activity tables are easy on parents

Cleaning is easier than some diaper changes

Because they are usually made from wood or plastic, activity tables are easy to clean up. Accidents happen, and chances are that your child’s activity table will see plenty of messes. Thankfully, most activity tables are able to be wiped clean to continue playing in a matter of minutes. This is especially helpful when you have more than one child and have a pack of wipes in every room in the house.

Activity tables are very popular among parents because they offer innumerable benefits for your babies and toddlers. These multifunctional tables don’t just provide a source of entertainment anymore. They also support your child’s development in multiple ways. You will be amazed at how much your child learns from these long-lasting toys.

With so many models to pick from, it’s a good idea to determine what you want out of your child’s activity table before making a purchase. Choose a table that supports your family interests and offers a variety of activities to enhance your child’s confidence and their development.

Is CoComelon ‘Good’ for Kids? Experts Cite Research Pointing to ‘Yes’
Dad brushing teeth with daughter and looking in the mirror with CoComelon

Parents navigating the landscape of kids’ media often question which content genuinely benefits their little ones. Among the most popular kids’ shows today, educational programming like CoComelon has captivated young audiences worldwide, but many caregivers wonder: beyond its ability to entertain, does this musical series offer real developmental value?

Research and child development experts have revealed many details about the educational framework behind the animated series, its potential benefits, and how caregivers can maximize positive outcomes when incorporating such content into their kids’ routines.

Read more
The best low-stimulation movies for calming toddlers
Make sure movie time does keep your toddler awake
Cute toddler watching a movie on a laptop

Screen time isn't always a bad thing for toddlers. Sometimes, when your little one isn't feeling well, watching a soothing movie is a perfect pick. Low-stimulation movies for toddlers offer better quality screen time than movies that are loud and packed with action. Sure, those are fun and can be super exciting for kids, but the impact on their cognitive development is often negative. Those overstimulating movies can be too much for toddlers, leading to tantrums, meltdowns, and an inability to fall asleep.

Think about how difficult it is to fall asleep after watching a horror or suspense movie right before going to bed. Your mind is going in different directions, making it hard to relax and drift off to sleep. Well, it's the same for toddlers. So, what are the best low-stimulation movies for toddlers to watch and what exactly are they?
Best low-stimulation movies for toddlers

Read more
When should your baby be able to stack blocks? Here’s what to know
Know when babies can nest cups and balance blocks by themselves
A child playing with stacking blocks

When you’re a new parent, the moment someone gifts your child their first set of blocks, you become obsessed with baby learning and when they should be able to turn the blocks into beautiful creations of their imagination. While stacking blocks are an important developmental milestone for babies, it’s also one of those things that evolves with time and practice. Sitting down to play blocks with your little one is an open-ended game that teaches children physics, resilience, and fun. When can a baby stack blocks and nest cups on their own without your help? Here are some general guidelines so you know how to measure your child’s development with their gift of stacking blocks and how to help your child get the hang of it on their own.
When can a baby stack blocks and nest cups? By age

By 6 months old
At this age, your baby might not be ready to stack blocks the way you want them to, and that's okay. This doesn't mean you can't play blocks with your child or that you shouldn't let your child have fun figuring out what the blocks are. It’s perfectly normal for your 6-month-old to gnaw on blocks or simply hold one, just don't expect them to build the Eiffel Tower just yet.
By 12 months old
This is the stage of banging items against each other and blocks or cups are no the exception. If you offer your child blocks, there may still not be a lot of creativity yet. But keep in mind that knocking things down is a favorite activity of 1-year-olds, so your child is right on track if that's all they do. More likely than not, they’ll be happy to destroy any block tower you build. If your little one can’t get enough of knocking down a stack of blocks, rest assured that they’re right on schedule.
By 18 months old
When can babies nest cups? By a year and a half, stacking is the name of the game. After all, your little one is now officially a toddler and proud of it. If you haven’t done so already, this is a great time to introduce baby blocks. At this point, most kiddos are able to stack two or three blocks on top of each other with ease.
By 2 years old
Don’t be surprised if your baby’s block masterpieces start to get taller by age 2. With improved coordination, your child shows better stacking skills and may be able to balance up to seven blocks on top of each other. This is the beginning of sorting for many young children. If they’re now stacking masters, go ahead and challenge your budding genius to sort their blocks by color or separate them in groups.
By 3 years old
Free play takes a life of its own by age 3. At this point, blocks are much more than meets the adult eye. Your child’s imagination is flourishing, and they’ll start to build tunnels, bridges, or forts with just a few blocks. This is the perfect moment to introduce your toddler to teamwork. If the two of you work together, it’s easier to build tall towers and solve construction problems. Get your child's imagination to full speed and see what they create with blocks of all colors and shapes.
The benefits of stacking blocks

Read more