Activity mats for children are a fantastic way to encourage the development of key skills and build strength and coordination. When it comes time to choose an activity mat, there are many options available with a variety of features. Knowing what those features are will help you pick the best mats for your child’s individual stage of development. In addition to that, certain safety considerations should be taken into account when selecting any type of product for children. Here is a list of some things that parents should pay attention to when buying an activity mat:

Rubber Mats:

Rubber mats can provide great cushioning for babies learning their first motor skills, such as scooting or crawling. Additionally, they’re inexpensive easy to clean, making them especially well-suited for messy activities such as painting or playing with play dough. Rubber mats often come in various shapes, sizes, and colors which means that they are easy to match to any setting. Plus, rubber is an excellent material for supporting little ones learning to stand.

Features: Mats are generally large enough for the entire family to share, making them great for young children who aren’t ready to spend hours on their daily activities. A downside is that they can be heavy if you need to travel with them or move them upstairs easily. They are also more difficult to store away if needed but still give you the option of disassembling some pieces if preferred.

Bumpy Mats:

Activity mats for children are an ideal choice for infants and toddlers, especially those who are prone to crawling out of their play area. The bumps on the surface provide little ones with a sense of security as they explore their surroundings by laying down, sitting, or scooting across it.

Features: Bumpy mats come in various sizes, which means that you should have no trouble finding one that fits your space perfectly. Depending on how much cushioning you would like for your child’s floor time, you can also choose from bumpy mats with thick padding or thinner versions. One downside is that these activity mats are more difficult to clean because the pads have lots of creases and folds where dirt can get trapped inside.

Textured Mats:

The surface of a textured mat is made up of multiple textures and features to promote tactile stimulation. These mats vary depending on the manufacturer but may include balls, colorful shapes, jingles, squeakers, and/or peek-a-boo flaps.

Textured play mats are ideal for engaging children between the ages of 6 months and two years old or whenever your baby becomes interested in exploring his surroundings through sensory stimulation.

Features: The main advantage of textured playmats is that they provide an easy clean-up method – Allowing you to let your little ones explore without worrying about them getting their clothes dirty or crawling all over surfaces where germs could be lurking.