why curiosity is the key to early learning

An introduction to 1curiosity at Busylizzy

For one-year-olds, curiosity is everything. At this age, children are constantly exploring. They reach, poke, grab, tip, taste and shake whatever they can get their hands on. They are not just playing. They are learning how the world works, and they are doing it through trial and error. That is why curiosity is one of the most important drivers of early development, and why supporting it matters so much.

Parents around the world often face the same dilemma. They want to nurture their child’s natural curiosity and encourage exploration, but they also need to manage safety and set clear boundaries.

It’s a constant balancing act. As toddlers move from instinctive interest to more focused, hands-on discovery, parents are always judging when to step in and when to let them figure things out for themselves.

At 1curiosity, we create toys designed to spark and sustain natural exploration. Based on real-life observation and child development research, our products are inspired by everyday items toddlers already gravitate toward. Bottles, brushes, containers, cans, lids. The kinds of things they pull out of drawers and cupboards when no one is looking. We take those familiar objects and turn them into safe, open-ended toys that invite discovery and creativity.

Each 1curiosity toy is made with purpose. The shapes are easy to grab. The textures are engaging. The holes, lids and parts are just right for putting in, taking out, combining and repeating. There is no single way to use them. Children can make up their own games and change how they play from one moment to the next. That is the point. The goal is not to direct the play but to support it.

Curiosity-led play helps babies develop problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, fine motor control and early language. It also builds confidence. When a child figures something out on their own, whether it is removing a lid, pushing a shape through a hole or stacking objects, it is a moment of real learning. Not because someone taught them, but because they tried, adjusted and tried again.

Take our Lantern toy. It was inspired by watching babies play with tissue boxes. We studied what kept their attention. The satisfying pull of an object being removed. The thrill of finding more things (tissues) inside. The fun of discovering holes they could reach into. After several prototypes and lots of baby and toddler-led testing, we created a soft, squeezable toy with holes in different shapes and sizes, and clear panels that let children see what is inside. It invites ongoing experimentation without telling them what to do.

1curiosity Play Sessions for one-year-olds are coming to selected Busylizzy Clubs. These short, focused sessions give little ones the chance to explore freely while parents observe the benefits of curiosity-led play in action. There is no instruction, no pressure and no rush. Just calm, open play in a safe environment.