What Toys Are Appropriate For Your Child
Abilities and interests
Experts agree that even babies benefit from toys. Infants use their senses to learn about their world. For the first few months of life, babies are unable to grasp objects with their hands, but enjoy exploring with their ears and eyes. Therefore, toys that make noise or feature high-contrast, black-and-white or brightly colored images are especially appealing to newborns and young infants. Once infants can reach for objects, they enjoy toys that are textured and safe for mouthing. Remember, to avoid dangerous entanglement, toys never should be hung or attached to a crib, playpen, stroller, infant seat or around a child's neck with elastic, string or ribbon.
Toy suggestions
*Remove when baby is five months old or is able to push up on hands and knees.
Six months to one year
Abilities and interests
In the second half of the first year, infants master the motor skills that enable them to play with toys in new and exciting ways. When babies can sit up, they enjoy playthings they can manipulate - to bang, drop, stack up, put in and take out, and open and shut. Once they can crawl, "cruise" (walk while holding furniture) and walk, they enjoy things that move along with them. Toys that show cause and effect are also thrilling at this age.
Toy suggestions
One year to two years
Abilities and interests
In the second year of life, children are explorers. Fueled by curiosity and wonder, toddlers also possess the physical skills that make it easy for them to play and learn. A busy toddler needs toys for physical play -- walking, climbing, pushing and riding -- and ones that encourage experimentation and manipulation. At this age, children imitate adults and enjoy props that help them master life skills.
Toy suggestions
Two to three years
Abilities and interests
Older toddlers love testing their physical skills - jumping, climbing, and throwing - and enjoy toys for active play. This age group also possesses good hand and finger coordination and enjoys putting these skills to work with basic arts and crafts, puppets, blocks and simple puzzles. Imaginative play also begins in the third year.
Toy suggestions
Three to six years old
"Making believe and pretending are among the wonders of the experience of being human."
- Dorothy G. Singer, Ed.D., authority on early childhood education
Abilities and interests
After the age of three, children begin to play actively with each other. Preschoolers and kindergartners are masters of make-believe. They like to act out grown-up roles and enjoy costumes and props to help them bring their imaginations to life. It is quite common for children this age to develop strong attachments to favorite toys, expressing feelings to a special doll or teddy bear. Materials for arts and crafts are also popular with this age group, which enjoys creating things with their hands.
Toy suggestions
Six to nine years old
Abilities and interests
School-age children enjoy play that requires strategy and skill. Board games, tabletop sports and classic toys like marbles and kites are favorites. Grade-schoolers also enjoy exploring different kinds of grown-up worlds and like fashion and career dolls and action figures. Children this age seek out new information and experiences through play and enjoy science, craft and magic kits. In addition, this age group possesses the physical skills and coordination to enjoy junior versions of adult sporting equipment.
Toy suggestions
Nine to 12 years old
Abilities and interests
Preteenagers begin to develop hobbies and life-long interests and enjoy crafts, model kits, magic sets, advanced construction sets, science kits and sophisticated jigsaw puzzles. Active play finds its expression in team sports. Painting, sculpting, ceramics and other art projects continue to be of interest.
Toy suggestions
