Toys for young infants—birth through 6 months
Babies enjoy following individuals with their eyes as they gaze at them. They typically favor faces and vibrant colors. Babies are able to reach, explore their hands and feet, lift their heads, swivel their heads in the direction of sounds, put objects in their mouths, and do so much more!
Good toys for young infants:
- Things that kids can grasp, grip, suck on, shake, or make noise with, such as rattles, big rings, squeeze toys, teething balls, soft dolls, vinyl books, and teething dolls.
- Books featuring nursery rhymes and poems, as well as recordings of lullabies and easy tunes, are good listening material.
- Things to look at are unbreakable mirrors and photos of faces hung where the infant can view them.
Toys for older infants—7 to 12 months
The typical progression for older babies is from rolling over and sitting to scooting, bouncing, creeping, pulling themselves up, and standing. They can recognize body parts, locate concealed objects, understand their own names and other common words, and put objects in and out of containers.
Good toys for older infants:
- Baby dolls, puppets, wooden and plastic vehicles with wheels, and water toys are all good options for pretend play.
- Plastic bowls, huge beads, balls, and nesting toys are items that can be dropped and removed.
- Large, pliable building bricks and wooden cubes are available.
- Large balls, push-and-pull toys, and low, soft objects to crawl over are all things they can use their strong muscles for.
Toys for 1-year-olds
One-year-olds move quickly! Typically, they are able to climb stairs and walk steadily. They take pleasure in reading, utter their first words, and can play with other kids (but not yet with!). They enjoy experimenting, but they require grownups to keep them secure.
Good toys for 1-year-olds:
- Board books featuring straightforward drawings or images of genuine objects.
- Recordings that include rhymes, songs, short stories, and illustrations.
- Large paper, crayons, and non-toxic, washable markers are some supplies you can use to create.
- Toy phones, dolls, doll beds, baby carriages and strollers, dress-up accessories (scarves, handbags), puppets, plush animals, plastic animals, and "realistic" vehicles made of plastic and wood are among the items for pretend play.
- Building materials include cardboard and wood blocks, which can be 2 to 4 inches smaller than those used by young children.
- Puzzles, giant pegboards, toys with functional pieces (dials, switches, knobs, lids), and big and little balls are things to use their large and small muscles.
Toys for 2-year-olds (toddlers)
Toddlers are developing their language skills quickly and are quite fearful. Despite this, they engage in a lot of physical "testing" such as climbing, hanging by their arms, rolling, and rough-and-tumble play. They enjoy working with small objects and have good finger and hand dexterity.
Good toys for 2-year-olds:
- Things for problem-solving: wooden puzzles (4–12 pieces), snap-together blocks, objects to sort (by size, shape, color, and smell), and items with hooks, buttons, and snaps.
- Blocks, smaller (but strong) transportation toys, construction sets, kid-sized furniture (kitchen sets, chairs, play food), dress-up outfits, dolls with accessories, puppets, and sand and water play toys are all good options for pretend play and constructing.
- Tools for making include huge, non-toxic, washable crayons and markers, big paintbrushes, colored construction paper, scissors with blunt points the size of toddlers, a chalkboard, giant chalk, and rhythm instruments.
- Greater detail in picture books than in publications for younger children.
- With a range of music on CD and DVD players (but phonograph players and cassette recorders still function!).
- Large and tiny balls for kicking and tossing, ride-on toys (although probably not tricycles until children are 3), tunnels, low climbers with soft material underneath, and pounding and hammering toys are all good options for encouraging children to use both their large and small muscles.
Toys for 3- to 6-year-olds (preschoolers and kindergarteners)
Toddlers' attention spans are shorter than those of preschoolers and kindergarteners. They frequently engage in a lot of talking and questioning. They like experimenting with various objects and with their still-developing physical abilities. They enjoy playing with their buddies but hate to lose. They are able to take turns, and older preschoolers and kindergarteners can frequently share a toy with two or more children.
Good toys for 3- to 6-year-olds:
- Puzzles (with 12 to 20 pieces), snap-together blocks, collections, and other smaller objects can be used to sort objects based on their size, shape, color, scent, quantity, and other characteristics. Examples include collections of plastic bottle caps, keys, shells, counting bears, and plastic bowls and lids.
- Things for playing and building, including a variety of building blocks for creating intricate structures, play food, dress-up outfits, dolls with accessories, construction sets, transportation toys, and toys for sand and water play.
- Tools for making include large and small crayons and markers, large and small paintbrushes, colored construction paper, preschooler-sized scissors, a chalkboard, large and small chalk, modeling clay and playdough, modeling tools, paste, scraps of paper and fabric for collage, and musical instruments like xylophones, tambourines, and keyboards for rhythm.
- picture books with even more text and more intricate illustrations than picture books for toddlers.
- With a range of music on CD and DVD players (but phonograph players and cassette recorders still function!).
- Large and small balls for kicking, throwing, and catching, ride-on equipment like tricycles, tunnels, taller climbers with soft material underneath, wagons and wheelbarrows, plastic bats and balls, plastic bowling pins, targets and things to throw at them, and a workbench with a vise, hammer, nails, and saw are some of the things to help them use their large and small muscles.
- Children can choose the software's pace and course, and they have the chance to explore a range of ideas on various levels if they have access to interactive (the child can do something) and kid-friendly (the software includes images and spoken instruction, not simply print) applications.
Safety and children's toys
Toys that are safe for young children are well-made (they don't pinch or have sharp edges), painted with nontoxic, lead-free paint, shatter-proof, and simple to clean.
"UL Approved" should be on any electric toys. Make sure to look at the label, which should state that Underwriters Laboratories has approved the item. Additionally, check sure there are no tiny components or pieces that could become stuck in a child's neck and lead to asphyxia when buying toys for kids under the age of three.
It's crucial to keep in mind that normal wear and tear can turn a toy that was previously safe into a danger. Toys should be regularly inspected by adults to ensure they are in good condition. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to view a list of toys that manufacturers have recalled.
