When shopping for toys for your children, look for items that aren't just age-appropriate and entertaining but also toys that will bolster their development and inspire their imagination and creativity.
Toys that teach
Based on child development research, the following guide will help in your selection of toys for various age groups. Some playthings are recommended for more than one age category, as children of different ages often enjoy the same toy, each playing with it at his or her own level.
Are you looking for developmentally appropriate toys for your child? There are certain milestones your kiddo is meeting as she ages and you will want to choose toys that help her grow socially as well as physically. We've broken down the recommendations based on your child's age and what she is doing at this point in her life. These types of toys will help entertain her the most — and help her develop.
Birth to 6 months old
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
- Crib gyms*
- Floor gyms
- Activity quilts
- Mobiles*
- Safety mirrors
- Teething toys
- Large, interlocking rings or keys
- Cloth toys
- Soft dolls
- Stuffed animals
- Musical and chime toys
- Rattles
* Remove when baby is 5 months old or is able to push up on hands and knees.
6 months to 1 year old
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" and walk, they enjoy things that move along with them. Toys that show cause and effect are also thrilling at this age.
Toy suggestions
- Balls
- Push-pull toys
- Busy boxes
- Nesting and stacking toys
- Simple shape sorters
- Pop-up toys
- Soft blocks
- Bath toys
- Teething toys
- Large, interlocking rings or keys
- Soft dolls
- Stuffed animals
- Simple musical instruments
- Rattles
- Squeeze/squeak toys
- Cloth and cardboard picture books
1 year to 2 years old
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
- Balls
- Push-pull toys
- Ride-on toys
- Wagons
- Backyard gym equipment
- Nesting and stacking toys
- Simple shape sorters
- Pop-up toys
- Blocks
- Bath toys
- Sandbox/sand toys
- Wading pool/water toys
- Puzzles with knobs
- Stuffed animals
- Dolls and baby gear
- Play vehicles
- Kitchen equipment and gadgets
- Play household items
- Playhouse
- Child-sized table and chairs
- Non-toxic art supplies
- Musical instruments
- Cardboard picture books, pop-up books
Next page: Toys for ages 3 to 9
{pageBreak}
2 to 3 years old
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
- Balls
- Backyard gym equipment
- Building blocks and building systems
- Blocks with letters and numbers
- Wading pool/water toys
- Puzzles with knobs
- Dolls that can be bathed, fed and diapered
- Dress-up clothes and accessories
- Hand and finger puppets
- Kitchen equipment and gadgets
- Play household items
- Non-toxic art supplies
- Child-sized table and chairs
- Play scenes with figures and accessories
- Sandbox/sand toys
- Tricycle and helmet
- Play vehicles
- Wagon
- Shape sorters
- Playhouse
- Storybooks
- Stuffed animals
Your 3-year-old's development and behavior>>
3 to 6 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 3, 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, as they enjoy creating things with their hands.
Toy suggestions
- Tricycle and helmet
- Bicycle and helmet
- Backyard gym equipment
- Construction toys
- Lacing and threading sets
- Puzzles
- Stuffed animals
- Dolls and doll clothes
- Dress-up clothes and accessories
- Props for make-believe play
- Play vehicles
- Hand and finger puppets
- Play scenes with figures and accessories
- Tape player and tapes
- Non-toxic art supplies
- Simple board games; word and matching games
- Storybooks
6 to 9 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
- Complex gym equipment
- Bicycle and helmet
- Ice or roller skates/roller blades and protective gear
- Sporting equipment and protective gear
- Simple swimming equipment
- Stilts
- Pogo sticks
- Jump ropes
- Construction toys
- Jigsaw puzzles, including three-dimensional puzzles
- Fashion/career dolls
- Puppets, marionettes and theaters
- Doll houses and furnishings
- Action figures
- Paper dolls
- Science sets
- Model kits
- Craft kits
- Magic sets
- Art supplies
- Tabletop sports
- Video games
- Electronic games
- Board games
- Tape player and tapes
- Books
9 to 12 years old
Abilities and interests
Pre-teens 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
- Sports equipment and protective gear
- Bicycle and helmet
- Ice or roller skates/in-line skates and protective gear
- Advanced construction sets
- Jigsaw puzzles, including three-dimensional puzzles
- Puppets, marionettes and theaters
- Remote control vehicles
- Model kits
- Science kits
- Magic sets
- Craft and handiwork kits
- Art supplies
- Playing cards
- Board games
- Chess, checkers, dominoes and other strategy games
- Tabletop sports
- Video games
- Electronic games
- Electric trains
- Musical instruments
- Books
More about toys for kids
GoldieBlox: Engineering toys for girls
Top travel toys for kids
Great toys for preschool boys