The holidays are upon us, and you might be wondering about how to choose toys that are developmentally appropriate for your child. The stores are filled with all kinds of gizmos and gadgets and electronic stuff. Sometimes the simpler toys are better for kids who are facing challenges. Deciding which toys are the most beneficial and which ones can help your child master important skills can be difficult.
The following list does not use name brands, but suggests certain kinds of toys that would be developmentally appropriate for children to reach significant milestones. If your child is delayed and functioning below age-level (or is advanced), think about the skills you’re trying to encourage, and select the toy accordingly, ignoring the age grouping.
0-3 Months
- You want to encourage: visual tracking, listening, grasping, body awareness
- Toys that might help: mobiles, mirrors, rattles, classical CDs, musical toys.
4-5 Months
- You want to encourage: strengthening neck and back muscles, social behavior, oral stimulation, hand-to-mouth movements, body awareness, reaching, grasping
- Toys that might help: soft balls, foam bricks, baby gyms, hanging toys, moveable windups, teething rings
6 – 8 Months
- You want to encourage: movement, pre-crawling, using two hands to explore, full handed grasp, cause and effect (when I touch this, something happens), play at midline, eye-hand coordination.
- Toys that might help: activity centers, colorful balls, squeeze toys with textures, blocks, toys that play music or light up when interacted with, push toys, bells, noisy toys
9 – 11 Months
- You want to encourage: sitting unsupported, beginning to crawl, pulling to a stand, poking and probing, coordination, confidence, independence, pointing with index finger, opposing grasp, searching for hidden objects, balance standing, pincer grasp, increased hand-eye coordination
- Toys that might help: pegboards, pop-up toys, simple interactive toys, drums, xylophone, sorting boxes or cups, blocks, toy tent or furniture, large toys to pull up to, oversized crayons, paper, push toys that encourage walking, swings, supported rocking horse, toys requiring two hands
1 Year – 18 Months
- You want to encourage: balancing skills, hand-eye coordination, imitating sounds, moving body to music, large body movements, grasp-and-release, perception of space, independent walking, bilateral coordination, shape discrimination
- Toys that might help: large balls, containers (and objects to fill them), donut shaped stacking toys, musical toys that interact, push walking toys, cups, blocks, formboards, large rocking toys, pegboards
18 Months – 2 Years
- You want to encourage: more agility and speed with walking, good standing balance, sitting independently in a chair, carrying objects while walking, building a tower, imitating strokes on paper, enjoying simple picture books and pictures, build language skills
- Toys that might help: large climbing toys, child sized chair, boxes and pails, blocks and stacking toys, fat crayons and paper, children’s books, simple lift-out puzzles, large wood or plastic beads to string, musical and sound-making toys, wagons
2 Years
- You want to encourage: coordination of legs in walking and running, balancing on one foot briefly, finer hand coordination, tactile awareness, space perception skills, body awareness, coordinating two sides of body to midline, isolated motion of fingers, hand strength and coordination, concept of same and different, colors, shapes, problem-solving, language development, memory, tricycle or pedaling toys
- Toys that might help: large toys and trucks with wheels, books, crayons, dolls, mirror, puzzles, toys with twisting action, playdough, safety scissors, books, dominoes, matching games, sorting box, simple interlocking puzzles, water toys, books and games that teach colors and shapes
3-4 Years
- You want to encourage: hopping on one foot, throwing, catching, kicking a ball, climbing abilities, trace and copy shapes, construct towers and build, name colors, play in groups of two or three, engage in imaginative play, show awareness of numbers, follow simple instructions or rules, letter recognition, color and shape recognition, interest in books and reading, turn-taking
- Toys that might help: swings, climbing toys, balls, tracing and simple art sets, simple construction sets, dominoes, games that name colors and shapes, simple boxed games, increasingly difficult puzzles, dress-up clothes and props, puppets, dolls, non-violent action figures in mini-environment, books that teach the alphabet, illustrated storybooks
5-7 Years
- You want to encourage: planning and building constructively, copying shapes and letters with clear recognition, coloring inside the lines, understand rules of games, space perception skills, social skills like winning, losing, and negotiating, fine-motor skills, independence in personal care skills, understanding simple parts of a story, building language skills, interest in reading and the beginnings of reading words, coordinating both sides of body, using motor-planning skills, body awareness, coordination of dominant hand, social skills
- Toys that might help: large play and climbing equipment, roller skates or skateboard, balls, scissors, glue, paint/brushes, simple art kits, construction kits, child-sized chalkboard, letter-writing toys, simple word games, games that require sound, kid-friendly board games, musical toys, instruments, craft kits, bicycle with training wheels and helmet, and wonderful children’s books of every shape and size!
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
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