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Toys are crucial! Children who play with their toys develop their motor skills while engaging in activities that encourage exploration and discovery. They have a great time while simultaneously acquiring a wide range of knowledge and vital abilities. Discover everything there is to know about the types of toys suitable for children ranging in age from newborn to five years old. In the Toys section, you'll find STEM and educational toys that encourage learning through play.

0-12 months

3 months 

4 months

5 months

6-9 months

9-12 months

 

 

12-18 months

24-36 months (2+)

Active

  • Push and pull toys, like wagons and strollers
  • Toys that mimic adult tools, like a vacuum, shopping cart and small wheelbarrow
  • Rocking horse

Trikes (tricycles) and ride-on toys

  • Tricycle with helmet
  • Balls
  • Lightweight, soft baseball and bat
  • Lightweight frisbee
  • Sand and water play toys
  • Small swings, slides, and jungle gyms

Puzzles

  • Puzzles with large pieces
  • Up to 20 pieces (from 3 years)
  • 20 to 30 pieces (from 4 years)
  • Up to 50 pieces (from 5 years)

Construction

  • Large and small wood blocks
  • Most types of interlocking building systems with pieces of all sizes (like Lego)
  • Duplos, Pop Beads, and other simple building toys

Transportation

  • Large-scale trucks that dump and dig
  • Car sets and cars of all sizes
  • Trains with tracks (non-electric)

Make-believe

  • Farm sets, kitchen sets, dolls
  • Dolls with hair and eyes and limbs that move
  • Simple-to-use doll clothes and dollhouse
  • Stuffed animals with accessories and simple clothes
  • Puppets and theater
  • Dress-up clothes and costumes
  • Housekeeping and cooking gear
  • Toy phone, camera and cash register
  • Doctor kit
  • Play sets (garage, farm, airport)

Learning toys and games

  • Simple board games based on chance, not the strategy
  • Dominoes (color or number)
  • Picture bingo or matching games
  • Simple apps or hand-held games for teaching matching, sorting, shapes, colors, numbers and letters
  • Science models (check for age level)
  • Magnets, flashlight, magnifying glass, clock, prism and terrarium
  • Simple calculator
  • Books
  • Toys that teach how to button, snap and hook
  • Nesting toys
  • Large beads to string
  • Toys with different shapes to sort and insert

 

Arts, crafts, and musical toys

  • Paints and colored crayons
  • Crayons, markers, and chalk
  • Play-Doh
  • Scissors with rounded ends
  • Paste, glue or glue stick
  • Stickers
  • Finger and tempera paint, easel and brushes
  • Jumbo lacing beads
  • Frames and cards to button, hook and lace
  • Simple sewing kit with plastic needles
  • Felt board
  • Workbench, hammer and nails (with adult supervision)
  • Rhythm instruments
  • Harmonica, horn, whistles and recorder
  • Musical toys (toy drums, toy pianos)
  • Simple crafts

 

36-48 months (3+)

Plays to play

  • board games
  • puppet theater
  • shadow puppets
  • cooking
  • learn and recite simple songs or poems as "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Wheels on the Bus."

Toys

Active

  • Push and pull toys, like wagons and strollers
  • Toys that mimic adult tools, like a vacuum, shopping cart and small wheelbarrow
  • Rocking horse
  • Tricycle with helmet
  • Jump rope (from 5 years)
  • Small bike with training wheels, footbrake and a helmet (from 5 years)
  • Balls
  • Lightweight, soft baseball and bat
  • Lightweight frisbee
  • Sand and water play toys

Puzzles

  • Up to 20 pieces (from 3 years)
  • 20 to 30 pieces (from 4 years)
  • Up to 50 pieces (from 5 years)

Construction

  • Large and small wood blocks
  • Most types of interlocking building systems with pieces of all sizes (like Lego)

Transportation

  • Large-scale trucks that dump and dig
  • Car sets and cars of all sizes
  • Trains with tracks (non-electric)

Make-believe

  • Dolls with hair and eyes and limbs that move
  • Simple-to-use doll clothes and dollhouse
  • Stuffed animals with accessories and simple clothes
  • Puppets and theater
  • Dress-up clothes and costumes
  • Housekeeping and cooking gear
  • Toy phone, camera and cash register
  • Doctor kit
  • Play sets (garage, farm, airport)

Learning toys and games

  • Simple board games based on chance, not the strategy
  • Dominoes (color or number)
  • Picture bingo or matching games
  • Simple apps or hand-held games for teaching matching, sorting, shapes, colors, numbers and letters
  • Science models (check for age level)
  • Magnets, flashlight, magnifying glass, clock, prism and terrarium
  • Simple calculator
  • Books
  • Toys that teach how to button, snap and hook
  • Nesting toys

Arts, crafts and musical toys

  • Crayons, markers and chalk
  • Play-Doh
  • Scissors with rounded ends
  • Paste, glue or glue stick
  • Stickers
  • Finger and tempera paint, easel and brushes
  • Jumbo lacing beads
  • Frames and cards to button, hook and lace
  • Simple sewing kit with plastic needles
  • Felt board
  • Workbench, hammer and nails (with adult supervision)
  • Rhythm instruments
  • Harmonica, horn, whistles and recorder

48-60 months (4+)

Toys

Active

  • Push and pull toys, like wagons and strollers
  • Toys that mimic adult tools, like a vacuum, shopping cart, and small wheelbarrow
  • Rocking horse
  • Tricycle with helmet
  • Jump rope (from 5 years)
  • Small bike with training wheels, footbrake, and a helmet (from 5 years)
  • Balls
  • Lightweight, soft baseball and bat
  • Lightweight frisbee
  • Sand and water play toys

Puzzles

  • Up to 20 pieces (from 3 years)
  • 20 to 30 pieces (from 4 years)
  • Up to 50 pieces (from 5 years)

Construction

  • Large and small wood blocks
  • Most types of interlocking building systems with pieces of all sizes (like Lego)

Transportation

  • Large-scale trucks that dump and dig
  • Car sets and cars of all sizes
  • Trains with tracks (non-electric)

Make-believe

  • Dolls with hair and eyes and limbs that move
  • Simple-to-use doll clothes and dollhouse
  • Stuffed animals with accessories and simple clothes
  • Puppets and theater
  • Dress-up clothes and costumes
  • Housekeeping and cooking gear
  • Toy phone, camera, and cash register
  • Doctor kit
  • Play sets (garage, farm, airport)

Learning toys and games

  • Simple board games based on chance, not a strategy
  • Dominoes (color or number)
  • Picture bingo or matching games
  • Simple apps or hand-held games for teaching matching, sorting, shapes, colors, numbers, and letters
  • Science models (check for age level)
  • Magnets, flashlight, magnifying glass, clock, prism, and terrarium
  • Simple calculator
  • Books
  • Toys that teach how to button, snap and hook
  • Nesting toys

Arts, crafts, and musical toys

  • Crayons, markers, and chalk
  • Play-Doh
  • Scissors with rounded ends
  • Paste, glue, or glue stick
  • Stickers
  • Finger and tempera paint, easel, and brushes
  • Jumbo lacing beads
  • Frames and cards to button, hook, and lace
  • Simple sewing kit with plastic needles
  • Felt board
  • Workbench, hammer, and nails (with adult supervision)
  • Rhythm instruments
  • Harmonica, horn, whistles, and recorder

60-72 months (5+)

Toys

Active

  • Push and pull toys, like wagons and strollers
  • Toys that mimic adult tools, like a vacuum, shopping cart and small wheelbarrow
  • Rocking horse
  • Tricycle with helmet
  • Jump rope (from 5 years)
  • Small bike with training wheels, footbrakes and a helmet (from 5 years)
  • Balls
  • Lightweight, soft baseball and bat
  • Lightweight frisbee
  • Sand and water play toys

Puzzles

  • Up to 20 pieces (from 3 years)
  • 20 to 30 pieces (from 4 years)
  • Up to 50 pieces (from 5 years)

Construction

  • Large and small wood blocks
  • Most types of interlocking building systems with pieces of all sizes (like Lego)

Transportation

  • Large-scale trucks that dump and dig
  • Car sets and cars of all sizes
  • Trains with tracks (non-electric)

Make believe

  • Dolls with hair and eyes and limbs that move
  • Simple-to-use doll clothes and doll house
  • Stuffed animals with accessories and simple clothes
  • Puppets and theater
  • Dress-up clothes and costumes
  • Housekeeping and cooking gear
  • Toy phone, camera and cash register
  • Doctor kit
  • Play sets (garage, farm, airport)

Learning toys and games

  • Simple board games based on chance, not a strategy
  • Dominoes (color or number)
  • Picture bingo or matching games
  • Simple apps or hand-held games for teaching matching, sorting, shapes, colors, numbers and letters
  • Science models (check for age level)
  • Magnets, flashlight, magnifying glass, clock, prism and terrarium
  • Simple calculator
  • Books
  • Toys that teach how to button, snap and hook
  • Nesting toys

Arts, crafts and musical toys

  • Crayons, markers and chalk
  • Play-Doh
  • Scissors with rounded ends
  • Paste, glue or glue stick
  • Stickers
  • Finger and tempera paint, easel and brushes
  • Jumbo lacing beads
  • Frames and cards to button, hook, and lace
  • Simple sewing kit with plastic needles
  • Felt board
  • Workbench, hammer and nails (with adult supervision)
  • Rhythm instruments
  • Harmonica, horn, whistles and recorder

The best toys for baby 0-6 months

Here are some good toy options for babies in the 0-6 month age range:

  1. Black and white board books: Babies at this age are just starting to develop their sense of vision, and high-contrast black and white board books can be very stimulating for them.
  2. Soft toys: Soft toys are great for babies to cuddle and play with. They can also help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as babies try to grab and hold onto them.
  3. Textured toys: Toys with different textures, such as a soft blanket with a plush toy attached, can help babies develop their sense of touch.
  4. Musical toys: Musical toys, such as a mobile with hanging toys that make noise, can be soothing for babies and can also help with the development of their sense of hearing.
  5. Mirrors: A small, unbreakable mirror can be very entertaining for babies and can also help with the development of their sense of self.

It's important to choose toys that are safe and appropriate for your baby's age and development. Look for toys that are made of non-toxic materials and that do not have small parts that could be a choking hazard.


The best toys for baby 6-12 months

There are many great toys for babies in the 6-12 month age range. Some good options include:

  1. Soft toys: Soft toys are great for babies to cuddle and play with. They can also help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as babies try to grab and hold onto them.

  2. Rattles and teething toys: Babies in this age range are starting to develop their sense of touch and are also getting their first teeth. Rattles and teething toys can help with both of these developments.

  3. Blocks: Simple blocks or stacking toys can help with hand-eye coordination and can also encourage problem-solving and creativity as babies try to build towers or other structures.

  4. Push and pull toys: Toys that can be pushed or pulled, such as a toy lawn mower or a toy car, can help babies learn about cause and effect and can also encourage gross motor skill development.

  5. Musical toys: Musical toys, such as a xylophone or a drum, can be a lot of fun for babies and can also help with the development of their sense of rhythm and hearing.

It's important to choose toys that are safe and appropriate for your baby's age and development. Look for toys that are made of non-toxic materials and that do not have small parts that could be a choking hazard.


Toys for a baby from birth - 6 months

When we found out we were having a second child, I planned to see how few toys I could get away with. The Montessori toys didn't work very well for my kid, especially if the baby could choose between Montessori toys and other toys. My baby chose regular store toys that were right for his age over wooden ones. Now that he's 6 months old, I can say for sure that we only used the play gym. The rest of the toys I bought ended up in a landfill.

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