It is not just about engaging or educating the child when you choose a toy for your child, but it also involves the safety of the child.  In case you have been through the toy shelves of the department stores you would have guessed that finding the right toy for the children is no easy job.  Parents want to buy a toy which helps the child to grow well and it should also be safe for him.  

It has been seen through studies that children who play with toys right for their age and are motivating; help them to have better physical, imaginative and cognitive skills. It is good to begin as early as possible as small babies can also respond to bright colors, which helps them to develop their vision faster.

Children below six months old need:

• Moving bright colored toys to promote vision

• Activity toys to help in motor control development

• Specially designed mirrors to help the child to discover faces

• Introduce the child to textures by tethers and rattlers 

Six to twelve months:

One should start concentrating on interactive play with the child and introduce toys which have the concept of cause and effect and help in the coordination of hand and eye. You can play easy like pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo for him to understand the new world. Look for:

• Toys which have musical sounds

• Get activity courses and baby gyms to encourage crawling

• Bouncers for increasing physical movement

• Get stuffed toys for children who enjoy cuddling

• Get stacking and filling games like soft or wooden blocks

Twelve to eighteen months

The child may start walking by this age and toys for this age must concentrate on supporting the curiosity of your child to further develop good motor coordination.

• Buy swing sets to have more physical growth and activity

• Building blocks are useful in body coordination

• Story or picture books for development of vocabulary and language

• Music and video according to the child’s age

Eighteen to twenty-four months

By this age most children start using their imagination while playing and need toys which support this vital development phase. They must be exposed to colors, shapes as well as games where they need to follow instructions. Remember that in this children learn with real life play.

• Develop imagination with dress up and costumes 

• Simple puzzles which have les pieces and are easy to handle

• Physical skills can be developed with swing sets 

Two to three years

From the age of two children start concentrating on motor coordination, without realizing it and most of them start playing with other children. It is good to give them toys and games which are better structured than the earlier ones.

• Outdoor games like bicycles, swing sets, other riding toys to develop physical skills

• Simple musical instruments

• Sand boxes

• Playhouses

• Toy Trains

• Dolls

• Dinky Cars

• Storybooks to help develop vocabulary and language 

• Use alphabet and number music and videos to help children get used to them

You will be able to support children in development by giving them toys which are suitable for their age. It stimulates the brain and the child is able to grow and learn faster.

For more useful information, please visit our website: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE