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Age Appropriate Activities
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Young children learn through playing. Hence, it is important that we choose the right child games so that children develop the right values that you hope they will learn. As children play with toys, with one another, and with adults, they acquire and improve the skills necessary for formal learning in later stages of their lives.
Select games or toys based children's interests and developmental needs. Any child games selected should be designed for interaction keeping children engaged in the ways they learn best - through seeing and hearing, touching and trying.
Below 12 months - At this stage, you would consider providing games that develop eye-hand coordination, motor skills and recognition of animals, objects, colors, shapes and numbers.
12 to 24 months - Start introducing activities that are done in sequence and those that will increase attention span. Your toddler can now play games that require him/her to follow simple directions. Let your children learn to match things that go together as he/she starts to recognize letters, numbers, colors and shapes. This is also a good time for the children to learn to make music.
2 Years and Up - As your children grow, provide them with activities that develop self-confidence, encourage thinking skills and those that strengthens social skills. Continue to fine tune their motor skills and expand their vocabulary. You can also play games that help strengthen their memory skills.
The following are examples of child games for different aspects of your children’s development:
Develop Eye-Hand Coordination and Motor Skills - stacking toys, shapes sorter, activity links gym, pounding toys, lacing toys and pull toys
Thinking and Creative Skills - Legos, building blocks, art materials, play dough, gears, puppets and dress ups or props
Mathematical Thinking Skills - Monopoly, construction toys, pretend & play calculator cash register
Logical Deductive Skills - Clue, checkers
Imagination - pretend play, dollhouses
Problem Solving Skills - puzzles, brainteasers
Develop Self-Confidence - roller skates, scooter
Strengthens Social Skills - pretend play with other children, sports
Physical Fitness - sports, hula-hoop, Gymnic Hop Ball
Baby Play
During the first three months of life, a baby will enjoy colorful toys and pictures. Watching the movement of toys and listening to soothing music will be most pleasing at this age. There are literally thousands of different toys available for infants. Cheerful toys such as stuffed animals and pillows can be a wonderful way to brighten your baby's day. Just remember, never place these items in the crib- they can cause suffocation.
One- to Three-Months-Old
- Rattles and musical toys
- Soft squeeze toys and balls (balls should be at least one and three-quarter inches or 44mm in diameter)
- Unbreakable mirrors
- Teethers
- Bright pictures
- Talking and singing to your infant
- Pleasant facial expressions
Four- to Seven-Months-Old
From four to seven months of age, a baby will show an increasing interest in shaking, holding, touching and mouthing objects. Manipulating objects to produce movement and noise will also begin.
- Rattles and musical toys
- Soft squeeze toys and balls (balls should be at least one and three-quarter inches or 44 mm in diameter)
- Unbreakable mirrors
- Teethers
- Bright pictures
- Toys which have holes for easy gripping
- Soft baby books made of vinyl or cloth
- Interlocking plastic rings
- Floor gyms
- A jumper to bounce in
Eight- to Twelve-Months-Old
By eight months, an infant will begin to take an interest in exploring the surrounding environment. Motor skills are developing rapidly, and soon she will
learn to sit up, crawl about, stand and eventually walk. Playing with objects, using them to shake, throw, poke, push, pull and drop will also occur. Operating simple mechanisms such as pop-up boxes, musical toys and push-pull toys will provide endless amusement and entertainment.
- Musical toys
- Soft squeeze toys and balls (balls should be at least one and three-quarter inches or 44 mm in diameter)
- Unbreakable mirrors
- Teethers
- Baby books made of cardboard
- Key rings
- Sturdy cloth toys
- Pop-up boxes
- Containers to empty and fill such as cups and small pails
- Stackable toys in large sizes
- Bath toys
- Large stuffed animals
- Push-pull toys
Toddler Toys
One to Two-Year-Old
At one year, a toddler will engage in more active play that includes running, jumping, climbing and exploring. Toys that can be used in these activities will be preferred. Also, toys for building basic structures will be enjoyed.
- Big balls for throwing and kicking
- Drawing and coloring books
- Large picture books
- Push-pull toys
- Building blocks
- Bath toys
- Play clothing
- Dolls
- Make believe toys (i.e. dinner sets and tools)
- "Peek-a-boo" games
- Wagons
- Miniature lawn mowers, shopping carts and baby strollers
Preschool Play
Three to Five-Year-Old
From three to five years of age a child will begin to enjoy more imaginative and creative play. Building recognizable structures and using smaller and more complex pieces will be preferred. Group play will become more important, too. As interactive and communication skills develop, she will begin to show more interest in toys that can be shared with other children.
- Picture books
- Basic musical instruments
- Dolls and stuffed toys
- Story books
- Simple puzzles
- Non-toxic arts and crafts
- Construction toys
- Sand and water toys
- Toy telephones
- Three and four-wheel riding toys (with a helmet)
- Roller skates (with a helmet)
- Playground
School-Age Fun
Six to Eight-Year-Old
During the early elementary school days, a child will be developing stronger muscles with improved coordination and dexterity. Social interaction will become more complex. At this age, she will develop some degree of competitiveness. Activities that involve these skills include sports, music, art and outside play. Home activities such as reading, writing, and collecting also interest some children. Early school-aged children can safely enjoy arts and crafts at home as well. Watercolors are safe to use, as are blunt scissors and non-toxic white glue or paste.
- Musical instruments and dancing
- Books
- Board games
- Jig saw puzzles
- Riding toys, to include properly sized bicycles (with a helmet)
- Sporting activities, to include gymnastics, swimming, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer and football
As you will see, the activities and toys that children enjoy become more diverse, varied and complex, as they grow older. An ever-increasing gray zone develops between what is safe and unsafe, so rely on your intuition and experience when deciding which toys can be given to an older child.
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