We hope you find in these next few pages some helpful hints for choosing gifts for your child that are fun and developmentally appropriate. All toys should be eye appealing, colorful, well constructed, durable and above all safe. Older children’s toys should be kept away from younger children, even though this is very challenging especially around the holidays. Be certain when making hour holiday gift purchases you buy toys made of non-toxic materials. Most of all have fun playing with your children over the holidays.
Ages 1 – 3 Years
Children in this age group enjoy physical activity and imitative play. They are increasing their vocabulary and beginning to develop fine motor skills. Remember that they are increasing their understanding of the world through all their senses. Remember too, that they use all their senses to explore their world so no toys with small parts that can be swallowed.
- Picture Books
- Blocks
- Balls
- Dolls / Puppets
- Toy kitchens with dishes and pretend food to imitate
- Riding Toys
- Thick, non-toxic crayons with large paper
Ages 3 – 5 Years
These little ones are beginning to learn the concepts of sharing and getting pleasure from play with others. They have vivid imaginations and enjoy role-play through ‘dress up’. Physical activities are still high on their agenda and they too, are still developing their fine motor skills. Physical does not have to mean violent, avoid toys with parts that shoot or weapons that can be used to hit or be propelled
- Dolls
- Dress-up Clothes
- Puzzles (large 25- 35 pieces)
- Books
- Wipe off boards, chalk boards, doodle boards
- Paint, paper, glue, crayons, coloring books, child safe scissors, stamp pads, stickers
- Musical toys and instruments
- Cassettes and CD’s – many companies now make very durable cassette and CD players
- Beginning Picture Boards or Card Games
- Wagons, Tricycles or other riding vehicles (Don’t forget the helmet – if it is made an expectation at this age they will continue to wear them when they get older)
Ages 6 – 8 Years
Children of this age group are interested in group play with other children of the same sex, boys play with boys and girls play with girls as they imitate the adults they love. These children have beginning reading skills, show interest in numbers and love to explore. Good age to foster group play with board games. Once again their imaginations are vivid and they are very impressionable, avoid violent video games and any toys that can cause physical harm.
- Books and Books with ‘read to me’ cassettes
- Magazines subscriptions for children
- Craft or Science Kits
- Puzzles (50 – 100 pieces)
- Computer Toys, games and software
- Bikes (Helmets a must)
- Sports equipment
- Board and Card Games
- Watches
- Trucks and Dolls
Ages 9 – 12 Years
These children enjoy competition in sports, games and physical activities. They are beginning to develop a sense of logic, so toys or games that require this level of thinking are appreciated. They enjoy activities that they can perform independently and they like to be imaginative by creating things. Watch the suggested levels of Video games at this age, these ‘tweeners’ like to mimic their teenage counterparts and they just are not ready for that degree of processing fantasy from reality.
- Books
- Craft kits, Science kits and Models
- Sports equipment
- Construction Sets / Lego type blocks
- Puzzles (many pieces or 3D)
- Games requiring strategy, concentration and skill
- Computer games and software
- Bike, scooter (Helmets at this age too)
- Art Supplies
