October 2007
Toys for toddlers and preschoolers
Toys can entertain and stimulate young minds and foster an interest in a particular area, such as photography, math, arts
and crafts, and language. Playing, in general, helps develop a child's social, emotional, language, intellectual, and problem-solving
skills.
Even something as simple as a ball for a toddler or preschooler qualifies, especially if adults and other children get involved by rolling, kicking, or bouncing it with him; kids learn cause and effect, and their skill level grows over time. And there's nothing like paper and a set of paints to engage young creative minds. Here are more ideas about age-appropriate toys for the toddler and preschool crowd that track with their stages of development:
Ages 1 to 3: Playtime gets tactile and mobile
Playtime can get messy starting at age 1, when children begin to take an interest in emptying, transferring, and rearranging their environment. Turn your back, and you're likely to find your toddler emptying the salt shaker, overturning the dog's dish, or upending the baby wipes. Filling and dumping are organizing skills that help your toddler experience how things work and relate to each other. They also enhance hand-eye coordination and teach basic spatial concepts like "in" and "out," so they'll enjoy toys that allow them to endlessly fill and spill, such as a plush container of stuffed animals. Stacking toys, which kids younger than 1 might enjoy, continue to be fun for kids this age. From ages 2 to 3, active play and testing their physical skills by jumping, climbing, and throwing are the name of the game. Toddlers this age also like using their expanding hand-eye coordination to work with basic arts and crafts, blocks, and simple puzzles.
Suggested toys: Blocks, books, fit-together toys, push-and-pull toys, pounding and shape toys, fill-and-spill sets, and balls. To bath time, add spoons, a plastic pitcher, measuring cups, and plastic cups to encourage filling and dumping skills without a mess. Toddlers and preschoolers also love ride-on toys and starter tricycles. For more information, see our report on Tricycles, ride-on toys, and scooters.
Age 3 to 6: Masters of make-believe
By age 3, children start interacting with each other and engaging in pretend play. They enjoy acting out grown-up roles and using props such as costumes to bring their imaginations to life. At this age, they can also become attached to certain dolls or stuffed animals. But toys that emulate Mom and Dad's downtime are the biggest toy trend for the preschool set. "Young kids are watching their parents online, using digital cameras and MP3 players, and the toy industry is following that, creating easy, simple-to-use toys that are educational as well," says Mark Randall, vice president of Amazon.com Toys and Baby stores.
Suggested toys: Electronic toys that convert your TV or PC into a learning/interactive play site, nontoxic art supplies, books, videos, musical instruments, and outdoor toys such as a baseball tee, slide, or swing.
Shopping tips
What's available
Major brands of toys for toddlers and preschoolers include, in alphabetical order: Educational Insights (www.educationalinsights.com), Edushape (www.edushape.com), Fisher-Price (www.fisher-price.com), Ganz (www.ganz.com), Hasbro, (www.hasbro.com), International Playthings Inc. (www.intplay.com), LeapFrog (www.leapfrog.com), Learning Curve (www.learningcurve.com), Lego (www.lego.com), Little Tikes (www.littletikes.com), Manhattan Toy (www.manhattantoy.com), Mattel (www.mattel.com), Small World Toys (www.smallworldtoys.com), Spin Master (www.spinmaster.com), and VTech (www.vtechkids.com). Prices typically range from $5 for basic toys, such as stuffed animals that link to the Internet, to $40 and more for electronic and other toys.
RECOMMENDATIONS
When toy shopping, follow the manufacturer's age recommendations displayed on the package. Don't assume your little Einstein is ahead of the curve or that buying more advanced toys will enhance your child's development. Age grading relates to the safety of the toy as well as its play value.
Be vigilant about checking www.recalls.gov for recalled toys before shopping. Don't buy toys with small, detachable magnets. With toys you already own, inspect them for breakage, chipped or deteriorated paint, and other potential hazards each time you give them to your child. If you find a problem, throw the toy away.
Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, marbles, and magnets, away from children younger than 3.
High-tech toys, such as those that connect to a TV or computer, can engage children for long periods--though the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, www.aap.org) recommends no TV or DVD-watching at all for kids younger than 2 (see the AAP Guidelines for Children's Media Use). Limit your child's TV time to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of quality programming, according to media recommendations by the AAP. Studies show that too much media exposure can contribute to decreased school performance, obesity, and poor body image, among other negative effects. A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that, in a typical day, nearly 70 percent of children age 2 and younger watched TV. Of those, nearly 20 percent had a TV in their room and half of them could turn it on by themselves. With infants and toddlers, especially, be sure to encourage interactive activities, such as talking, playing, and reading together, which promotes proper brain development. If you're the parent of a child this age, keep in mind that you are your child's favorite pastime.
Even something as simple as a ball for a toddler or preschooler qualifies, especially if adults and other children get involved by rolling, kicking, or bouncing it with him; kids learn cause and effect, and their skill level grows over time. And there's nothing like paper and a set of paints to engage young creative minds. Here are more ideas about age-appropriate toys for the toddler and preschool crowd that track with their stages of development:
Ages 1 to 3: Playtime gets tactile and mobile
Playtime can get messy starting at age 1, when children begin to take an interest in emptying, transferring, and rearranging their environment. Turn your back, and you're likely to find your toddler emptying the salt shaker, overturning the dog's dish, or upending the baby wipes. Filling and dumping are organizing skills that help your toddler experience how things work and relate to each other. They also enhance hand-eye coordination and teach basic spatial concepts like "in" and "out," so they'll enjoy toys that allow them to endlessly fill and spill, such as a plush container of stuffed animals. Stacking toys, which kids younger than 1 might enjoy, continue to be fun for kids this age. From ages 2 to 3, active play and testing their physical skills by jumping, climbing, and throwing are the name of the game. Toddlers this age also like using their expanding hand-eye coordination to work with basic arts and crafts, blocks, and simple puzzles.
Suggested toys: Blocks, books, fit-together toys, push-and-pull toys, pounding and shape toys, fill-and-spill sets, and balls. To bath time, add spoons, a plastic pitcher, measuring cups, and plastic cups to encourage filling and dumping skills without a mess. Toddlers and preschoolers also love ride-on toys and starter tricycles. For more information, see our report on Tricycles, ride-on toys, and scooters.
Age 3 to 6: Masters of make-believe
By age 3, children start interacting with each other and engaging in pretend play. They enjoy acting out grown-up roles and using props such as costumes to bring their imaginations to life. At this age, they can also become attached to certain dolls or stuffed animals. But toys that emulate Mom and Dad's downtime are the biggest toy trend for the preschool set. "Young kids are watching their parents online, using digital cameras and MP3 players, and the toy industry is following that, creating easy, simple-to-use toys that are educational as well," says Mark Randall, vice president of Amazon.com Toys and Baby stores.
Suggested toys: Electronic toys that convert your TV or PC into a learning/interactive play site, nontoxic art supplies, books, videos, musical instruments, and outdoor toys such as a baseball tee, slide, or swing.
Shopping tips
- Check the U.S. Government's recall Web site, www.recalls.gov, to see whether the toys in your home--or toys you plan to buy--have been recalled. Even better, sign up for free e-mail
notices of future recalls at the CPSC's Web site, www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. There have been a large number of toy recalls in the past few months. Staying up-to-date can help prevent you from buying
a recalled toy and remedy the situation if you bought a toy that has been recalled.
- Look for the manufacturer's recommended age range on the toy package--and take it seriously. A toy labeled for children older
than 3 is definitely not suitable for younger children. More than a friendly hint, this can alert you to a possible choking
hazard, the presence of small parts, and other dangers. If you're buying a toy for a child older than 3 who has a younger
sibling, also be aware of small parts since it's likely that the younger child will find a way to get the toy. You might want
to limit your older child's play with such toys to areas of your home where the younger sibling is not allowed to go.
- Regardless of your child's age, don't buy toys with small magnets, even if they seem safely contained within the toy. If the
toy breaks and the magnets fall out, they could be accidentally swallowed.
- Cheap, poorly constructed toys are no bargain. Flimsy plastic toys--the kind sometimes sold in drugstores, airports, and dollar
stores--often have dangerous sharp edges or small parts that can break off easily.
- Used toys, especially solid, molded-plastic ones, can be a great buy. But as you would with new toys, check www.recalls.gov before shopping. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and yard and garage sales often have toys in excellent condition. But
carefully check every toy to see that it's well made and safe, with no parts that could break loose and no magnets, which
have proven dangerous for children as old as 11. Wash any secondhand toy before giving it to your child.
- Shop around. When selecting toys, browse stores, catalogs, and Web sites for other ideas. Besides our suggestions, you can
get an idea of the toys your child might like by noticing what toys he gravitates to on play dates or at preschool and by
asking other parents who have children of similar ages.
What's available
Major brands of toys for toddlers and preschoolers include, in alphabetical order: Educational Insights (www.educationalinsights.com), Edushape (www.edushape.com), Fisher-Price (www.fisher-price.com), Ganz (www.ganz.com), Hasbro, (www.hasbro.com), International Playthings Inc. (www.intplay.com), LeapFrog (www.leapfrog.com), Learning Curve (www.learningcurve.com), Lego (www.lego.com), Little Tikes (www.littletikes.com), Manhattan Toy (www.manhattantoy.com), Mattel (www.mattel.com), Small World Toys (www.smallworldtoys.com), Spin Master (www.spinmaster.com), and VTech (www.vtechkids.com). Prices typically range from $5 for basic toys, such as stuffed animals that link to the Internet, to $40 and more for electronic and other toys.
RECOMMENDATIONS
When toy shopping, follow the manufacturer's age recommendations displayed on the package. Don't assume your little Einstein is ahead of the curve or that buying more advanced toys will enhance your child's development. Age grading relates to the safety of the toy as well as its play value.
Be vigilant about checking www.recalls.gov for recalled toys before shopping. Don't buy toys with small, detachable magnets. With toys you already own, inspect them for breakage, chipped or deteriorated paint, and other potential hazards each time you give them to your child. If you find a problem, throw the toy away.
Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, marbles, and magnets, away from children younger than 3.
High-tech toys, such as those that connect to a TV or computer, can engage children for long periods--though the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, www.aap.org) recommends no TV or DVD-watching at all for kids younger than 2 (see the AAP Guidelines for Children's Media Use). Limit your child's TV time to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of quality programming, according to media recommendations by the AAP. Studies show that too much media exposure can contribute to decreased school performance, obesity, and poor body image, among other negative effects. A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that, in a typical day, nearly 70 percent of children age 2 and younger watched TV. Of those, nearly 20 percent had a TV in their room and half of them could turn it on by themselves. With infants and toddlers, especially, be sure to encourage interactive activities, such as talking, playing, and reading together, which promotes proper brain development. If you're the parent of a child this age, keep in mind that you are your child's favorite pastime.
