Which age-appropriate toys are suitable and when?
-
Von
Vanessa M.
Age-appropriate toys: what should you look out for?
Carefully selected toys support children in important areas of child development, such as motor skills, creativity, perception and various thought processes. This is at least true when it comes to age-appropriate toys. This raises the question: Which toys does a child need at what age? Given the wide variety of toys on the market, it's easy to lose track and it's not so easy to identify the right toy for the child's age.
This guide provides background knowledge and tips to help you choose the right toys.
Influence of age-appropriate toys on the developmental stages of children
The positive influence of toys on children's development begins in the first months of life and continues throughout the following years. This is why suitable toys are already important for a 6-month-old baby. Age-appropriate toys that encourage grasping and feeling train motor skills and perception through the sense of touch, among other things. There are also age-appropriate baby toys from 6 months that stimulate the sense of sight or hearing. When it comes to age-appropriate toys from the age of 1 year or 2 years, the focus is also on language development. There are toys for all ages that support children's development particularly well in a variety of areas, which we would now like to look at in more detail.
Social and emotional development
Age-appropriate toys that allow children to play together with parents, siblings and friends introduce them to interpersonal interaction. By playing with others, they learn to recognize and respect the emotions of others, to communicate their own wishes and ideas clearly and to compromise. Role-playing toys that allow children to look at the world from new perspectives and literally put themselves in other people's shoes are particularly popular.
Cognitive development
As already mentioned, the positive influence of age-appropriate toys also affects cognitive skills, for example perception, logical thinking and information processing. With the help of age-specific educational games and puzzles, children train various thought processes.They expand their problem-solving skills, improve their memory and practise concentration.
From sensory perception and motor skills to imagination, creativity, cognition, language and social skills, there is a long list of skills that age-appropriate toys promote. Age-appropriate play therefore plays a key role in children's development. The structure and play content of valuable toys are geared towards the age-typical interests and abilities of the target group. It is therefore perfectly logical that baby toys from the age of 6 months differ significantly from age-appropriate toys from the age of 2 years or 3 years.
Age-specific recommendations - Which toys from what age?
The first smile, the first tooth, the first word or the first step: every stage of development brings its own milestones and "firsts" and requires suitable toys. Age-appropriate toys take into account the needs of children in the age group in question and provide effective support. Below, we explain which types of toys enrich which developmental phases to a particularly high degree and make recommendations for toys according to age. With this important information in hand, you can select a product for age-appropriate play from BIG's huge range of toys.
Age-appropriate toys for babies up to 6 months
Age-appropriate toys for babies under 6 months typically focus on sensory development. Classic baby toys, such as rattles, soft fabric books and mobiles, stimulate the senses and thus promote sensory development.
Baby toys from 6 months
Simple toys that stimulate motor skills and coordination are suitable toys for a 6-month-old baby. This is because age-appropriate toys from 6 months support the now rapidly progressing motor development and encourage the coordination of specific movements. Stacking cups, building blocks and teething rings, for example, meet these criteria, but cuddly toys and balls are also suitable as baby and toddler toys.
Age-appropriate toys from 1 year
During the first year of life, mobility, language development, the joy of experimentation and independence become increasingly important. Age-appropriate toys from the age of one therefore enable parents to encourage children's language skills, for example when naming the pictures in a book or solving puzzles together.
Outdoor and garden toys, on the other hand, invite children to move and discover in the fresh air and thus cater to the curiosity of one-year-old adventurers. The BIG sand and water shell, which can be used by children from around 1.5 years of age, also provides further motor and sensory development. Water slides and water games are also a fun way for children to develop their sensory skills. Also in great demand at this age are balance bikes, slide cars and bobby cars, which provide mobility and strengthen arms and, above all, legs.
Age-appropriate toys from the age of 2
The second year of life is still characterized by huge leaps in motor development, which are accompanied by increased developmental progress in the area of cognition . Age-appropriate toys from the age of 2 can therefore already be somewhat more complex. Popular toys include building blocks and role-playing toys, which bring the creative streak of two-year-olds to life and encourage problem-solving thinking. If you also want to train motor skills, you can add the Mini and Midi BIG Power Worker to your toy repertoire.
Age-appropriate toys from the age of 3
Age-appropriate toys from the age of 3 focus attention on social skills, imagination and progressive motor development. Three-year-olds often prefer playing in groups to playing alone and are allowed to engage with other children with empathy, understandable communication, consideration and finding compromises. Creative role-playing games often develop automatically, which you can make even more interesting with themed accessories and costumes.
Our construction site vehicles, such as the BIG fire engine, the forklift truck or the BIG pedal tractors, are also suitable for age-appropriate play with plenty of variety. In order for your child to experience age-appropriate motor development, the movement toys must become increasingly challenging. Our climbing toys are ideal for this, as they promise long-lasting fun - not a trace of boredom!
Conclusion - what makes a good, age-appropriate toy?
The ideal toy meets the applicable safety standards, is made without harmful materials and impresses with its quality and durability. It should also be suitable for your child's age and support their cognitive, motor, social and emotional development. Age-appropriate toys that meet these criteria offer added value that goes far beyond mere entertainment. You can discover just such toys for kids of all ages at BIG.
Take a look around our store and get to know toys that are tailored to the needs of children of different age groups - for play with purpose!