Educational Toy Ideas by Age Groups

Looking for the right toy for that special child in your life? Looking for a toy for a specific age group?

We’ve created a guide grounded in child development research to help. You’ll notice that some toys are listed in more than one age category, although children might play with that toy differently as they get older. 

 

HELPFUL HINTS

• Focus on the kind of play a toy encourages, rather than on the features of the toy. (i.e. Think about what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do.)
• Let the child’s developmental level and interests guide your toy choices, not advertising or the popularity of the toy.
• Look for toys that let the child “tell the story” — eave room for the child to use his or her imagination in how they play!
• Provide an array of toys and activities that encourage your child to use and explore all developmental domains: physical; cognitive; sensory; speech and language; social and emotional.

FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TOY

• Play Value Does the toy promote good, healthy fun? Teach a new concept or skill? Foster creativity? Link home and school? Create enough interest for the child so he plays with the toy over and over again?
• Design Is the toy innovative and original? Does it make good use of materials? Is it presented in packaging that supports understanding of the product and how to use it? Visually interesting? Easy to use?
• Values Does the toy promote social responsibility? Community awareness? Environmental awareness?
• Quality Is the toy durable? Safe? Guaranteed? Of high auditory quality (if it make sounds)?
• Appropriateness Does the toy fit the child’s age? Gender? Abilities? Interests?

TOYS FOR BIRTH TO SIX MONTHS

Even the youngest of children can benefit from toys since toys help infants and babies begin to make sense of the world around them. Providing toys that stimulate your baby’s senses of sight and sound are a good way to help your child grow. As your child becomes able to grasp objects, providing him or her with toys that have different textures will help them learn.

Birth:

• Well-secured, unbreakable crib and wall mirrors
• Soft-bodied dolls with faces and without parts (e.g. eyes, hair) that can detach
• Simple stuffed animals without parts (e.g. eyes, hair) that can detach
• Simple hand puppets (to be used by adults) with faces
• Simple mobiles with high contrast design, well-secured and out of baby’s reach
• Music boxes, operated by adults • Rhythmic music (e.g. lullabies)

Six to Eight Weeks:

• Large sturdy books (e.g. cardboard) with colorful pictures
• Rattles
• Teethers
• Squeeze toys
• Wrist or ankle bells
• Simple crib and play gyms operated by movement of baby’s hands or feet (use only while supervised)

Four Months to Six Months:

• Toy keys on a secure ring
• Simple interlocking rings
• Texture balls and toys
• Grip balls
• Soft blocks
• Large pictures of faces
• Toys on suction cups
• Toys that make noise
• Floating water toys
• Busy box

TOYS FOR SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS

This is the age when motor skills are exploding! Your child is learning to sit up and manipulate toys (banging, dropping, stacking, opening, shutting). As his or her physical exploration moves from crawling to cruising (walking while holding onto a walker or furniture) and eventually walking, your child will love things that move, too.

• Well-secured, unbreakable crib and wall mirrors
• Soft-bodied dolls with faces and without parts (e.g. eyes, hair) that can detach
• Simple stuffed animals without parts (e.g. eyes, hair) that can detach
• Hand puppets (mostly to be used by adults) representing interesting objects or characters
• Play animals or objects (six to eight inches) for exploring and grasping
• Simple vehicles with large wheels for babies to sit in or ride on with supervision
• Teethers
• Beads on rings
• Pop beads
• Squeaky toys
• Sturdy, washable cloth toys
• Disks or keys on ring
• Interlocking rings
• Grasping balls
• Texture & chime balls
• Busy boxes
• Roly-poly toys
• Floating water toys
• Lightweight cloth, wood, or molded blocks (2 to 5 inches per side)
• Simple two- to three-piece puzzles
• Activity boxes or cubes
• Texture pads
• Nesting cups
• Stacking rings or cones
• Sturdy, washable picture and rhyme books
• Push or pull toy cars or animals on wheels
• Secure, age appropriate swings
• Secure, age appropriate climbing platforms
• Music
• Wrist or ankle bells
• Lightweight banging toys (e.g. drum, xylophone, pots & pans, boxes with lids)
• Non-toxic crayons (between 9 and 12 months)

TOYS FOR TODDLERS

The world is opening up for a toddler — and so comes the floodgate of emotions and behaviors. Your child will begin to express pleasure, protest and is developing his or her own personality. Your toddler is definitely an explorer, so give him or her ample opportunity and space to experiment and manipulate toys. You’ll also want to keep them active! Toys that encourage movement will be a big hit.

 

• Toys with secure, sturdy mirrors
• Large building blocks—cloth, molded, or wood
• Fill and dump toys
• Stacking rings and toys
• Nesting toys
• Toy telephones
• Nonbreakable dishes and other simple housekeeping and work role-playing toys
• Dolls and accessories (no parts that can detach)
• Dressing, lacing, and zippering dolls
• Peg people
• Stuffed and molded animals
• Play scenes
• Pails and shovels
• Funnels, colanders
• Puzzles (3 to 5 pieces)
• Pegboards with a few large pegs
• Large, non-toxic crayons with large paper secured to surface
• Sturdy picture and rhyming books
• Activity boxes
• Pop-up toys
• Simple matching and lotto materials
• Bells & rattles for making music
• Lightweight banging toys (e.g. drum, xylophone, pots & pans, boxes with lids)
• Music for bouncing and “dancing”
• Music for finger-play games and songs
• Ride-on vehicles with large wheels—even better with storage bins
• Bouncing or rocking ride-ons
• Tunnels to crawl through
• Safe swings and climbing platforms
• Balls, balls, balls—different sizes, different textures

TOYS FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS

Two-year-olds are full of energy and seem to learn new skills every day. You’ll notice increased language development and that your child takes more of an interest in socializing with others. Provide opportunities for your child to MOVE and develop their gross motor skills, cognitive skills (your child can follow simple instructions now), and their social/emotional skills.

 

• Blocks, blocks, blocks! (of various sizes)
• Boxes and containers of various sizes that encourage filling and emptying
• Cars, trucks, planes, trains—anything that rolls
• Climbing toys
• Craft materials like large paper, non-toxic markers, paint, and glue
• Crayons (large size)
• Dolls and accessories
• Drums
• Felt and other fabrics for crafts
• “Fix it” tools and workbench for toddlers
• Gardening tools for toddlers
• Kitchen toys and toy appliances
• Mirrors (no glass—make sure they cannot break)
• Musical instruments—simple ones like xylophones and tambourines
• Nesting toys
• Paint brushes (large) and sponges for painting
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
• Play dough or non-toxic modeling clay
• Puzzles (simple ones, ideally with knobs for manipulating the pieces)
• Riding toys
• Sandbox and sand toys (sifters, shapers)
• Shape sorters
• Shopping carts for toddlers and related “shopping” toys
• Stacking toys
• Stuffed animals and dolls
• Water toys

TOYS FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS

When your child turns three, you’ll notice that he or she plays actively with others (be it his or her peers or — you!). It is the age of imagination and role playing, so encourage make-believe by stocking toys that help with ‘let’s pretend.’

 

• Beanbags
• Blocks (large and small for building)
• Blunt scissors
• Boxes (different sizes)
• Brushes for painting
• Bubble-blowing materials
• Clay
• Clothespins (adult size)
• Costume box (containing adult clothing, purses, hats, shoes, jewelry, scarves, etc.)
• Crayons (large size)
• Doll furniture (carriage, high chair, bed, etc.)
• Dolls (all kinds)
• Fingerpainting
• Games (lotto, matching, dominoes, etc.)
• Hand puppets (all kinds)
• Housekeeping toys (dust mop, broom, mop, ironing board, iron, stove, refrigerator, sink, etc.)
• Jungle game
• Large beads for stringing (strings should have rigid tips)
• Musical instruments (rhythm sticks, bells, drum, castanets, rattle, triangle, etc.)
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
• Pegboards with large pegs in a variety of colors
• Pencils
• Plastic dishes and assorted cooking utensils
• Playdough
• Puzzles
• Riding vehicles (dump truck, car, etc.)
• Rocking horse
• Sandbox
• Sand toys (sifter, scoops, pail, small containers, spoons, funnels, etc.)
• Screw toys
• Seesaw
• Shape sorting box
• Slide
• Stuffed animals
• Swing set
• Table and chair (child-size)
• Tape deck and tapes
• Toy airplanes, trains, trucks, boats, cars, etc.
• Toy telephone
• Tricycle
• Wagon
• Water toys (sponges, sieves, soap, egg beaters, plastic containers, funnels, straws, measuring cups, etc.)
• Wheelbarrow
• Wooden or rubber vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, fire engines, etc.)

TOYS FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

When it comes to development, four-year-olds are developing greater self-control and ingenuity. They also have a keen interest in trying new experiences. You’ll notice your 4-year-old taking an interest in language (more complex sentences and identifying words/letters) and are even more curious than during their toddler phase!

 

• Balls
• Beads for stringing
• Beanbag games
• Brushes and paints
• Bubble-blowing materials
• Building blocks
• Cars, trucks, boats, trains, airplanes, etc.
• Child’s tape recorder
• Child-size musical instruments
• Child-size workbench and vise
• Clay
• Climbing equipment
• Construction toys
• Cooking set, child-size kitchen appliances
• Doctor and nurse kit
• Dollhouse
• Dolls and doll furniture
• Dominoes
• Dress-up box
• Finger paints
• Housekeeping toys
• Jump rope
• Lacing card, lacing shoe
• Large appliance boxes
• Large crayons
• Memory games
• Nesting toys
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
• Puppets
• Puzzle
• Sand toys
• Simple card games
• Stencils for tracing
• Toys for water play
• Tricycle
• Wagon
• Wheelbarrows

TOYS FOR FIVE-YEAR-OLDS

Have you noticed your five-year-old asking “why” more often? That’s because five-year-olds are very creative problem solvers and are becoming more analytical. Support their development with games that help hone their analytical skills, toys that keep them active and creative materials that help spark imagination.

 

• Art materials
• Balls
• Beanbags
• Bicycle
• Blocks (all sizes)
• Books
• Bowling set
• Camera
• Card and board games (simple)
• Cash register and play money
• Clay
• Climbing equipment
• Computer
• Cooking equipment
• Crafts
• Crayons
• Dishes (nonbreakable) and other housekeeping toys and work role-play toys
• Doctor kit
• Dollhouse with furniture
• Dress-up clothes
• Fingerpaints
• Flashlights
• Jump rope
• Kits—crafts, science
• Loop loom
• Magnetic letters, numerals, and objects
• Magnifying glasses
• Miniature people, animals, farms, vehicles, etc.
• Musical instruments
• Paints and paintbrushes
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
• Picture lacing cards
• Plastic bat and balls
• Puppets
• Puzzles
• Roller skates
• Scooter
• Stencils
• Toy clock
• Trains
• Wagon
• Wheel toys
• Workbench with child-size tools

TOYS FOR SIX TO EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS

This is the age of cognitive expansion (literally — their brains are growing). Play helps elementary-aged children engage in goal-oriented activities and problem solving, as well as self-expression and creativity. You may also notice your older elementary-school aged child become engaged in ‘collecting’ certain prized items.

 

• Dolls—washable and with culturally relevant features and skin tones
• Doll clothing and accessories
• Cash registers and play money
• Puppets and simple puppet theater
• Play scenes
• Small people, animals, and vehicles for acting out stories
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their children
• Books: different genres to read aloud, for kids to read silently, for kids to make
• Crayons, markers, colored pencils, chalk, and paint
• Art supplies: scissors, paper, glue, glitter, paint brushes
• Craft materials: looms, fabric, beads, plaster of paris, sewing supplies, weaving materials, jewelry making materials
• Book making materials
• Clay
• Musical instruments
• Music for singing and dancing
• Audiovisual and technology tools
• Replicas of cars and other vehicles
• Construction workbench with child-sized tools and real materials
• Math manipulatives
• Measuring materials
• Science materials
• Plants and animals to study and care for
• Puzzles: three dimensional and jigsaw (50 to 100 pieces)
• Balls and sports equipment
• Ride-on toys, including bicycles
• Climbing toys

TOYS FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES

There are a few things we know for sure about kids. Every child is unique. Each grows and learns in his or her own special way. And pretty much all children love to play.
Kids with disabilities are no different, of course. Whether a child’s disability is mild or severe, obvious or not, that child is first and foremost a kid, which he or means she will have the natural instinct to explore the world through play, just like any other child.
When it comes to birthdays and holidays and other special times, however, children with disabilities all too often find clothing or other ‘safe’ gifts waiting for them. Many times, grandparents, other relatives, and friends want to do something special for the child, but they just aren’t sure what types of toys will be fun and usable. They don’t want to take a chance on disappointing her with something that doesn’t fit her abilities, something that ends up being more frustrating for the child than fun.
If you have a child with disabilities in your life for whom you would like to find just the right toy, several resources are available to help you:

• Top Ten Tips for Choosing Toys. A list of comprehensive tips. Be sure to check out the many other resources on play for children with disabilities, including downloadable information packets on many play topics.
• Able Play: A more comprehensive look at toys that fit well with particular disabilities. Developed by the National Lekotek Center, toys are rated on several characteristics and you can search by disability, age of child, type of toy, and more. If the child for whom you are buying has asked for a particular toy, this site can also serve as a resource to see if that item has been reviewed. The evaluation can help you decide if the toy is the right choice.
• Your Neighborhood Toy Store: These stores are generally very different from national chain toy stores and toy sections in discount department stores because they provide significantly more personalized service along with a selection of products not usually found in big chains. You can expect to find staff who are knowledgeable about a wide range of toys, how to use them in different and sometimes unique ways, and how to match up children with the toys that best suit their interests and developmental levels.

 

Explore our toy blog for a wide assortment of information about toys and games. Before purchasing the next toy or shopping for a holiday gift, refer to our toy buying guide for assistance in finding the perfect toy.