Toys for Every Age: The Ultimate Guide to the Toy Ladder for Your Child

When you look into your child’s eyes, you see joy, wonder, and potential. And you can’t help but want to further foster their desire to play and take in the world. Fortunately, the right toys can make this easier than ever to do.

Here’s a rundown on the top toys for children of every age and how these toys can take their playtime, their knowledge, and your moments as a family to the next level.

0-12 Months

During your child’s first 12 months, your child will benefit from sensory toys—toys that will engage their senses and promote interaction. These toys can be cuddly and soft, have nubby textures, or make crackling or squeaky noises, for example.

• Dolls: If your child could use cuddles on demand, give them access to plenty with soft dolls featuring fluffy fabric and soft filling. Male and female dolls make the perfect companion for your child’s baby months.
  
• Teething Toys: Because infants have a tendency to mouth their toys, treat your child to textured ones, which can help to relieve their teething pain. Silicone teething toys in fun shapes like those of a crocodile or fox can also stimulate their senses, promote creative play, and assist them in developing their fine motor skills.
  
• Rattles: Shake, shake, shake! Looking to build your child’s foundational play, motor, and language skills? Rattles are a great way to provide fun and easy entertainment while also improving your child’s hand-eye coordination.

12-24 Months

At this stage, your child is beginning to understand multi-stage directions, complex movements, and speech. For this reason, they’ll be fascinated with toys that respond to the actions they take and allow them to boost their motor skills and use their imagination.

• Blocks: Let your child channel their inner builder with building blocks. These toys will help them to develop their engineering skills and experience the pride that comes with building something all on their own.
  
• Magnetic Games: Games and mazes with magnetic rods will allow your child to move balls around and even sort them and count them. They’re perfect for developing your child’s spatial skills, color recognition skills, and fine motor dexterity. 
  
• Pails: No day at the beach is complete without scoopfuls of sand in the mix. A pail for sand or snow is a great way to immerse your child in nature and teach them problem-solving skills.
  

2-3 Years

When your child reaches the toddler years, expect them to begin fine-tuning their dislikes and likes. They’re more purposeful in their play, and you’ll likely even see them start to embrace pretend play to imitate other people’s actions. In light of this, choose toys that allow them to explore their unique interests while simultaneously learning.

• Track Toys: Surprise your child with special effects, exciting curves, and tantalizing twists with an expandable track toy. These toddler-friendly toys are great for introducing them to engineering basics and enhancing their lateral thinking.
  
• Sorting Box: This toy option is a fun way to teach your child cause and effect, as well as aid in color practice and shape identification.

3-5 Years

At this age, your child is in the thick of their preschool years, getting ready to tackle kindergarten soon. They’re now capable of fantasizing about being fairies, athletes, ballerinas, pilots, teachers, and more. They’ll experience a tremendous amount of learning, so you’ll want to spend this stage introducing them to preschool toys that encourage play while also teaching them verbal skills, math skills, and how to express their personalities.

• Marble Run: Allow your child to dive into marble mania with a marble run. Kids at this age enjoy watching marbles whiz around and drop to other levels on their snake-like tracks. This activity is a great way to engage your child and boost their cognitive skills.
  
• Miniature Toys: If your little one could use some little friends, they’ve got plenty to choose from in a miniature toy bundle. Allow their imagination to run wild with a mini doll collection, a bundle of barn babies, or even a set featuring a miniature vet with small animal patients.
  
• Doll Clothing Set: Let your child enjoy giving their doll their own personal dress-up session with an attractive dress set, for example. It’s the perfect way to foster their creative thinking and social-emotional growth.

5-8 Years

In this age range, your little one is not so little anymore. They’re beginning to recognize their personal interests. Be prepared to watch them play more games and enjoy tapping into their creative side like never before.

• Puppets: Give your child the opportunity to re-enact fairy tales and make up their own story with puppets designed for this age range. Your child will laugh, show off their animated side, and develop self-confidence in the process.
  
• Board Games: Take fun to a new, strategy-driven level with board games designed for kids ages 5 and up. Board games are a great way to teach your child decision-making, facilitate their emotional development, and show them how to plan ahead. At the same time, they’ll embrace the thrill of reclaiming jewels, catching crooks, or even winning a car race!

8-Plus Years

At this age, your child is all about moving about and embracing adult-like hobbits, abilities, and interests. Choose toys that are great at promoting mobility and bringing out their creative potential.

• Outdoor Exploration Toys: A camping lantern and an adjustable scoop net are the perfect way to keep your little adventurer busy. These toys will get your child interested in nature and less inclined to be glued to screens.
  
• Play Food: Serve up hours of delicious fun with play food items. This toy option for 8-year-olds will enhance their imagination and creativity, cooperation skills, and language development.

Introduce Your Child to Innovative Toys Today

Your child needs toys that will keep them entertained and promote imaginative play. Younger kids need toys and games that are designed to build their foundational understanding of the world around them. Meanwhile, older kids need toys and games that are stimulating and challenging.

Consider the above-listed toys as you seek to keep your child engaged and educated at every age in the years ahead.