Choosing The Right Toys For Your Baby's Age

Choosing The Right Toys For Your Baby's Age

Choosing the right toy for your child's age is not just a matter of selecting a toy that will engage, entertain and educate them. It is also a matter of safety. If you've browsed any toy store aisles, you probably know that selecting the right toy can be a difficult undertaking. Not only do you want a toy that will be of no danger to your child, but you also want toys that will assist in developing their full potential.

Parents should consider whether the toys they buy will nurture their baby's brain development, not only keep them entertained. This is why parents should consider STEM-based educational toys. The purpose of STEM toys is to encourage children to learn as they play, introducing them to real-world concepts at an early age and challenging their brains.

Children under Six Months:

Mobiles with bright colors..

6 to 12 Months

During this period, it is important to begin focusing on interactive play with your child. This includes introducing the concept of cause and effect as well as working on hand-eye coordination. Simple games like "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake" are great for this. In addition, look for these types of toys to further stimulate your child's development and learning:

  • Toys that make musical sounds
  • Baby gyms to stimulate crawling
  • Bouncers to promote physical activity
  • Play telephones to encourage communication
  • Soft dolls and stuffed animals for kids who love to cuddle
  • Wooden and  soft blocks for stacking, filling and dumping games

12-18 Months

Around the time your child turns one, he or she may begin to walk or experiment with taking those first steps. Toys at this age should focus on supporting your child's curiosity in exploration while further developing fine motor coordination.

18-24 Months

By the time they are 1 ½ years old, most children begin to use their imagination in play. This typically takes on the form of make-believe, aiding in developing problem-solving skills. Consider:

  • Costumes and dress-up to stimulate the imagination
  • Push and pull toys 
  • Simple Puzzles
  • Playhouses and other roleplay objects that will allow them to mimic the world around them.
  • Jungle Gym Sets

24-36 Months

Children begin to focus on fine motor coordination at age two, even though they do not realize it. By this age, kids can start working with board games suitable for their age and craft type projects and toys.

Outdoor equipment such as swing sets, riding vehicles and tricycles build physical skills as well as.

  • Beginner musical instruments
  • Playhouses
  • Sandboxes
  • Train sets
  • Dolls
  • Cars/trucks
  • Costumes/dress-up
  • Art sets
  • Storybooks for language development and vocabulary building
  • Videos and music, especially those that expose kids to numbers and the alphabet

Developmental play is one of the most important aspects of raising a baby. It’s how babies learn for themselves and establish a sense of independence when parents aren’t always available. Visit thestemkidz.com for a wide variety of educational toys for babies and toddlers. Make sure to check out our blog as well for more parenting tips and tricks.