I often say that play is a child’s “work” - it is an essential part of a child’s life for their overall health, learning, and well-being through which they process their lived experiences and the world around them. Play provides children with a treasure trove of learning opportunities, and the toys they reach for and interact with play an important role in facilitating their growth and learning.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toys out there. In this blog, we break down some important developmental milestones that your child will experience from birth to age 6, and provide toy and book recommendations that can support their development through play, every step of the way!
Infants (0-1 year)
Babies learn and engage with the world around them through their senses – touch, smell, vision, taste, and sound. Because babies learn with their senses, we want to make sure we provide them with as many opportunities to stimulate their sensory exploration as we can. Toys* that expose infants to a variety of colors, textures, shapes, and sounds will entice them to utilize their developing senses.
As infants’ motor skills improve and they develop better head and neck control, they may show signs of intentional reaching and grabbing, lifting their head, and starting to turn over. Be on the lookout for toys that produce or encourage movement and create sound to strengthen their muscles and encourage these skills.
*Babies love to explore and learn by putting things in their mouths. Avoid small objects that can be a choking hazard and materials that can easily rip, break off, or dissolve.
Related reading: Infants 0-3 Milestones and Activities
Toddlers (1-2.5 years)
As children develop into toddlerhood, their growing language ability offers new opportunities for social interaction - agreeing more with others, sharing observations about the world, and communicating with others in more elaborate ways. During this time, foundational cognitive skills, such as executive function (e.g., attending to tasks for longer periods of time, beginning to delay gratification, adjusting behavior to achieve simple goals), begin to emerge.
Toys that both engage and challenge children’s attention like puzzles and stackable building materials are wonderful options that, when facilitated by an adult, can also open the door to prosocial skill development (e.g., sharing, taking turns, waiting for a turn). Dolls and pretend play items that allow toddlers to role-play and process their lived experiences are also important imaginative vehicles for social-emotional development.
Preschool - Kindergarten (3-6 years)
Children’s preschool years are active and full of significant developmental milestones as they test the limits of their independence and control. By the age of 4, children begin to understand the perspectives and feelings of others and can better anticipate the consequences of their actions. As children’s self-awareness grows, so too does their social awareness, resulting in more cooperative play and the development of prosocial, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills.
Toys and games that require sorting, organizing, and sequencing (e.g., beginning, middle, and end) will support children’s cognitive development and provide opportunities for practicing regulation of heightened emotions, such as frustration and disappointment. Encourage imaginative and creative ideas with open-ended materials, such as magnetic shapes and building pieces.
Reading stories with children that focus on conflict resolution, challenging emotional and social situations, and the many emotions we all feel each day supports their development of a positive sense of self and gives them strategies they can apply with friends and family in their own lives.
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