Each child is different, but some things almost always remain the same. A good example of this is the fact that around 33% of all youngsters go through an intense interest in dinosaurs. Other types of toys that remain a perennial favorite include open-ended building blocks, creative art supplies, play kitchens, and puzzles. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the different types of toys that appeal to children, by age range.
Infants (0-12 Months)
One thing that every infant needs is a super-soft stuffed animal. Depending on how much they take to it, they might even keep it nearby as they become toddlers and preschoolers. We offer tons of different stuffies, including the 12” Ohen Gentleheart, which is the cutest dragon around! Alternatively, you can go for the more traditional Candy Cottontails plushie.
Another thing that infants and toddlers love is our line of 9” Story Pals. They present a new way to enjoy older stories like Wheels on the Bus. Additionally, there are also fanciful stories such as Let’s Imagine a Unicorn and Let’s Pretend to be Dinosaurs. Each story includes its own stuffed animal!
Infants also love learning about music. So, why not mix music with a plushie? Our Afrique Elephant gives your child the pleasure of holding a soft stuffed animal. At the same time, the elephant will play Bach’s Minuet No. 1 to them. Exposing your baby to classical music can reduce stress, promote relaxation, and even reduce pain perception.
Toddlers (1-3 Years Old)
As your youngster progresses from infanthood into being a toddler, they’re likely to reach for all types of building blocks. There are a surprisingly large number of different block types, too. For instance, they can have fun discovering different sounds with our Discovery Blocks with Sound!
Would you like to begin prepping them to take on LEGO sets when they get older? Begin with My First Pirates from SmartMax. This set doesn’t require nearly as much manual dexterity, either. Instead, it operates through the power of magnetic building play. Your kid will be able to take a thrilling adventure from the safety of your living room!
By the time they're a toddler, they’ll also be ready to begin working on very simplistic puzzles. Our Progressive Giant Floor Jigsaw Puzzle set includes six progressively harder puzzles to help them learn and grow. The purpose of the puzzle is to put together various types of animals. The puzzles have 9-pieces, 12-pieces, and 15-pieces.
You can also try our CoComelon Sound Puzzle to teach them multiple skills. They’ll develop hand-eye coordination, pattern recognition, and matching as they play with this puzzle.
Preschoolers (3-5 Years Old)
Preschoolers often get interested in basic arts & crafts. Books that combine painting with beach-themed illustrations like My First Painting: At the Beach are always a hit! In fact, your preschooler will love making free-form paintings of objects such as surfboards, shells, and starfish. Plus, each page comes with a color palette that features six colors.
Another nice option for dinosaur lovers is Paint Magic with Water: Dinosaurs. This book is completely mess-free and only needs water to make it work! Give your kid the book, a paintbrush, and a cup of water, then watch their amazement as dinosaurs come to life. As they’re revealed, each dinosaur becomes vibrant, too.
Children also love role-playing and/or dressing up! We’ve got nail polish made specifically for youngsters, along with mineral play makeup that contains no talc or parabens. Furthermore, it wasn’t tested on animals. If you’ve got a more rambunctious kid, consider items such as our Knight Dagger Assortment. We’ve got an Enchanted Unicorn sword, too!
Another aspect of role-playing is letting your child pretend that they’re cooking! In fact, they’ll gain several vital skills, including:
- Cognitive and language skills
- Physical development
- Practical life skills
- Social and emotional growth
By letting them explore different types of toys, you’ll also get to see their personality shining through! After all, some kids become very art-focused, while others simply want to role-play as a majestic knight.
School Age (5 to 10+ Years Old)
By the time they become five, they’re ready to take on strategy games. They’ll also probably love playing with various types of figurines, along with STEM sets. Figurines can be used to create realistic-looking toy photographs, too, as long as you incorporate natural touches like rocks and greenery.
Let’s say your child’s current biggest interest is big cats. We offer a wide variety of figurines to catch their interest, including:
You’ll also find domestic cat figurines such as a Tabby or Siamese. If you’ve got a budding veterinarian, don’t forget to check our shop for lots of other animals like dogs and horses.
Your school-aged kid has also achieved the right age group to dive much more deeply into STEM. Give your eight-year-old and up child Mechanics Firetruck to help them create, design, and experiment with five unique models. Do you have a youngster who is old enough to truly appreciate actual fossils? The Nature Collection Fossil Set comes with 12 real fossils! Instead of being a toy, it’s a way for them to learn, while still having fun. Fossils include:
- Squalicorax tooth
- Trilobite
- Sea Urchin
- Gastropod shell
- And much more!
Don’t forget about the importance of encouraging them to keep making art, too! As they go through early elementary school, they’ll be ready to use DuoTip Washable Markers. Make sure your daughter grows up with confidence by offering them the Girl Power Coloring and Activity Book. Also, giving them the Sharks and Ocean Creatures Coloring Book can teach them about deep sea creatures, while promoting focus and creativity!
Selecting the Right Types of Toys for Your Child
Use the age ranges listed above to find different types of toys for their current stage of development. Provide toys that will challenge them a bit without being overly difficult. That way, they’ll stick with them until they hit their next growth spurt!
