In this part we mention some suggestions for parents to select appropriate toys for their child at 0-1 and 1-3 years old:
Birth to 1 year old
A baby learns about his or her surroundings by using all five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch). A child this age is also learning cause and effect. Toys this age group may enjoy include:
• Mobiles and safety mirrors;
• Rattles;
• Stacking toys;
• Simple pop-up toys;
• Picture books;
• Musical toys, squeeze toys;
• Infant swings; and
• Teething toys.
1 to 3 years old
A toddler moves around in the environment a lot (walking, climbing, pushing, riding). A strong interest in manipulating and problem solving with objects begins during this period and can be encouraged with:
figure 1- Simple puzzles, shape sorters, peg boards
• Push-pull and ride-on toys;
• Small tricycles and wagons;
• Simple puzzles, shape sorters, peg boards;(figure 1)
• Movement games;
• Large beads;
• Blocks, stacking rings;
• Picture books; and
• Crayons, markers and clay.
Keywords: children development, creativity, motor skills, parents
