Choosing Age-appropriate Children's Toys

Every parent needs to know how to choose age-appropriate toys for their children. Not only to fill their playing time, toys given to children can also be a means to support growth and development and hone their creativity, skills, and intelligence. 

Various kinds of children's toys sold in toy stores often make you confused in choosing them. Instead of just being stunned by the shape of the toys being sold, Mother and Father are better off choosing toys according to the age of the Little One to optimize their cognitive, physical, social, and mental development.

Toys for Children Under 1 Years Old

For children up to 1 year old, toys are used as a means of exploration and a stimulus to activate the five senses. Most toys this age are designed to make babies bite, reach, or drop them. In general, recommended toys for babies up to 1 year of age include:

• Toys that emit a song or sound that attracts attention and can be hung above the cot. Children's toys like this can stimulate their eyes and ears. However, Mom and Dad need to be careful, yes. This toy should not be placed too close to the little one's face.
• Children's toys that can reflect facial reflections, for example toys in the form of glass made of plastic. This toy can help your little one recognize their own face and body.
• Colorful socks or bracelets that make noise. This toy can stimulate a child's sense of hearing.
• Books made of cloth with various pictures that can stimulate children's eyesight.
• A ring stack that can be rearranged many times, especially if the child is starting to sit up. This game can train your little one's fine motor skills as well as introduce him to the colors and numbers listed on the circle.

Toys 1-3 Years Old

For children aged 1−3 years, you should provide toys that can support the child's process of recognizing the surrounding environment. The reason is, in this period, children try to find out how the various things they encounter work. The right toy will be very good to stimulate thinking, fine motor and gross motor skills. Therefore, at this age range, it is recommended that you give him the following toys:

• Block toys with various shapes that can be arranged, puzzles with simple shapes or can be inserted into the same hole shape (shape sorter). Toys like this can stimulate children's eye, hand, and thinking skills.
• Crayon and picture book. However, make sure the crayons used by your child are made of safe basic materials, and always take care of the child when he is drawing.
• Professional games, where children can imitate doing the work of a certain profession. For example, pretending to be a chef, doctor, teacher, or pilot. This game can help develop emotional intelligence, practice social skills, and teach them to take care of the things they like.
• Ball game, to train children's dexterity and hand-eye coordination. An example is playing catch, or passing the ball to each other.
• For children aged 3 years, you can already provide more challenging games, such as a tricycle or a balance bike. This game can stimulate concentration as well as coordination of body movements.

3-5 Years Old Toys

By the time children are 3−5 years old, they begin to use toys and objects around them for specific purposes. This age is also dominated by high imagination. In fact, a blanket placed on a table can be a secret house. Recommended toys for children at this age include:

• Wax or clay that can be shaped in such a way, for example into the shape of food.
• Certain costumes, for example boys wearing firefighter costumes and girls playing the role of a mother who cooks food for her child.
• Other toys that the child is familiar with before, such as drawing, building using blocks, and puzzles. Of course, the difficulty level is adjusted to the child's ability

Toys for Children Ages 5 and Up

Most children at the age of 5 years have been active in school. Their understanding of the surrounding environment is much better. At this time, children are in the stage of mastering new skills, such as catching a ball or braiding someone else's hair. Children of this age begin to show their interests, ranging from a love of reading or a desire to learn a musical instrument. Motor skills, such as riding a two-wheeled bicycle, will also be honed. Examples of children's toys that are suitable at this age are:

• Two wheel bike. The game promotes body coordination, motor development, balance.
• Card or board games, such as snakes and ladders or monopoly. This toy is very good for teaching children about rules, strategies, waiting their turn, working together and being sporty.
• Violin, piano, guitar or other musical instrument. In addition, a set of science tools or binoculars can be used if the child is interested in the field, because it can practice problem solving skills, create discoveries, and hone imagination.

Children can also play with gadgets, but Mom and Dad need to limit their gadget play time to a maximum of 1 hour per day, right? Apart from being suitable for the age of the little one, Mother and Father must also pay attention to the material, color, size, and shape of the toys provided, so that they can play safely.

If Mom or Dad is still confused about choosing toys for your little one, or if he doesn't seem willing to play or can't play at the age he should be, try to consult a child psychologist or pediatrician.