Navigation
Materials for Play
Infants - (0 - 2 months) - mobiles, music, soft cloth rattles and animals; items at which to look and to listen are ideal for infants.
(2 - 4 months) - rattles, shakers, teethers to pick up and grasp and shake; activity gyms with dangling objects which can be hit and kicked while laying on back.
(4 - 8 months) - soft vinyl or cloth books, roly poly toys (round-bottomed figures that can be pushed over, but bounce back up), large popping beads, ‘push me - pull me' toys. Older infants can sit up and explore their worlds, which gives their toys a new perspective. You may not need to add many toys at this stage. Their own bodies are fascinating enough to them.
(8 to 12 months) - board books, large blocks, musical instruments (drum, shakers, a simple xylophone), cuddly toys, activity boxes and boards. Children at this stage like to make things happen - they like to push a button and hear a song, or have a bird pop out of the window.
(12 to 18 months) - walking toys, such as shopping carts, baby carriages and ride on cars, with a handle for pushing; shape sorters, blocks, music, soft dolls and puppets or stuffed animals and balls.
(18 months to two years) - crayons and large paper, simple puzzles, blocks, dress-up items - plastic hats, boots or shoes, bags, and play food, plastic houses and people, with cars and trucks. Children at this age begin to engage in imaginative play, and it is focused on learning about their world. They want to be like the ‘big people' and do what they are doing, but lack the motor skills for handling small items (which they also will still put in their mouth).
(Two years to three years) - plastic buildings, blocks, cars, trucks, and trains (with tracks); housekeeping equipment and baby dolls; play food for kitchen or grocery, interlocking puzzles (up to 30 pieces), books, paper and crayons.
(Three years to four years) - scissors, glue, and paper, simple craft kits, books, items for imaginative play. Play becomes more social and more involved at this age. You will find your child creating conversations between his toys, or setting up a complete town for her animals.
(Four years to five years) - card games, art supplies, board games, simple sports equipment, books, music, building blocks, toys for mimicking home life (dolls, pretend tools, pots and pans, dress up clothes)...
(Five years to six years) - small blocks, sports equipment, art supplies, board games, card games, computer games, activity books and workbooks, beginning reader books, collections.
C