| 3 to 6 Years
"Making believe and pretending
are among the wonders of the experience of being human."
- Dorothy G. Singer, Ed.D., authority on early childhood
education
Abilities and Interests
After the age of three, children begin
to play actively with each other. Preschoolers and kindergartners
are masters of make-believe. They like to act out grown-up
roles and enjoy costumes and props to help them bring
their imaginations to life. It is quite common for children
this age to develop strong attachments to favorite toys,
expressing feelings to a special doll or teddy bear.
Materials for arts and crafts are also popular with
this age group, which enjoys creating things with their
hands.
Toy Suggestions
- Tricycle and helmet
- Bicycle and helmet
- Backyard gym equipment
- Construction toys
- Lacing and threading sets
- Puzzles (10-20 pieces)
- Stuffed animals
- Dolls and doll clothes
- Dress-up clothes and accessories
- Props for make-believe play
- Play vehicles
- Hand- and finger-puppets
- Play scenes with figures and accessories
- Tape player and tapes
- Non-toxic art supplies (safety scissors, construction
paper, crayons)
- Simple board games; word and matching games
- Storybooks
6 to 9 Years
Abilities and Interests
School-age children enjoy play that
requires strategy and skill. Board games, tabletop sports
and classic toys like marbles and kites are favorites.
Grade-schoolers also enjoy exploring different kinds
of grown-up worlds and like fashion and career dolls
and action figures. Children this age seek out new information
and experiences through play and enjoy science, craft
and magic kits. In addition, this age group possesses
the physical skills and coordination to enjoy junior
versions of adult sporting equipment.
Toy Suggestions
- Complex gym equipment
- Bicycle and helmet
- Ice or roller skates/roller blades and protective
gear
- Sporting equipment (baseball glove, hockey stick,
tennis racket) and
- protective gear
- Simple swimming equipment
- Stilts
- Pogo sticks
- Jump ropes
- Construction toys
- Jigsaw puzzles, including three-dimensional puzzles
- Fashion/career dolls
- Puppets, marionettes and theaters
- Doll houses and furnishings
- Action figures
- Paper dolls
- Science sets
- Model kits
- Craft kits
- Magic sets
- Art supplies
- Tabletop sports
- Video games
- Electronic games
- Board games
- Tape player and tapes
- Books (children's classics, fairytales)
9 to 12 Years
Abilities and Interests
Preteenagers begin to develop
hobbies and life-long interests and enjoy crafts, model
kits, magic sets, advanced construction sets, science
kits and sophisticated jigsaw puzzles. Active play finds
its expression in team sports. Painting, sculpting,
ceramics and other art projects continue to be of interest.
Toy Suggestions
- Sports equipment and protective gear
- Bicycle and helmet
- Ice or roller skates/in-line skates and protective
gear
- Advanced construction sets
- Jigsaw puzzles, including three-dimensional puzzles
- Puppets, marionettes and theaters
- Remote control vehicles
- Model kits
- Science kits
- Magic sets
- Craft and handiwork kits
- Art supplies
- Playing cards
- Board games
- Chess, checkers, dominoes and other strategy games
- Tabletop sports
- Video games
- Electronic games
- Electric trains
- Musical instruments
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