Why is age-appropriate toy so important?
Playing is not only one of children's absolute favorite activities, it also supports the development and learning processes of your child. Toys should thereforechallenge, but not overwhelm. Boredom while playing is just as demotivating for your little one as failure, which also has a negative effect on self-confidence.
When choosing toys, it's best not to base your decision only on your child's age, but also on theknowledge and developmental level as well as their personal preferences and interests: What comes easily to them, what is difficult? Where can they learn something important? What brings them joy, what do they like to do?
As a rough guideline for you as parents, theage recommendation of the respective toy. Still always pay attention to your child's current stage of development. Just because your child's friends are already playing with dolls doesn't mean your child is ready yet. Every child is different and develops sometimes faster, sometimes slower.
Children's toys: quality, materials & safety
A particularly important criterion for children's toys is of course safety: Above all, babies and toddlers under one year, for example, shouldnot get small parts in their hands, as these are often put into the mouth in the eagerness to explore. Also make sure as parents that youtoys made from non-toxic materials buy them. For children up to three years, pointed and sharp-edged objects still have no place in the toy box. Invest in quality: toys made from high-quality material and with good workmanship is not only safer for your child, it also lasts longer – and will certainly be just as well received by a sibling!
Your little one doesn't need something new all the time – an overfilled toy shelf even represents more of an overload. There are many toys that are durable and varied and can beeasily complemented and varied with small additions. At HABA you'll find a colorful selection of products: wooden building blocks,LEGO bricks or the worlds ofPlaymobil offer countless play possibilities, are constantly expandable and provide space for creativity and imagination.
For toddlers, for example,cloth dollsa wonderful opportunity to try outfirst role-playing games. The extra-soft fabric is perfect for the little ones – for cuddling, caring for and loving. With dolls, children learn to express theirto express their feelings and to process experiences. Through playing with dolls they also show you how they want you as parents to interact with them and what kind of care they want for themselves.
Wooden toys are ideal for toddlers, as in its lively naturalness it appeals to all senses. Pay particular attention here to paints, binders and additives – after all, toddlers like to put one or the other part into their mouths. Generally,plastic toys also generally do not pose health risks, as long as they are high-quality products. Even with textile toys,quality over quantity – especially soft toys, blankets and co. often come into frequent contact with your little one's skin and therefore must be safe from a health perspective.
Checklist: What makes good children's toys?
Good children's toys…
brings children joy.
is durable and sturdy.
is of good quality and made from child-appropriate materials.
is age-appropriate.
is varied and versatile.
takes into account the children's level of knowledge and development.
addresses individual interests and preferences.
promotes cognitive and motor skills, exploration of the world, creativity and social and emotional development.
leaves room for exploring, discovering and creative play ideas.
Baby toys from 0 to 5 months
In the first months of life, toys are not necessarily needed yet – for your baby everything is new and exciting! Your little one is completely absorbed in exploring their environment and its countless colorful impressions with all their senses. Much more important than toys at this time arecloseness, affection and security, on the basis of which your child can discover the world safely and with trust.
Of course you can still give your baby a little joy with a few small things:soft toys and dolls are a long-time favorite from very early on and are often lovingly cherished for years. Also, music boxes, rattles and mobiles can in their simplicity exert a greatfascination for your childexert.
Babies are incredibly curious and reach for everything they can get their hands on. Grasping toys is a wonderful way for them to go on a sensory journey of discovery. Not only are the hands used – babies also like to suck and gnaw on the teether. Grasping toys from HABA come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and variants. Offer your kids varied haptic stimuli with different materials: from cuddly fabrics to original material combinations and surface textures. In addition, grasping toys are a great way to early on support themotor development of your child..
Baby toys from 6 months
From 6 months, babies become increasingly active and curious.They now move by belly-crawling, scooting, or crawlingand explore their surroundings with even greater enthusiasm this way. Crawling toys encourage your child to try out their motor skills and playfully train independent movement and coordination.
At HABA you'll find acolorful selection of crawling aids: Whether as a cuddly follow-me dog, a roly-poly giraffe or an explorer ball – there are plenty of reasons to play and explore! With the help ofbuilding blocks, ballsand funbath toysplayfully develops your little one'sfine motor skills, which are already developing.
Toys for toddlers from 1 year
From the age of one year, more and more movement comes into play! Toddlers becomeincreasingly skilled with their hands and also thelanguage developmentis in full swing. Offer your kids nowtoys that offer slightly more complex play and learning opportunities.Building blocks, stacking cups and the like are still a wonderful way to encourage your little one's dexterity.
With theHABA motor skills cubevery different skills are required: Five great play options promote, among other things, your child's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while they can have fun creatively on the integrated play xylophone. Between stacking cubes, animal piano and water play mat you'll find many more great products that will surely keep your child from getting bored!
Great toys for 2-year-olds
At two years, motor skills continue to develop, so your child slowly more precise and targeted movements can perform. At the same time, a sense of community develops and your little one increasingly plays with other children. In this age range, it particularly promotes creativity and language development of your kids – that's possible with toys too!
Children now increasingly pick up paints and pens and try out wild scribbles and splashes on paper. For this, wax crayons and finger paints particularly suitable, as they are easy to handle. Shaping and creating with playdough is a popular form of play and offers a special tactile appeal. Your little one's dexterity and motor skills can, for example, be put to the test on a little tour on our children's balance bike made of wood in bright rainbow colors.
Children's toys for 3-year-olds
In preschool age, interest in interacting with others increases greatly and children look for playmates for shared adventures.role-playing games are now particularly popular, in which the little ones reenact fairy tales, their favorite TV show or the everyday life of mom and dad.
With the play shop from HABA, for example, is wonderful for playing 'kiosk' or 'supermarket'. In no time you can turn it into a puppet theater, with which your child and their friends bring made-up stories to life. From three years, interest in romping and sporting activities. Our bouncy cushion offers great opportunities to satisfy the urge to move – and all with lots of fun! Even without toys, you as a family have many ways to be active together movement games to play.
Exciting toys for children aged 6 and up
Toys | Image At 6 years, children gradually enter school age. Playing with other children increasingly comes to the fore and your child can learn a lot about the social interaction. Role play is still very popular. At this age, interest in certain toys often changes as well – school offers many new impressions and stimuli and strong interests in specific topics and connections in the world develop.
Your kids express their creativity increasingly through crafting and painting. There are also toys for this age that you as parents can use to promote your children's development and learning processes. Take a look at HABA: combinatory skills and technical understanding are required for wooden construction sets, while the magnetic dartboard challenges motor skills. Or how about a walkie-talkie set? With that your little one is perfectly equipped to set out with their friends on a treasure hunt or adventure trip to embark on!
