Choosing age appropriate toys for your children may be a tough task. While you certainly want to purchase toys that are engaging, entertaining, and will further their education, you also want toys that are safe. The perfect toy is one that is both safe, as well as educational. Educational toys that are age appropriate help a child to develop physically, and also aids them in developing cognitive skills. Additionally, great toys will help your child learn to be more creative.

Toys that cause a child to interact with them can aid in stimulating the part of their brain that is responsible for bolstering their intelligence level. A child is never too young to start learning, and it will be up to you as a parent to provide them with the tools for the job. Research has shown that even newborns have the ability to respond to colors, and develop more quickly when exposed to the right toys. The following is a list of age appropriate toys that will be safe for your child, and aid in development.


Zero to Six Months:

Brightly colored mobiles. These help develop good vision.
Activity Centers. The different parts on these centers help them develop motor skills.
Mirrors that are child safe. This allows them to really study faces.
Teethers and Rattlers. These allow the baby to experience textures.
Board Books. It is never too early to read to your child, and familiarize them with books.


Six to Twelve Months:

Interactive play should be started during this time. Cause and effect games work well during this time, as well as games that help with eye/hand coordination. Easy games like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake will help your child learn to interact. Additionally, the following toys will serve to boost development and learning skills:

Musical toys, or any toys that produce sound.
Baby gyms, as these will help your child begin to learn to crawl.
Play telephones. Children love to mimic what they see their parents doing.
Dolls and Stuffed Animals. Babies begin to enjoy cuddling during this time.
Soft or Wooden Blocks. Children will enjoy trying to stack and maneuver them into place.


Twelve to Eighteen Months:

Children may take their first steps or begin to walk during this time. Toys for this age group should help support your child's need for exploring, and further aid in their coordination and motor skill development.

Swing sets and small tricycles. These are great interactive toys that promote development.
Building Blocks. These help with hand/eye coordination.
Shape Sorters and Nesting Cups. Not only are these beneficial for hand/eye coordination, but also start the process of learning problem solving.
Picture and Storybooks. Language skills can be learned from these books, and they are a great vocabulary aid.
Videos and Music that is age appropriate. Children at this age respond well to media such as this.