Finding the perfect, age-appropriate gift for a child can be a daunting task. Knowing the developmental characteristics of an age group can make choosing a great gift much easier. This guide, brought to you by The School Shop, describes the abilities and interests of children as they grow. The School Shop also has three certified teachers and other well-trained staff at your service to help you choose from our wide range of toys that are educational AND fun!
INFANTS
Infants are interested in looking at and touching toys with their hands and mouth, and fitting pieces of things together. As infants begin to walk or crawl, they also will be interested in push-pull toys and balls.
Appropriate infant toys include rattles, squeak toys, blocks, stacking toys and rings, chew toys with many textures, push-pull toys, stuffed animals, nested boxes or cups, books with rhymes and colorful pictures, noise making toys, small soft toys for throwing, balls, strings of beads (large, plastic), and music-making toys.
TODDLERS
Toddlers become interested in doing things with their hands as the small muscles in their fingers become more developed. During this period, toddlers enjoy imitating grown-up activities and are interested in sensory creative/art materials.
For toddlers, consider push-pull toys, balls and bean bags, sorting activities, toys with parts that do things (dials, switches, knobs, fasteners), simple marble runs, books with simple stories and rhymes, blocks, peg boards, stringing activities, snap beads/blocks, floor puzzles, balancing toys, creative materials (crayons, playdough, paint), water play/tub toys, dolls and stuffed animals.
PRESCHOOLERS
Many conversations between preschool-age friends start with "Let's pretend...." Children become interested in playing with each other instead of preferring to play alone. Many toys become props for cooperative play.
Preschoolers also are increasingly curious about the world around them. They enjoy realistic toys such as farm and animal sets, play cars and trains. As hand coordination increases, so does the child's interest in simple construction sets, more difficult puzzles and creative projects.
Great preschooler gifts include balls for kicking and throwing, farm and community play sets, transportation vehicles, snap beads, lacing and stringing, counters, blocks, construction toys, sorting activities, creative (craft) materials, picture books, pretend tools, simple musical instruments, sand, water play/tub toys, puzzles, balls, marble runs, cognitive games and cooperative games.
EARLY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
School-age children can do many things for themselves now — your role may be "behind the scenes" or as a member of an audience more often than as a participant.
Children are beginning to problem-solve, and their fine and gross motor skills are becoming developed. There also is an increased interest in table games that require two or more players and use simple number skills and increased coordination.
School-age children will enjoy board games, dart games, marbles, construction sets, science kits, craft kits, fashion and career kits, jump ropes, art materials of all kinds, books with more complicated story lines, sand, advanced marble runs, simple microscopes, pretend cash register, magic kits, pretend school, pretend doctor/vet sets.
This guide is available at The School Shop for your reference, and the staff is eager to help match every little person on your list with a great educational, fun gift!
The School Shop is located at 1224 Towanda Plaza in Bloomington. Visit them online at www.theschoolshopstore.com and Facebook too!
