Target Toys to Your Child’s Needs

Know your child.

That’s the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends selecting toys that match a child’s developmental level.

Infants do best with rattles, blocks, squeeze toys and busy boards. For children ages 1-2, consider cloth or plastic books with large pages, sturdy dolls and cars, stacking toys and nesting blocks, and push-and-pull toys with short strings.

For preschoolers, try books, drawing materials such as chalk and blackboards and crayons, toy tools and housekeeping materials, tricycles or scooters, and simple puzzles with large pieces.

School-age children up to 9 need toys that help build skills and creativity, such as card games, puppets, sports equipment, blunt scissors and sewing sets, crafts and electric trains. For preteens, try hobby-related materials such as computer games, microscopes and telescopes, table and board games and sports equipment.

More information, including details on toy safety, is available at the AAP Web site (https://www.aap.org/family/toybroc.htm). The Toy Manufacturers Assn. also offers safety information at https://www.toy-tma.org.