Toys provide an opportunity for babies to learn develop and to interact with their
environment. Even for a young child, age appropriate toys, game and other play
activities can be fun too. Make sure that all toys used are marked appropriate
for small children and do not present any potential choking hazard(small pieces
that easily come off). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the following
toys or play activities are recommended for babies aged 12 to 24 months:
Cardboard books with large pictures
Books magazines with pictures of babies or children
Blocks, preferably larger ones
Shape sorter games or boards
Beginner's jigsaw puzzles
"Pretend" toys such as child lawn mowers, kitchen sets
Digging toys such as shovels and buckets
Dolls
Cars, trucks, trains(without removable parts )
Bath or water toys
Balls(big enough not to fit into the mouth)
Push and pull toys
Outdoor toys such as swings and slides(meeting all current safety standards for
age)
Stuffed animals
Child musical instruments
Large crayons(no toxic)
Toy telephones
Unbreakable mirrors
Dress-up clothing
For safety's sake make sure your child is always supervised
when playing with these toys.
Parents should find our what their particular child likes, as some children prefer
one type of toy game or play activity over another. Experiment and have fun with
baby. Remember this is an opportunity to have some one-on-one time with baby even
at this age; it is never to early to get into the habit of one-on-one play time
with your child! If you have older children they can play along too.
