For all new parents, family and friends who are not sure or have forgotten about which toys are appropriate for which age, here are some hopefully helpful hints. And, don't forget, if you still can't decide, why not choose a Strawberry gift voucher?
Gift advice for newborns to age one
Gift advice for toddlers ages 1 to 2
Gift advice for ages 3 to 4
Gift advice for ages 4 to 5
Newborn to one:
This is a magical year in which so much happens. Babies go from being able to do little other than be amazed with this world to sitting up, crawling, possibly even standing up or even taking their first steps. In the early months they will not be able to hold a toy but will love colourful things which move and play music such as our Music Boxes. Both my babies loved the music box being played before bedtime and it stayed a favourite for years.
Once babies perfect their grip, everything they come into contact with will be picked up and stuck into their inquisitive little mouths. Any toy that can be easily held, safely chewed on, and preferably makes a noise, will totally delight them. Try our Bee Bells, Bell Trees and Wooden Maracas.
When they come close to walking they will love our small Wheely Bug, although they may need help staying on. A good all-round educational toy for this age is the stack of Rainbow Sound Blocks - initially the blocks will be played with only for their sound and the colour attractions, but in the second year they will come into their own as a stacking toy.
Back to top
Toddlers between one and two:
The second year is the year of mobility. During their second year most toddlers will become confident on their little feet and once they do, there will be no stopping them. They will explore how things work - stack things and then knock them over, hit things to see if they break, pull them along to check if they move in an interesting way or make a noise. If you want to avoid your little explorer experimenting on items of your furniture, distract them with one of our wooden toys.
Our pull along toys do all sorts of interesting things - the Flibbo, an endearing wooden character, bends and sways as he moves, the Pull-Along Tortoises nod their heads to the great entertainment of their young owners, and the Spinney Walker has beads which go up and down when the toys is moved. Rainbow Sound Blocks are good for shaking and make some noise too, and our Stacking Rings are just difficult enough for this age to provide toddlers with a manageable challenge.
For sorting, there is our unusual Slanted Garden Shape Sorter, which can be used in two different ways - for straight forward sorting and then, when all the little garden friends are inside, for rolling and making a rattling noise with. There is nothing like noise and music to keep small people happy so why not give your toddler something safe to hit like our Wooden Xylophone!
Back to top
Three to four:
At this age speech becomes a much bigger part of a small person's life and role playing games start to take over from straight forward exploration games. Also, this is the time when toddlers begin to play with rather then just alongside one another. A wooden garage or a castle are perfect to share with small friends. Bring in the mini trucks, fire engines or police cars and watch them immerse themselves in a little world of their own.
Little girls will love our Vanity Case, which comes with wooden combs, powder puffs, lipstick and mirrors and for the budding DIY specialist or gardener we have a special wooden Tool Box and a Garden Bag. Kitchen games are another favourite - our Cutting Cake with pieces that Velcro back together, Fruit in the Net and Toasters are equally loved by both little girls and boys.
For the active toddler you can never go wrong with the Pedaless Wooden Bike or a Large Wheely Bug - they come as a colourful ladybird, a bumble bee or a cow.
Back to top
Four to five:
Preschoolers absorb information like little sponges and frequently remember more than adults which makes this age the perfect time to introduce them to educational toys like the Puzzle of Britain or Europe. Show them where you went on holiday or where friends and family live and then marvel when they point to Manchester and Glasgow on the map, or Greece and Ireland.
Their imagination is very fertile at this stage and wooden toys like our Multi-Storey Garage or Castle, kitchen equipment like Cookers and Toasters and the soon-to-be-introduced Cash Register make a perfect backdrop for them to play out their imaginary world.
They are also likely to be full of energy and enjoy being physically active, so indulge them with a set of wheels of their own - a Wooden Bike or the Large Wheely Bug. If you feel like bringing the game into the kitchen give your four or five year old some dough, a rolling pin and shape cutters and watch the mini master-chef at work. With any amount of luck you'll have biscuits for tea!
Back to top