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Developmental Toys for Preschoolers

Preschool children are typically between three and four years old, and are beginning to demonstrate personal independence behaviors, increasingly developed physical and motor skills, and increased use of dramatic or pretend play. Additionally, young children of this age are beginning to mature in terms of social interactions, including sharing or reciprocal game play. Parents and teachers can help to improve these and other budding skills through the use of developmentally appropriate toys.

Toys for Fine Motor Development
- Preschool toys that can help the young child's fine motor development include building blocks and playsets, lacing games, and arts and crafts items. Wooden or plastic blocks often come in large sizes, perfect for growing hands. Lacing or lace up toys use yarn or ribbon that the child can thread through a hole, similar to sewing. These toys may include blocks or large beads, felt shapes or even a hole-punched laminated card. Arts and crafts toys such as tempera and finger paints, children's safety scissors, and crayons can all encourage fine motor development through creative and imaginative activities.
Toys for Gross Motor Development
- The growing ability of a child to use and coordinate large muscle groups, such as those in the arms and legs, is termed "gross motor development." Specific gross motor skills may include running, skipping, hopping on one leg, jumping, and throwing or catching a ball. Preschoolers may demonstrate this motor improvement during outdoor sports and athletic games. Toys to encourage gross motor development include soft or rubber play balls such as kickballs or beach balls, T-ball sets and tricycles.
Preschool Toys for Cognitive and Intellectual Growth
- Preschoolers can practice new skills leading to cognitive or intellectual growth through a variety of toys that promote early literacy, memory, and spatial awareness and early math. Many software and electronic companies make early learning systems that use technology to help young children learn how to develop letter-sound recognition skills and read skills. LeapFrog's line of early learning products use interactive technology to aid development, as do other brands such a Vtech's V. Smile Learning System. If you are looking for a toy that can help improve cognitive and intellectual development, but is not electronic, paper-based flash cards and memory games are other options.
Dramatic and Pretend Play
- Dramatic or pretend play is essential for developing social, emotional and cognitive growth. Parents and teachers can provide a wide range of toys to promote this type of play such as pretend kitchen equipment, dress up clothing items and accessories such as princess crowns or cowboy hats, puppets, stuffed animals, play telephones, dolls and action figures.

Childrens Toys