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What Types of Toys Do Kids Need for Early Interraction?

The first years of life are crucial to a child's development. Young children learn about their environment and about themselves through the people and toys they interact with. Each stage also develops movement and brain function, so it is important to chose toys that will foster this development. Toys help young children develop language skills, physical skills, cognitive skills and emotional well-being. From infant to preschool, toys change as the child changes, but the purpose remains the same -- to encourage development and growth.

Birth to Six Months
- From birth to six months, babies learn fine motor skills and use the five senses. Toys at this phase need to encourage these developmental stages. Toys should be small enough to hold in a child's hands but not small enough to fit in his mouth completely such as teething toys, squeeze toys, soft dolls and stacking toys. Some toys should make noise such as rattles or books with nursery rhymes. Toys should be brightly colored and possibly include pictures and unbreakable mirrors so that the child begins to recognize his own reflection.
Seven Months to One Year
- Babies from seven months to one year develop further motor skills such as rolling, crawling, pulling up and taking their first steps. They make sounds and learn to identify objects, people and body parts through pointing. They also learn to recognize their own name. Toys for this stage include dolls, plastic cars or movable toys, toys that stack within one another, blocks and other building toys. Babies need toys such as balls and push and pull toys to build large muscles.
One to Three Years
- From one to three years, toddlers learn to explore their environment and are often curious about anything within their sight. Many parents baby-proof their home at this point. It is important to have toys at this stage that foster the child's curiosity. Toddlers also learn to talk during this stage and begin to interact with other children on a minimal level. Toys for this stage include crayons and coloring books, small wagons or cars to ride on, puzzles, blocks and picture objects.
Three to Five Years
- From three to five years, children begin preschool and kindergarten and interaction with other children increases. They learn to share and play dress-up, ask questions and experiment to find the answers, and they like to talk. Toys for this stage are more advanced. They include chalkboards, markers and crayons, rhythm instruments, CD and DVD players with music or instructional movies, balls, climbing toys, advanced books, child-sized furniture, balls of different sizes and puzzles.

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