About toys and games for children

You are the most interesting and important toy for your child – especially if your child is a newborn, baby, toddler or preschooler.

Making time for play with your child every day helps her/his learning and development – and play builds the relationship between you and your child too.

Parents and carers should be aware of the gender implications of the toys and games they select for their children. For example, girls are often encouraged to play with dolls while boys are encouraged to play outside – this initiates socialization of gender stereotypes of the roles they are traditionally expected to play in society as adults. Instead, parents and carers should aim to develop a holistic range of socio-cognitive and creative skills for children of all genders and ensure that equal play time is allocated for children of all genders.

Here are some more ideas for choosing toys and games to suit your child as she/he grows and develops.

Toys and games for newborns

You’re the best ‘toy’ for your newborn. Newborns love watching your face, listening to your voice and just being with you. Both male and female carers must be encouraged to spend time playing and connecting with newborns.

Newborn play is simple. As your baby grows, she/he’ll enjoy looking at a brightly coloured mobile, listening to a wind-up musical toy or learning to reach for a rattle.

Toys with contrasting colours like red, black and white are most interesting to newborns. Your baby will also enjoy toys with faces or with patterns like curves or checks.   At this age, things might need to be quite close to your baby for her/him to see them clearly.

Newborns also enjoy your singing--songs from your culture or family traditions, or anything at all! 

If your baby looks tired or overwhelmed when you’re playing together, it’s time to take a break.

Toys and games for babies and toddlers

Your baby or toddler will probably enjoy playing with push-along toys, soft balls, cuddly teddies, board or cloth books that can’t be ripped, toy cars, and simple puzzles. You can make light blocks from small boxes or cleaned plastic containers with lids.  Pots and pans are also fun for banging.  Just be careful to check for sharp edges and other hazards

Creative materials are good too – you could give your child crayons, paints and paper. Free catalogs and old magazines can be ripped and scribbled on.  Make-believe play with simple homemade hand puppets or dress-ups will also be popular.  Homemade playdough can be squeezed and shaped.  Supervise as children still put things in their mouths at this age.

Reading with babies and reading with toddlers is one of the most enjoyable and important things you can do. Try books with bright illustrations and fun rhymes, or make your own.

Outdoor play – for example, in the sandpit with a bucket and spade, or rolling a ball – will also be lots of fun for your toddler.

Children love playing with water. In the bath, your child will enjoy playing with just about anything – boats, toy fish, plastic books and coloured foam shapes. Measuring cups and empty plastic containers are fun for splashing, pouring, tipping and floating.  If you have space, a paddling pool will be hugely popular in warm weather.  Safety is key:  Maintain constant visual contact and keeping your child within arm’s reach at all times.

Children at this age start making connections between gender identities and specific characteristics, therefore, marking the beginning of gender socialization. Therefore, parents and carers are encouraged to be aware of the gender implications of the toys, games books and creative material for their children. Parents and carers must avoid material that encourage gender stereotypes, rather using gender neutral or diverse and empowering toys, games and books, and also encourage children to play with toys and games traditionally associated with the opposite gender. Male and female carers are encouraged to engage with children in a range of activities.

Toys and games for preschoolers

Your preschooler is likely to enjoy anything that can be used for pretending, like a toy tool box, old mobile phone or dress-up clothes. Your child’s imagination can turn cardboard boxes into lots of things, including a toy stove, letter box, car or boat.  You see that you don't need to spend money to help children play and learn!

You can make musical instruments with household objects – for example, plastic jars filled with rice or pasta can be used as shakers. Unbreakable bowls turned upside down become drums when your preschooler has a wooden spoon to bang with.

Quiet play activities are good for you and your child. Try art activities like paints, crayons, pencils or cutting and pasting. Books and stories, simple board games and puzzles or construction toys are good for these times too.

Outdoor equipment will keep your preschooler busy and active. Balls are fun to throw, hit or kick.  If playgrounds are available, your preschooler will enjoy swings and climbers.  Your own garden can offer fun with boxes to crawl through or a homemade obstacle course--or just running and jumping!

By the age of three children develop a sense of gender identity. At roughly this age parents and carers begin differentiating children based on gender, for example encouraging girls to play with dolls and encouraging boys to play outside. As many children begin school at this age, additional influencers further advance gender socialization. Therefore, it is an important age to promote positive gender socialization through toys, games, and play activities and aim to develop a wide range of socio-cognitive skills. Parents and carers are encouraged to be aware of the gender implications of the toys, games books and creative material for their children. Parents and carers must avoid material that encourage gender stereotypes, rather using gender neutral or diverse and empowering toys, games and books, and also encourage children to play with toys and games traditionally associated with the opposite gender. Moreover, parents and carers should avoid violent or sexualized toys and games, including digital games, and encourage children to translate anger or frustration into problem-solving, positive communication and constructive physical activity.