How to Select Appropriate Toys for Play Time with Your Child

Have you blocked off play time with your child, but you’re not sure what toys or activities you should be playing with? We can help!

Here are the basic Dos and Don'ts when choosing toys or activities for play time:

Do

• Step back and let your child lead the play
• For children with play skills, use toys that promote play opportunities such as construction toys (Legos, blocks, Magnatiles), play sets (farms, dollhouses, towns), and creative toys (coloring books, crayons, paper).
• For children with impaired creative play, use things that your child enjoys, such as jumping on a trampoline or tossing juggling scarves.

Avoid

• Board games and card games (too many rules)
• Roughhousing (you’ll have to set limits)
• Messy play such as paint (again, you'll be setting limits)
• Computer or video games (you’ll be more focused on the screen than each other)

If you need more toy ideas for your play time at home, check out The Behavior Place Faves At Every Stage Toy List. These are toys that the children at our center love!