By the age of 6 years old, children are ready to broaden their range of play experiences and to enjoy a wide variety of toys that promote both physical and mental development. By this stage, children have usually developed good fine motor skills and are ready to apply their cognitive skills to games and activities as well as to recreate experiences that they see in the world around them.
Small World Toys
Toys such as dolls houses, toy garages and train sets are all ideal for children of this age. Their fine motor skills are now developed enough to be able to handle small pieces and these types of playthings encourage creativity and story telling while encouraging children to re-enact everyday situations.
Construction Toys
By the age of 7, children are able to plan and design independently so toys like LEGO and Mega Bloks are an excellent choice. This type of toy allows children to explore spacial and shape awareness and learn about engineering concepts of support and balance.
Board Games
There are numerous excellent board games that are ideally suited to this age group and which promote mathematical skills of counting, matching, sorting and early money management or literacy skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. There are several junior versions of traditional adult games like Monopoly and Scrabble which are educational and fun at the same time.
Dolls
Dolls are especially popular among this age group, and particularly with girls, giving them a chance to act out a range of real life situations that they have observed. Lifelike baby dolls are especially popular and can be paired with all kinds of accessories such as cribs, strollers and clothing to give children a complete pretend parenting experience. This type of toy encourages creativity, independence and storytelling skills.
Outdoor Play Equipment
At this age children are exceptionally active, so harnessing this natural behavior is a great way to encourage a lifelong love of the outdoors and exercise. There is a wide range of outdoor play equipment available which promotes all kinds of skills, from traditional swings, slides and climbing frames to trampolines and monkey bars so that little ones can keep fit while they enjoy themselves in the fresh air.
Bikes and Scooters
By the age of 6 children are well and truly ready to be introduced to a bicycle, with many children at this age being ready to try their first two wheeler. Helping little ones to get enough exercise, a bicycle also encourages children to develop a good sense of balance and to learn road and safety awareness at an early age.
Creative Toys
At the age of 6 or 7, children are naturally very creative and love to explore color and texture while embracing a range of artistic styles. Choosing toys such as painting kits, beading sets, junior knitting or sewing activities or modeling equipment gives little ones freedom to express themselves creatively while enjoying themselves.
