How to choose age-appropriate toys: a guide by age and safety

Choosing a toy is easier when you know two things: what children typically enjoy at a given age, and what the age grade on the box is telling you. This guide covers both, with simple safety checks that apply to every toy, whether it is a birthday present or a holiday gift.

What the age grade on the box means

The age grade printed on a toy is not just about skill. Manufacturers set it based on safety, such as small parts, and on the abilities a child needs to play with it as intended. Follow it even for a child who seems advanced: a bright 2-year-old can still put a small piece in their mouth. In the U.S., toys for children 12 and under must meet the federal toy safety standard, ASTM F963, and be tested by an accepted laboratory.

Toy ideas by age

Babies: 0 to 12 months

Babies explore with their eyes, hands and mouth. Good choices include high-contrast books, soft rattles, teethers, activity mats, stacking cups and fabric or board books. Toys should be too large to fit in the mouth, with no small detachable parts, and easy to wash.

Toddlers: 1 to 2 years

Toddlers love cause and effect, movement and copying adults. Push and pull toys, chunky blocks, shape sorters, simple puzzles with knobs, toy phones, ride-on toys that sit low to the ground, and large crayons all work well. Avoid toys with small parts, which are not allowed in toys intended for children under 3.

Preschoolers: 3 to 5 years

Imagination takes off. Pretend play sets such as kitchens, tool benches and dolls, larger building bricks, beginner board games, art supplies, puzzles with 12 to 48 pieces, tricycles and balance bikes are popular. Toys for this age may contain small parts but must carry a choking hazard warning for children under 3, so keep them away from younger siblings.

Early school age: 6 to 8 years

Children now enjoy rules, challenges and making things. Building sets with instructions, card and board games for the family, craft kits, beginner science kits, jump ropes, scooters and bikes with a helmet, and chapter-book series are good fits.

Tweens: 9 to 12 years

Interests become more specific. Complex building sets, strategy games, robotics and coding kits, model kits, sports equipment, art supplies and puzzles with 500 pieces or more give them something to master. Ask what they are into right now; this is the age when a well-chosen hobby gift is remembered.

Safety checks for any toy

• Small parts: toys for children under 3 must not have parts small enough to choke on. If you have a mix of ages at home, store older children's toys separately.
• Button and coin batteries: these are a serious hazard if swallowed. Under Reese's Law, products that use them must have a battery compartment that needs a tool or two independent actions to open. Check that the cover is secure, and keep spare batteries out of reach.
• Magnets: small, powerful magnets can cause serious internal injuries if more than one is swallowed. Choose toys where magnets are fully enclosed, and check them for damage.
• Cords and strings: long cords and straps on toys for young children can be a strangulation risk. Remove packaging ties and avoid hanging toys with long strings in cribs.
• Balloons: uninflated or broken latex balloons are a choking hazard for children under 8. Supervise balloon play and throw away pieces right away.
• Ride-on toys: pair scooters, bikes, skates and ride-ons with a properly fitted helmet, and choose the right size for the child's height.
• Noise: toys held close to the ear should not be painfully loud. Try the volume before wrapping, and look for a volume switch.

You can check for toy recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website, CPSC.gov, and register products with the manufacturer so they can contact you if needed.

Picking toys that get played with

• Open-ended toys such as blocks, art supplies and pretend play sets can be used in many ways and grow with the child.
• Match the interest, not just the age. A child who loves animals will enjoy an animal-themed puzzle more than a "smarter" toy they do not care about.
• Games for the whole family: check the number of players and the playing time on the box. A 20-minute game gets played on weeknights; a two-hour game waits for the holidays.
• Batteries and setup: note whether batteries are included and which type, and whether an adult needs to assemble the toy, so it is ready to play when it is opened.
• Storage: sets with many pieces are more fun with a bin or a bag to keep them together.

Gift-giving tips

If the gift is for someone else's child, ask the parents about any toys the child already has and any house rules, such as no toys with small parts because of a baby in the house. Include a gift receipt or let the parents know that unused items can be returned free within 30 days of delivery.

Toy-buying checklist

1. The age grade on the box matches the child, and younger siblings are considered.
2. No small parts for children under 3.
3. Battery compartments are secured, and magnets are enclosed.
4. No long cords for young children.
5. A helmet goes with any ride-on gift.
6. The toy fits the child's interests and the family's space.

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