One of the keys to buying safe toys is buying age-appropriate toys. The guidelines that follow will help you determine if the toy you are considering is appropriate for the child you have in mind. Birth to 1 Year To stimulate your baby's senses, select toys that are brightly colored, of various textures, nontoxic, and lightweight. A kiddy car, wagon, or low tricycle is usually a hit with a child in this age group, though use of such a toy must be supervised carefully. These low, rolling vehicles are sometimes hard to see from the driver's seat of a car.
Preschoolers are the masters of make-believe.
They constantly create imaginary situations to act out the grown-up roles they observe around them. They need props to use in their re-enactments. Many preschoolers are fascinated with cars, trucks, planes, etc. This is also an appropriate time to introduce board games, electronic toys, and word and matching games. These past-times sharpen visualization and memory skills.