Kids this age enjoy outdoor sports as well as scooters, bicycles, and in-line skates. They acquire adult-like interests, abilities, and hobbies and may display a passion by becoming a collector. Girls still love doing crafts and boys like working on longer projects, some of which might take days to complete.
Top Toys:
Craft kits
More elaborate science kits
Outdoor sporting equipment
Intricate construction sets
Board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit Junior
Your child is developing his own interests while learning from both his teachers and peers. Some kids like doing science experiments (with your help); others love making beaded jewelry or playing with dolls.This is a great age to get your chilren interested in board games for some great learning and fun!
Top Toys:
Basic science kits
Magnets, magnifying glasses, and telescopes
Craft kits
Construction sets, such as Legos or K'Nex
Sports equipment
Board games that involve strategy, including chess and checkers, blokus, qwirkle and others
There's a tremendous explosion in learning ability at this age, and it's a good time to introduce interactive educational toys that teach math and verbal skills, such as phonics boards or mini computers.Kids are now able to imagine that they're someone else and may fantasize about being airplane pilots, police officers, doctors, or teachers.
Top Toys:
Art supplies and craft kits
Blocks of different shapes
Electronic phonics toys
Construction sets with large pieces, such as Legos or Lincoln Logs
Puzzles of greater complexity
Dress-up clothes
Transportation toys, such as parking garages, airports, and train stations
Board games that don't require reading, such as Hungry Hungry Hippos, Monopoly Junior, Cluedo Junior, or Candyland
Your children's play is now more purposeful, and they have the fine motor skills needed to complete a puzzle or build with blocks by themselves. They'll start to enjoy pretend play that imitates the actions of people around her. They'll like high-tech toys that make real-life sounds, such as telephones that ring or dolls that talk. No matter how politically correct you are, your child will probably play in a gender-stereotypical way -- at least some of the time. A boy may use his dump truck to scoop up sand, while a girl might pretend to feed her doll and put it down for a nap. Boys and girls are both very active at this age and will still enjoy their push- and pull-toys. You can also introduce a ride-on toy: Start with one that your child can propel with both feet, and move up to a tricycle.
Top Toys:
Dolls and stuffed animals
Props for make-believe play, such as toy telephone, a tea-party set, a toy kitchen, or a doll stroller
Ride-on toys and tricycles
Large transportation toys with buttons to make a horn honk or a siren whistle
Puzzles
Construction toys that snap together such as Mega Bloks and Lego Duplo
