• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Boy on tricycle

Best Toys for Young Children

Dec 19, 2019 |
By Lee Ann Annotti, PhD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Need gift ideas for your child at the holidays? Choose a gift that will be fun but also support your child’s learning, social skills, and emotional development.

Research has shown that there are certain toys that children not only enjoy at certain ages, but that actually support your child’s growth and development. So, when choosing gifts for a young child, choose a toy that will foster your child’s growth and development.

For children ages 1 to 3 years, here are some toys that promote learning and social-emotional functioning:

Push-pull and ride-on toys

Small tricycles and wagons

Simple puzzles, shape sorters, peg boards

Movement games

Large beads

Blocks, stacking rings

Picture books

Crayons, markers and clay

For children ages 3 to 5 years, here are some items and toys that will promote creativity, problem-solving, and social skills:

    Dress-up with accessories

    Puppets

    Large bead-threading and lace sets

    Storybooks

    Simple board games (Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Candyland)

    Puzzles (no more than 24 pieces)

    When choosing a gift for a young child, choose a gift that keeps on giving. These toys and items will last several years because spark the child’s curiosity and creativity.

    Learn more about child psychology at Ochsner.

    Tags
    pediatrics
    toys
    christmas

    You may also be interested in:

    Thinkstockphotos 524529194 Boy Playing With Blocks
    Health Trends
    Dec 22, 2016

    Holiday Gift Ideas: 105 Optometrist-Approved Toys

    Check out 105 holiday gift ideas that children will enjoy playing and they will help to enhance their visual development.
    By Kefla Brown, OD, MS
    Gettyimages 155161447
    Prevention & Wellness
    Nov 30, 2020

    It’s Toy Time: Holiday Toys that Drive Development

    This holiday season, encourage development at all stages in your child with toys that facilitate motor and language skills.
    By Emily Wilton, LOTR
    Thinkstockphotos 620370662 Gift
    Nov 10, 2017

    Holiday Gifts to Encourage Children’s Language Skills

    With the holidays coming up, you may be wondering what to buy for the children in your life.

    Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

    Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

    Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

    Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

    Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

    Patients & Visitors

    • Billing & Financial Services
    • Insurance Information
    • International Patients
    • Request Medical Records
    • Share Your Story
    • Read Patient Stories

    Medical Professionals

    • Transfer a Patient
    • Refer a Patient

    Health Resources

    • To Your Health Blog
    • Golden Opportunity
    • Hello Health Seminars
    • Ochsner Magazine

    Job Seekers

    • Career Paths
    • Benefits
    • Open Positions

    Employees

    • Webmail
    • OHSLink
    • Workday

    Employers

    • Corporate Wellness
    • Medicare Advantage Plans

    Community Outreach

    • Classes & Events
    • Programs
    • Community Health Needs Assessment
    • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

    Education

    • Graduate Medical Education
    • Clinical Medical Education
    • Continuing Medical Education
    • Medical Library
    • Publishing Services
    • Medical Illustrations

    Research

    • Clinical Trials
    • Applied Health Services Research
    • Clinical Research & Trials
    • Nursing Research
    • Translational Research

    Giving

    • Donate
    • Volunteer

    About Ochsner

    • Mission & Vision
    • History
    • Annual Report
    • Outcomes & Honors
    • News & Media
    • Alumni
    • Ochsner Health Network
    • Contact Us

    Shop

    • O Bar
    • Optical Shop
    • Ochsner Fitness Center
    • Brent House Hotel

    © Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

    Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

    Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

    We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

    Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

    Community Needs Health Assessment

    EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

    Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

    * indicates required


    Must Reads
    Food and Fitness
    Men’s Health
    Parenting
    Women’s Health

    Source:
    Source Description:
    Marketing Goal:


    Get Weekly Health Tips

    Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

    Please select at least one category to continue.

    Curious about our newsletters?

    View details for each edition

    Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

    To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
    To Your Health- General:
    To Your Health- Men’s Health:
    To Your Health- Parenting:
    To Your Health- Women’s Health:

    Source:
    Source Description:
    Marketing Goal:

    You're all set!

    We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

    Ochsner Health System
    ESC to Close

    Begin Typing to Search

    Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide