Toys as Tools Activity – Toy Chart Answer Sheet The Toy Chart Challenge online activity provides you with suggested answers to the Toy Chart Activity that is also found on page 13 of Step 2, Growing With Others Child Development Project Activity Guide. Here is a pdf version of the Toy Chart Answer Sheet if you would like to share it with others. Name of Toy Ball

A. Infant [up to age 1] Yes Only appropriate if it is a clutch ball, texture ball or a soft squeeze ball. Need to be at least 1 ¾ in diameter. However, if any object appears to fit easily in the child’s mouth, keep it away.

B. Toddler [ages 1-3] Yes Soft light weight balls, especially with interesting visual effects * noises: Chime ball, flutter ball Large balls need to be at least 1 ¾ in diameter. However, if any object appears to fit easily in the child’s mouth, keep it away. Yes Sturdy cloth, plastic and cardboard books with few pages, picture books, nursery rhymes, stories with repetition, books to be held and read by adults can be more fragile with paper pages, touch-me or tactile books, pop-up books, Hidden picture books, Dressing books are all great for toddlers. Yes Construction toys such as solid, wooden unit blocks, large hollow building blocks, and large plastic bricks are loved by toddlers.

C. Preschool [ages 3-5] Yes Balls of all sizes, but if the child is still mouthing objects, that appears to fit easily in the child’s mouth, keep it away from the child.

D. School-ages [ages 5-8] Yes Balls of all types and sizes, softballs, volley balls, tennis balls, etc.

Yes Picture books, simple stories, rhymes, and complex pop-up books help preschoolers to begin reading.

Yes Beginning reading books are great to help improve their reading skills.

Yes Construction toys such as solid building blocks are great.

Yes, The more complicated LEGOS can keep older youth engaged.

Yes Dominoes, Lotto matching games based on color pictures and simple board games based on chance are good. Yes Older preschoolers can start to play checkers and like to use the giant size ones. Yes

Yes Many card and board games appeal to school agers. Be sure to check the recommended age on the box. Yes Perfect game for school age youth.

Books

Yes May enjoy listening to a story being read, cloth books, plastic books, and small cardboard books.

Building Blocks

Yes Soft blocks, rubber blocks, and rounded wood blocks help the baby learn to grasp.

Card and Board Games

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Lotto matching games based on color pictures and Dominoes, especially giant ones are good.

Checkers

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Clay

Not suited for this

Not suited for this

Yes

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age group.

age group. Although it can help toddlers develop good hand and finger coordination, they may want to eat the clay. Not suited for this age group.

Comics

Not suited for this age group.

Construction Toys

Yes Soft blocks, round blocks and rounded wood blocks are great.

Yes Small lightweight stacking blocks, large hollow building blocks and large plastic bricks are good.

Dominoes

Not suited for this age group.

Drawing Materials

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Dominoes, especially giant ones are fun for toddlers to set up and knock down. Yes Large crayons and sturdy, large sized paper acceptable for one year olds. For two and three year olds, non-toxic paints, sturdy markers, and bluntend scissors are OK. Helps brain development and encourages creativity.

Dress-up Props for Dolls

Not suited for age group.

Dress up Props for Self

Not suited for this age group

Yes Dolls need to have a soft body, no hair, moving eyes or movable limbs. Dolls should not have removable clothing or very many accessories for one year olds. Two and three year olds can have hair and moving eyes but should have few accessories that are easy to remove. Yes Simple clothing

Can include modeling clay and tools.

Can create and use all types of clay, designs may get more complicated.

Yes Preschoolers may like to read simple comics with adults. Yes Most types of interlocking building systems are a good choice but they should have no motorized parts. Preschoolers prefer sets that make realistic models and connect pieces in specific order to create simple models. Yes Dominoes help develop social skills to share and take turns. Yes By age four and five, children begin to develop an interest in producing designs and creating real pictures. Color books are great for this age.

Yes Can encourage school age youth to read more. Yes School age kids love to create whole worlds using construction toys.

Yes At this age, realistic dolls and several accessories with movable limbs, eyes and special features are great. At age five, children can play with paper dolls.

Yes Dolls are still appropriate for this age. Children may be more apt to play with other items, but dolls are still great.

Yes Costumes and

Yes Any kind of dress up

Yes Dominoes can still be challenging to schoolagers. Yes By this age, children are able to use many sorts of drawing materials but it is still good to make art materials non-toxic.

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Emergency phone numbers and contact information Empty Containers

First Aid Kit Flashlight Jack-in-the Box

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Empty containers are great for 7 to 12 month olds. They are interested in containers and sounds Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for 7 to 12 months as they are interested in disappearing objects.

items such as hats, shoes and large jewelry. For accessories, items that make noise and that are child size are great. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Empty containers are great for building and constructing things.

dresses are great plus realistic looking equipment and housekeeping and cooking equipment.

items are great for this age. By this age, children like to see the play equipment work.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for toddlers as they are still interested in disappearing objects and helps them to learn simple tasks. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have. Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Large beads to lace on a string work well but the beads should be at least 1¾ of an inch in diameter. Other suited lacing toys are lacing cards, dressing books and dolls, and cubes for lacing and buttoning. Yes Legos help develop cognitive and coordination skills. The size can be smaller if the child does not put things in their mouth.

Yes Great for older children, helps to develop coordination and promotes physical activity Not suited for this age group.

Jump Rope

Not suited for this age group.

Lacing Toy

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Large beads to lace on a string are good for a lacing toy but the beads should be at least 1¾ of an inch in diameter.

LEGOS

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Magnets

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Use a magnetic board with shapes.

Yes Legos help further the development of cognitive and coordination skills. The size can be smaller if the child does not put things in their mouth. Yes Use a magnetic board with shapes.

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Magnifying Glass

Not suited for this age group.

Mobile

Yes Mobiles help infants to focus eyes. Yes A music box helps to localize sound.

Music Box

Yes Science materials are great to help this group explore the world. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Science materials are great to help this group explore the world. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Science materials are great to help this group explore the world. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Hand-cranked music box, worked by child if crank is large and easy to turn as toddlers are fascinated by moving toys. Yes Helps toddlers learn simple sounds and words; should be adult operated.

Yes Hand-cranked music box.

Yes Hand-cranked music box.

Yes Should be an adult operated tape or CD player. Yes Age 5 would be the appropriate age for punch out paper dolls. Yes Tricycles or battery operated ride ons. By age 5, a small bike with training wheels may be used. Yes Pop-up books, detailed pictures, simple stories and rhymes are well liked at this age.

Yes Children should be able to use their own CD or tape player but may still have to be adult operated. Yes This age group could start cutting out paper dolls when older than 6. Yes Bikes with training wheels are acceptable.

Music Tapes

Yes Adult operated, helps infant focus on sound.

Paper Dolls

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Pedal Toy

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Picture Books

Yes Soft books with bright colors are good. Babies also like to be read to. Reading anything helps them begin to develop language skills. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Sturdy cardboard books or cloth books with few pages work well.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes A great craft material that can be used for children who do not put like to chew and eat toys.

Not suited for this age group. Not suited for this age group.

Yes

Yes

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Give them puppets to make stories and plays.

Play Dough

Punching Toy Puppets

Yes Pop-up books, detailed pictures, simple stories and rhymes are well liked at this age. More complex picture books are great. Yes Play dough is a great craft for older children. Making play dough with them is even more fun for them. Not suited for this age group. Yes Help them make there own puppets out of cloth or paper bags. Then help them make up stories.

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Push/Pull toys

Yes Push toys without rods such as simple cars or animals on wheels. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Push toys with rods, toys to push on floor, special noise and action effect toys. Yes Simple board puzzles or framed fit puzzles of fewer than 20 pieces.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Simple jigsaw puzzles with less than 50 pieces or framed puzzles of either 20 pieces for 3 year olds, 20-30 for 4 year olds, or up to 50 pieces for 5 year olds. Not suited for this age group.

Yes By this time, children can do hundred piece puzzles all the way up to 500 piece puzzles. Puzzles help to develop problem solving and logic skills. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Rattles should not be heavy, with no sharp edges, and made of non-toxic materials. Yes Great for all Babysitters to have Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have Not suited for this age group.

Yes A large sandbox may be used with a variety of sand toys.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Small sandbox tools are appropriate, but watch the children so they do not eat the sand. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Great for all Babysitters to have Yes Rope ladder promotes physical activity but they are at the age where they are less apt to fall off. Not suited for this age group.

Sand Toy

Not suited for this age group.

Simple Board Games

Simple Card Games

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Simple Craft Kits

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Simple Music and Rhythm Instruments

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Mostly just rhythm instruments such as bells, drums, sand blocks etc.

Puzzle

Rattle

Red Cross Babysitters Handbook Rope Ladder

Yes Games should have few rules and be based completely on chance. Yes Simple card games with few rules and few concepts are the best. Yes Great for this age group because preschoolers have an interest in art and design. Yes All rhythm instruments and also instruments that require blowing are great

Yes Games can have more rules and can have a purpose other than chance. Yes More complicated card games may be played at this time. Yes School age children love to make and design art projects and kits are great for them. Not suited for this age group.

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Skates

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Stilts

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Stuffed Toy

Yes Stuffed toys need to be soft, large, squishy and easily grasped; also should not have movable eyes or anything that is small enough for the baby to choke. Yes Toys need to be soft, large, squishy and easily grasped.

Yes Stuffed toys need to be soft, large, squishy and easily grasped; may have movable eyes may have simple accessories.

Yes Stuffed toys can have many accessories as long as they are not a choking hazard.

Yes Toys need to be large, soft, squishy and easily grasped.

Yes Any thing that is appropriate to throw like balls or Frisbees.

Threading Toy

Not suited for this age group.

Tinker Toys

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Lacing boards, or threading large beads. No needles should be used. Not suited for this age group.

Toy Farm

Not suited for this age group.

Toy House

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Toys can be smaller but still should not be able to fit into child’s mouth. Yes Lacing boards or threading beads, blunt needles may be used when age 5. Yes Need to be large enough in case the child is still mouthing. Yes At this stage toddlers are starting to imitate parents and adults. Yew At this stage preschoolers still imitate parents and adults.

Toys for Banging

Yes For 6 to 12 month olds, toys should not be heavy and should not have any sharp edges. Yes At this stage, babies are learning to grasp; toys to hold help. Yes Toys need to be well contained and have non-toxic materials.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Things to Throw

Toys to Hold

Toys to Shake

Yes At this stage toddlers are starting to imitate parents and adults. Yes At this stage toddlers are starting to imitate parents and adults.

Yes Helps develop coordination skills but they have some coordination already. Not suited for this age group.

Yes Helps further develop coordination skills. Yes Helps develop coordination skills. Yes Stuffed toys can have many accessories as long as they are not a choking hazard.

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Can be smaller and should be able to be made into realistic models. Not suited for this age group. Not suited for this age group.

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Toys to Suck

Yes Helps infants when teething, should have no loose parts that are smaller than 1¾ of an inch. Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Not suited for this age group.

Water Toy

Yes Infants enjoy simple floating toys that are squishy and have no sharp corners.

Water-soluble Paints

Not suited for this age group.

Yes Simple floating toys, sponges, funnels and colanders; all should not have sharp corners. Yes Non-toxic paints are great for finger painting or brush painting.

Yes Bubbles, wind-up bath toys, water pump, working models of boats with no sharp corners. Yes Non-toxic paints are great for finger painting or brush painting.

Yes Bikes help this age group to learn coordination and balance. Yes Most water toys that have no sharp corners or edges are appropriate.

Two-wheel Bike without training wheels

Yes Non-toxic paints are great for finger painting or brush painting.

Source: Which Toy for Which Child: A Consumer’s Guide for Selecting Suitable Toys, Ages Birth through Five, Publication Number 285, U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission. Washington, D. C. 20207.

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