Toys for Young Tots

By the editors of Child magazine

Also think in terms of categories. A variety of activities will help develop your child's body, mind, and emotions. Three-year-olds especially enjoy:

dress-up clothes and props
puppets, dolls, action figures, and stuffed animals
pretend toys such as miniature farms with animals, a schoolroom with a teacher and kids, a gas station with tools, and dollhouses
"housekeeping" toys such as kid-size refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, sinks, washing machines, driers, ironing boards, lawn mowers, and vacuum cleaners
puzzles
simple lotto and board games
sand and water toys
arts and crafts materials (paper, crayons, chalk, markers, paints, clay, children's scissors, and glue)
building, sorting, counting toys
physical play equipment such as slides, swings, jungle gym, ride-ons, wagons, and wading pools (make sure the equipment is safe and age appropriate, and supervise your children at all times) sports equipment like balls
videos, cassette tapes of music, and musical instruments
picture books, alphabet books, and stories about other children
books that they've chosen themselves from the public library.

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