Kuku's World


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Play Stages

Age	What they can do	Suitable Toys

1 Month	A baby can focus on an object 8-10 inches away, but does not see detail. He will follow an object slowly with his eyes, but may often lose it. He hears high-pitched noises and is quieted by low-pitched sounds. He watches intently when someone talks to him and imitates their facial expressions. He is startled by a loud or sudden noise. His hands are closed.	Mobiles Crib music boxes Soft stuffed toys or dolls

2 Months	She kicks and waves her arms when she is excited. This uses the same movement as stepping. It is easier to lift heavy legs when lying flat. She smiles directly at people and expects to be given her turn in "conversations." She can learn that one event follows another. She learns to make things happen. She can locate a sound in front of her, but not one behind; she turns to the correct side if she hears a sound, but cannot locate it.	Floor gyms with flashing lights, music and hanging parts to look at Toys that encourage physical activity, such as kicking Activity quilts

3 Months	He is interested in faces and recognizes his mother. He watches you when you speak and turns toward a sound. He knows if something is familiar. He does not deliberately reach, but may swipe at objects and if they move, will swipe again. He can hold onto objects and wave them around. When lying on his stomach, he can begin to lift his head up and prop himself up on his elbows.	Hand-held rattles or toys on a ring Floor gyms Stuffed toys that make sounds

4 Months	She is interested in people and recognizes those who are familiar to her. She squirms with excitement, squeals and laughs. She watches her hands. Her hands are now usually open and she clasps her hand around objects that she touches. Coordinating looking and reaching is difficult, but she can manage if she gets a lot of help from you	Take-along activity toys Toys with a variety of sounds, bright colors & lights Toys with friendly faces Hand-held rattles or toys on a ring

5 Months	On his tummy he pushes with his hands and flexes his feet. He rolls from his tummy to his back. Stationary objects are now much clearer, but he still prefers visual patterns with strong contrasts, defined borders and bright colors. His hands are open and he reaches out to touch and grasp. He uses his mouth to explore objects. If offered a toy, he will look back and forth between the toy and his hand, laboriously adjusting the position of his hand. He smiles at other babies, especially the one in the mirror. He is beginning to be able to do two activities of his choosing at the same time, like shouting and reaching.	Roly-poly bat-at toys Toys that help develop a sense of self Hand-held musical toys Activity toys Squeeze toys with surprise sounds

6 Months	The ability to control her body has begun. This comes from the head down, and center outward from her shoulders to her fingers and hips to toes. If you watch carefully you will see the neck, then the shoulders and back strengthening. When sitting up, she needs only slight support and may sit briefly unaided. The strength is there, but not always the balance. She can bang her rattle and shout at the same time. Soon, she can simultaneously have an intention and perform an act. She begins to look for things she drops. She joins in activities which are centered around her.	Toys to encourage crawling Action/reaction toys Stacking toys Baby books for patting, pointing and talking Toys for imitative play with familiar objects Textured ball Recorded songs and music

7 Months	He can support his weight and stand if he holds onto furniture. Some babies can pull themselves up and may move around the furniture, clinging with both hands. When lying on his tummy, he creeps forward. When placed on his hands and knees, he rocks. He prefers to look at complex objects, and changes position to seek a better view. He recognizes voices and his name and different tunes. He grasps by cupping his entire hand around an object. He is beginning to use his thumb to push things into his hand. He uses his eyes to help him reach out to touch, adjusting the position of his hand under visual control.	Entertainment centers that encourage crawling and standing Bat-at floor toys Shape sorters with surprise sounds Action/reaction toys Board books for patting, pointing and talking Stacking, nesting & building toys Containers with items to fill and empty

8 Months	Crawls forward or backward, sometimes while holding an object. She is beginning to string two behaviors together. She is developing small-motor skills such as the pincer grasp, used to pick up small objects between thumb and fingers. She can recall events in the recent past. She knows that toys don't disappear when they're hidden; they still exist somewhere. She starts to investigate the world. Your baby is beginning to articulate sounds. She starts with vowels and moves on to all the other sounds made in every language.	Musical toys Entertainment centers that encourage standing and cruising Sorting and building toys Toys with dials, levers & buttons Easy-to-activate pop-up toys Large plastic snap-together beads

9 Months	He pulls himself up to stand using the furniture and adjusts his posture as he moves. He sits alone and stretches to reach a toy without toppling over. He can catch a suspended object or a ball rolled directly to him. His hands are more skilled and his movements are more deliberate and varied. He passes toys from one hand to the other. He begins to make signs-lifting his arms to be picked up and banging a spoon to summon dinner. He may follow your gaze, looking where you look.	Stacking, sorting and building toys Toys to encourage physical development, such as standing and cruising Toys with dials and buttons Language development toys Board books for patting, pointing and talking Early role-play toys, such as a play telephone Shape sorters

10 Months	She may be able to walk if you hold both of her hands. She can perceive depth and if she crawls, does not attempt to go down steps head first. She begins to look for things that she drops. She responds to one or two commands. She begins to anticipate and remember: when the refrigerator opens, baby expects food; when you grab your purse, baby expects you're going out. She may know when the surprise happens in a song. She pokes, prods, and explores with her hands. She peeps around corners and loves to play peek-a-boo. She imitates more, watching and copying actions. She begins to show a preference for the sounds she hears in the language(s) spoken around her.	Toys to encourage physical development, such as cruising and walking Toys to encourage early learning Sports-themed toys that encourage physical development Large balls with holes or ridges for grasping Early role-play toys, such as pretend tools Link-together toys

11 Months	He cruises along the furniture, standing up without your help. His babbling begins to have the intonation of language. He pulls himself up and sits again with confidence. He knows that smaller objects fit in larger ones. He responds to one or two commands. He knows the word "no," but may not be able to refrain from trying something anyway.	Sports-themed toys that encourage physical development Link-together toys Stacking toys that encourage eye-hand coordination Outdoor toys and swings Push & pull toys Toy telephone Soft animals or balls of varying textures Containers with items to fill and empty

12 Months	She likes other children but does not play with them. She imitates actions such as talking on the phone, sweeping, pushing a shopping cart, etc. She anticipates your action; for example, having her arms ready for her jacket. She moves one object to reach another that was hidden from view. She now makes only the sounds found in the language she hears. She understands much of what is being said. She displays affection in hugs, kisses, pats, and smiles.	Foot-to-floor ride-on toys Toys to enhance physical development and coordination Musical toys Animal-themed playset Community vehicles Neighborhood vehicles Push & Pull Toys Toy Telephones

12 to 18 Months	By 13 months, about half of all babies walk, but most still fall over if they lose momentum. At 15 months, he is beginning to twist his wrist so that his hand turns independently of his arm. He is more purposeful in the way he explores objects. He can put two ideas together to make a plan and his behavior begins to flow. He starts to treat objects in appropriate ways: he cuddles teddy bears and presses the button on his jack-in-the-box. He says his first word (any time after 8 months). First words generally relate to objects: cats, dogs and buses are popular, as are sounds associated with food such as "Yummm."	Push and pull toys Slow, battery-powered ride-ons Toys to encourage early learning Playsets Dollhouse-themed playset Musical instruments Building blocks Puzzles with knobs or a few large pieces Low climbing gym

18 to 24 Months	She is very mobile. She can walk forward, sideways and backward, she can also run. She can pull a toy on a string or manage a push-a-long. She can use her feet to scoot along on a cycle. She combines wrist-moving with letting go. She can put any shape in her sorter and throw a ball. She can put one block on top of another. Her scribbles are not meant to be anything in particular, but they are not random. Squiggles on the left are balanced by something on the right. She likes to feel rather than use clay and play dough and squeezes it in her hands. She reacts to your moods, and can express joy and frustration. She can be jealous. She may have a vocabulary of 50 to 200 words. Some weeks she may add lots of new words, others, none at all. She is constantly trying and practicing. She can follow simple directions. She seems to know what went before and predicts what is next.	Toys that help refine eye-hand coordination Slow battery-powered ride-ons Grow-with-me ride-on toys Cars, trucks, trains and other vehicles Construction playsets Toy housekeeping tools Dolls and doll accessories (carriage, cradle, high chair) Books with different textures and brightly colored pictures Wagons Large crayons Play dough Child-sized table and chairs

2 to 3 Years	She jumps and hops, and walks up and down stairs one foot at a time. He knows what is safe and what is dangerous. Social play becomes more important. If other children are around she may "explode" into activity. He has good hand-eye coordination and can build quite elaborately, tuck a teddy into bed, or put on simple garments. She is quite happy rolling and cutting play dough. He tells you what he is going to draw before he starts, but if he thinks the drawing is starting to look like something else, he abandons the original plan. She expects you to display her work; this is always the best reward. He imitates those he knows and likes to do what they do. She understands the meaning of "inside," "under" and "on top." He puts words together to make simple sentences and uses 'I', 'me' and 'you.' She can follow simple instructions and can recall what to do.	Role-play toys Ride-on toys Sports toys Roller skates Battery-powered ride-ons Play kitchen with pretend food and utensils Simple remote-control vehicles Themed playsets Dolls & stuffed animals Music-making toys Crayons, coloring books, paints and play dough Basic counting, number and shape-matching toys Simple puzzles Play store or cash register Mini sports sets-basketball, golf, T-ball

3 to 4 Years	When she jumps and hops, she raises her feet high and bends her knees as she lands. She loves running and chasing, rarely falls, and is reluctant to be still. Ball games such as volleyball, catch or kickball improve her balance and coordination. She throws a ball for a short distance. She catches a large ball thrown directly into her arms. She realizes her drawings can look like faces or people and starts to fashion them intentionally. She can roll sections of play dough, make balls and sausages and put them together to make people. She begins to shape her little squiggles into writing. She often plays at being someone else and dresses up frequently. She likes to hear about friends and relatives and likes to know that lots of people love her. She can contrast herself with others. She begins to show sympathy and empathy for characters in stories.	Dollhouses & accessories Playsets and action figures Role play Cars, vehicles & RC toys Battery-powered ride-ons Creative activity toys Simple hand puppets Dress-up clothes and props Picture books and story books Toys for learning shapes, colors, numbers and letters Intermediate puzzles Simple board games Sand and water play toys Pedal trikes Sports sets-basketball, tee-ball, golf, bowling, ring toss Simple computer programs for early learning Variety of sport balls, e.g., soccer, football, kickball, super bounce ball

4 to 5 Years	He can walk along a curb, climb up the steps of a slide, use a monkey bar, ride a bicycle, dodge when chased, and carry large toys. He can learn to swim, skate, ski, dance and use a trampoline. A new creative technique can keep him engrossed for extended periods of time. He is starting to add details to drawings; they may be large and he does not count how many should be there, so that people may have three enormous fingers and houses are filled with windows. He may print his name on his paintings. He understands that other people have thoughts, experiences and feelings that are different from his own and begins to take this into account in his interactions with others. He explains what happened when he knows you were not there. He moves in a more grown-up way, although he lacks an adult's strength and foresight.	Dollhouses & accessories Role play Creative activity toys Sports toys Battery-powered ride-ons Toy telescopes Child's tape recorder, telephone, camera Dress-up clothes and accessories Toy housekeeping and fix-it tools Musical instruments Toys for learning shapes, colors, numbers and letters Simple board games Simple computer programs for early learning Two-wheeled bike with training wheels and helmet Variety of sport balls, e.g., soccer, football, kickball, super bounce ball Climbing gyms with slides and ladders

5 Years and above	She draws recognizable pictures, prints her name, does elaborate puzzles, dresses herself. Her pictures are symbols of real things; she may draw a two-story house even if she lives in a flat. Her memory span expands and she begins to make comparisons. She gives reasons and solves problems. She can order some objects and sort items into simple categories. She may mimic your pose and copy your tone of voice. As she reaches school age, her friendships become firmer. Boys may begin to play in bigger groups than girls. She explains games to other children. She indicates to others when to "pretend" and when something is "real." She should be able to complete an activity without waiting for direction.	Toys that encourage creative expression Sports toys Skateboards Advanced level scooters Battery-powered ride-ons Electronic learning toys Entertainment toys Simple working camera Framed puzzles with 25 to 50 pieces Picking-up or balancing games Simple card games and picture bingo Science materials such as magnets, binoculars, magnifying glass Two-wheeled bike with training wheels and helmet Jump rope

(Source Fisher-Price).

Every child is unique and develops at his or her own pace. The text given here is for information and guidance only and should not be treated as a substitute for medical, legal or other professional advice.