Play for children is much more than just fun. It is their way of learning about the world, expressing their thoughts and feelings, and developing their skills.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that in the hands of a child, any object can become an opportunity for endless play, but ideally, parents should offer children enough and useful toys that will help them develop.
Creative toys are toys that enhance a child's imagination, resourcefulness, and the effort to create something new. By giving a child a few of these toys (and they don't need many), they can create new images and stories, build their own worlds, and be occupied for endless hours every time they play.
But what are the best creative toys for children of all ages? It is extremely important for children to play with toys that correspond to their age and skill level, so we have compiled below the most useful categories of toys by age, for them to play alone, with their friends or their parents in the most beautiful moments of their childhood!
Creative toys for 1 year olds
In the first steps of exploration that children of this age take, creative toys must be safe, large in size, and sensory , meaning they must help them discover the various textures and materials.
The best creative toys for one-year-olds are:
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Sensory toys : Soft balls, fabric books, and toys that stimulate touch and have bright colors.
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Mega Bloks Building Blocks : They enhance hand-eye coordination and attract children to try their first constructions.
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Cube with Shapes : The first steps in logical thinking are taken with games with holes of various sizes and shapes.
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Painting : They allow the first attempts at painting safely.
Creative games for 2 year olds
At 2 years old, the child begins to imagine and play role-playing games.
So, the best creative toys for two-year-olds are those that enhance their imagination, such as:
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LEGO Duplo : Lego with large bricks for first constructions with simple shapes and easy assembly.
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Plasticine : Safe and soft plasticine for children to easily mold and make shapes and figures with the help of adults.
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2–4 piece puzzles : At this age, children cannot concentrate for long, so the puzzle should consist of few and large pieces.
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Kitchenware and food : Children love to imitate, and little chefs try their best to do what they see their parents do every day: cook and eat.
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Finger painting : Enhances sensory exploration.
Creative games for 3 year olds
At 3, imagination is particularly strengthened and children begin to build stories.
So, the best creative toys for 3-year-olds are:
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LEGO Duplo : In this series, there are more complex constructions that cultivate skills in 3-4 year old children.
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Plasticine with molds : Now with plasticine, children not only make simple shapes, but also proceed to create simple objects.
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Drawing : At 3, a child can make some rough shapes, so blocks and large markers take center stage.
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Role- playing figures : Playmobil and other role-playing toys, such as policeman, farmer, etc., have their place.
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Magnetic Sets : They allow children to make more complex constructions.
Creative games for 4 year olds
At 4, fine motor skills develop strongly, so the goal is to help the child develop them even further.
The best creative toys for 4 year olds are:
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LEGO Classic : Now the child can play with smaller bricks in more complex concepts.
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Plasticine with cutting tools : With special molds and tools, children can create entire worlds.
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Crafts with large beads : Ideal for girls, enhancing concentration.
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Letter games : Magnetic boards and board games introduce children to the alphabet.
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Complex Role-Playing - Imitation Games : For example, beauty salon for girls or tools for boys.
Creative games for 5 year olds
At 5, the child gains structure and patience in his creations, so he can spend more time with each game and play alone for a long time.
The best creative toys for 5 year olds are:
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LEGO City for beginners : With these the child creates vehicles and houses.
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Plasticine with multi-tools : More detailed figures in various colors.
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Crafts (e.g. paper cutting) : Small projects with instructions that guide the child step by step.
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24–48 piece puzzles : The child strengthens their logic with more complex puzzles with smaller pieces.
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Musical instruments : Maracas, sticks, drums help with free expression.
Creative games for 6 year olds
At 6, creativity begins to be associated with rules and procedures.
Thus, the child can try various games to strengthen his skills, such as:
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LEGO Classic & LEGO Friends : LEGO for larger projects and thematic constructions.
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STEM Crafts : Simple models of mechanisms that introduce the child to the modern demands of technology.
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Clay constructions : Stable creations that the child can then paint or decorate.
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Beadwork : Bracelets and necklaces with small beads that help little girls make their first handmade jewelry.
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Drawing with fine markers : The child is now capable of precision and detail, so he can also draw on drawing blocks to pay attention to boundaries and create impressive drawings.
Creative games for 7 year olds
At 7, children can create complete projects, both in terms of construction and crafts or stories.
The best creative toys for 7-year-olds are:
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LEGO Technic entry level : In these, the child discovers basic gears and mechanisms.
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Craft kits : Like jewelry or sewing for beginners that girls usually like and help them not only develop skills, but also a sense of unique creation and its management.
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Small scientific constructions : The children's room can be transformed into a small laboratory, where creativity meets knowledge.
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Stencil art : Playing with stencil designs and water spray or markers.
Creative games for 8 year olds
At 8, imagination is linked to technique and the child can develop complex concepts, combining imagination with patience.
The best creative toys for 8 year olds are:
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LEGO Creator 3-in-1 : LEGOs now become 3D and the child reconstructs models, which he can then play with.
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Highly detailed craft kits : Jewelry or 3D paper techniques are ideal activities for children who like to develop in this field.
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Painting on canvas : Many children have a remarkable talent for painting, so this is the time when they can make their first complete compositions with canvas, oil paints, and the use of an easel.
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STEM models : This is how the child learns about circuits and mechanics.
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Models & modeling : These are activities that contribute to the development of perseverance and precision.
Creative games for 8 year olds
At 9, the child begins to show the first obvious tendencies for a need for independence, so he looks for toys that allow him to be occupied alone and be creative without help.
The best creative games for 9 year olds are:
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LEGO Technic & LEGO Creator : Now at this age we can see more complex models depending on the child's tastes.
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Advanced crafts : Such as origami, threading, sewing.
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STEM projects : The child can now develop entire constructions, such as moving cars or small robots.
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3D puzzles : If he likes puzzles, with 3D puzzles he can combine creativity with logic.
Creative games for 10 year olds
The creativity of 10-year-olds becomes targeted and it is now clear what the child's inclinations are.
Thus, not all toys are capable of capturing his interest and parents choose gifts based on the child's profile. Some creative toys for 10-year-olds that spark the imagination are:
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LEGO Technic with mechanisms : It combines construction with mechanical functions, which arouses great interest in many children.
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STEM robotics for beginners : When a child is 10 years old, in STEM toys, they can create programmable models.
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Modeling : Models involve large vehicles and buildings in an activity that requires precision and organization.
Creative games for 11 year olds
At 11, children have developed their own personal style in creation.
Most creative games for 11-year-olds build on the previous ones, evolving into more difficult projects with a high degree of complexity that can also appeal to adults.
Such creative games for 11 year olds are:
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LEGO Creator Expert : These are entire complex machines or structures and collectible models.
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Highly detailed craft projects : Jewelry, decoupage, perfumery or woodcarving depending on the child's tastes.
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Art sets for sketching & watercolors : Advanced painting and crafting techniques.
Of course, at every age and in every category of play, what the child likes and what his talents are plays a very big role.
See the huge variety of toys by age and category at Funplanet and give your child the opportunity to develop in the most creative way!
