MAIN Toy Reviews Popular Toys by Age Group

Whether it's for a birthday or holiday gift, shopping for kids toys and games only gets easier if you're familiar with the latest popular toys on the market and the recommended age group they're targeted to.

Other important considerations, of course, are gender-specific toys, or the child's particular personality and general interests. Dinosaur fan? Budding artist? Social butterfly?

Get a handle on kid's toy shopping with our mom-reviewed guide to some of the most popular toys and games on the market, including expert tips on picking out just the right toy for infants, toddlers, young kids, tweens and teens:

12-24 months  |  2 year old  |  3 - 5  |  6 - 8  |  9 - 11  |  12 - 14  |  15 +

Birth to 12 months Toys should get baby's attention with bright, contrasting colors, sound, and/or texture. Babies need objects that they can grasp, push, or pull in order to master cause and effect, coordination, and motor skills. Babies begin to ascertain social cues at this age generally by being held and corresponding tone of voice to facial expressions.

12-24 months At this age the young child involves experimentation with the five senses, as well as motor movements that help them learn what they can physically do. It's an important time for children to develop independence and a sense of self through practice play and repetition. Language development is crucial, which makes it so important for adults to talk to children, engage them with conversation and read stories whenever the opportunity presents itself.

2 years It is important for toddlers to play with adults, while engaging with others, toddlers learn to take turns, enhance language skills, and foster positive self esteem. Observation and problem-solving skills are reinforced by hide and seek style games. At this age kids love dress up and pretend play, hosting tea parties, taking care of their baby dolls, whipping up a plastic dinner with pots and pans clanging, and general role playing activities.

3-5 years Kids this age are on the go. Play involves more social interaction with peers, reinforcing important social skills, cooperation, and taking turns. Children love to build and create. Besides developing motor skills and self-esteem activities like building with blocks, putting together structures, artwork, water, sand, and rice, finger painting, Play-Doh are important for preschoolers to explore and discover. As well as encouraging their love of running, jumping, climbing, and throwing balls outdoors.

6-8 years By now play has become more complex and is dominated by games that involve competition and explicit rules that stress fair play and satisfy social and intellectual challenges. This type of play builds self-esteem that is so important to middle childhood. It also reinforces thinking, strategizing, and logic.

9-11 years At this point kids play decisions are more influenced by their peers. Family games provide children and their parents with shared activities to continue bonding. Board games like chess and checkers provide opportunities for children to enhance strategy and reasoning skills, while card games encourage awareness of mathematics.

12-14 years The concept of play changes dramatically at this stage of life, and manifests itself as competitive games and sports as well as other play events that foster social contact. Computers and video games are a major pastime here but board games remain a great group activity.

15+ years Computers, texting, and video games are some of the favorite pastimes of older kids but they still want to get outdoors and play, just on a different level, hacky sack, Frisbee, and team sports are a few. Parents should always encourage physical activity especially if your teen is not active in school sports. Competitive and funny board games keep these older kids playing.