Do you buy your children age appropriate toys?

[tripletipple]

What I mean is, do you buy them things that the manufacturer states is for their age group, or do you buy things that are suggested to be for older children?

My friend and I both have 3 year old boys and when we did some Xmas shopping together I was surprised that she was going for things that said 6+ years and one toy that was for 8+ years. I felt she was scoffing at my choices of Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine whereas I felt there was no point buying things that a 3 year old is probably developmentally not capable of doing.

What do you think?

I tend to go for things which say 3+ even though ds is only 1 because he would honestly find age appropriate toys really boring.
I wouldn't get him age 8+ stuff when he's only 3 though.

depends on why the age range is given really - sometimes it's for small parts and other minor hazards, sometimes it's a developmental guideline that they may not get the most out of it until a certain age, in which case some dc will be ready for things earlier.

we got dd1 some sylvanians ahead of the age range, but she has always been unusually careful with small stuff. and dd2's first birthday piano was marked 18mo plus, and I cannot for the life of me work out what makes it too hard or dangerous for a one year old.

No. I buy my children child appropriate toys!

Or, more specifically, my child appropriate toys.

I usually go for about the same age. DD2 is 16 months at christmas, so I will look at toys up to 2 years as she won't get anything between then and her birthday. Depends on the toy too, I might go for something slightly out of age knowing it will be enjoyed in 6 months time. If she buy toys too old, what will she buy when they reach that age? pil bought dd1 a small rocking horse when she was 1 for age 3 and over, she was terrified of it until - age 3!

Yeah, I can see that the age is just a guideline and sometimes it's for safety reasons, but best to buy what you think your own child will enjoy/be able to do.

I suppose the issue I had, if I'm honest, was the thing of "Oh, my child will be able to do this whereas your child still has baby toys"

My ds used to love jigsaws, for example, but was seriously rubbish at them- if I hd bought him age appropriate ones he wouldn't have stood a hope of doing them. Dd loved making things and was very good at it, if I have bought her age appropriate craft sets she would have given me the look. But loved soft toys long after most of her friend's had given them up.

And they both had sharp scissors, pen knives, proper tools and proper art materials long before the guidelines said they should.

Most of the age guides on toys are for safety reasons rather than how age and stage appropriate they are.
Take Lego, it is suitable for younger children than it states, but because the pieces are small and may be a choking hazard, it will be classed as unsuitable.
It's the same for all toys with small parts.

Honey I know that because of small parts the age is often given at 3+ but I thought that for higher age ranges it was usually more to do with how difficult it is to use the toy

Yes TSC you are right. I do usually try to ignore that sort of thing but just doubted myself for a moment.

I am off now to forget all about it

I buy things I know ds will love and don't really bother about the age range. Most of his stuff is 3+ now as he loves little things like playmobil and 'proper' puzzles rather than peg puzzles.

ps what was she buying? I can't thing of anything designed for an 8 year old that a 3 year old would love.

I usually buy age appropriate toys give or take a year. Blocks for example will be aimed at his age because of the choking hazard of smaller pieces. He doesn't put things in his mouth anymore but I'd never take the chance anyway.
He's just turned 2 and I've recently bought him a leapfrog Scout which he could have had a year ago but he also has a laptop type toy which is aimed at 3+ years development wise, but he grasps it just fine. I wouldn't buy a toy I didn't think he'd understand.

Do they have older children/friends?

I ask because my 3yr old ds would not want bob or thomas stuff ... he wants older toys because he plays a lot with his older sisters friends and thats what they're into.

to clarify i mean characters aimed at older children rather than an x box or something!

My ds has just turned four and thanks to older cousins whom he sees a lot, is beyblades and nerf gun MAD, they're both 7 plus but imo pose no risk to him at all and he can play with them competantly. Dd is nearly 3 and also plays with both well.

As pp state its what's suitable for you child.

DS is nearly 12 but we buy him 15-16 X-Box games.
We check them before he has them.Most are fantasy, sci-fi or knights in battle types.

(No 18s and definately no Call of Duty)