Do you ever marvel at the concentration written all over a child's face when they're solving their favorite puzzle for the fifth time? Or found yourself intrigued by an infant's constant flailing of their plush teddy bear? From birth to the moment they learn how to move around and grasp, children develop a preference for certain toys; often, their pick is driven by their interests, needs, and capabilities. As a child grows, so do their motor, social-emotional, and language skills; that said, a play item they loved at seven months old could lose their interest by the time they turn one. The truth is, these little explorers are always on a quest to try out their newly-acquired set of skills with each stage of growth. So, how exactly should you gauge what to get your favorite little buddy?

Top five toy picks by age.

The essence of playtime is to learn, nurture and refresh the little ones' minds and abilities without overwhelming them. Of course, you'd want to challenge them a little bit; however, for the most part, when toy shopping for children supporting the development and practice of their new skill set should be a priority. With the year just kicking off, we're looking at a calendar full of upcoming birthdays, baby showers, and christening; for this reason, toy buying tricks and tips come in handy, whether or not you're a parent. Ahead we've put together a list of can't-go-wrong toys to get for small children based on age.

Stuffed Toys

Stuffed animals and play items are the top go-to toys for infants and toddlers. Kids of up to six months are fascinated by colors, faces, and shapes; they're most likely at the stage where they catch sounds and follow moving objects with their eyes. Most notably, children in the six-month age bracket have learned how to grasp, move their heads and limbs; however, the baby's motor and stability skills aren't fully developed at this age, so something light and easy to grip on would be great. Make sure you go for stuffed animals, balls, and cubes that are medium-sized and designed from non-toxic material like the whale shark plush because your little friend is probably going to suck on their toys.

Rattles

Infants exercising their auditory senses are typically intrigued by anything that produces sound; they turn their heads to sound and might even bob to jingles, chimes, and tunes. Rattles, therefore, are ideal sound toys for young infants. Chances are the child will repeatedly bang their rattle toy against a hard surface for a chime, so it's best to look out for rattle toys made from unbreakable material. Non-toxic and safety features are also a prerequisite to buying rattles; anything sharp-edged could easily poke them. Lastly, rattles with handles are a plus, so the baby doesn't lose its grip on the toy.

Building Kits

Toddlers aged one to three can build and stack up items; most can also identify colors and shapes. This early stage of development in young toddlers is characterized by curiosity and experimentation, and what better to challenge and nurture those fascinated little minds than a building kit. Keep an eye out for building sets that will trigger the child's coordination skills - puzzles, stackable cubes, and building blocks. Building kits also come in a range of easy, intermediate, and hard levels; you'd therefore want to ensure the child's age matches the challenge.

Interactive Toys

If you're on the market for tech-savvy toys, then this one's for you. Interactive toys are modern-day children's favorite. For the younger-aged toddlers, something as simple as a live doll with a music feature seems perfect. Similarly, if you're looking to splurge on your little friends, a smart child-sized toy car should nail it. As you move up the age hierarchy, you'll have to up your game and consider interactive edutainment toys, for instance, electronic books and kid-friendly tablets. These toys will set them up with entertainment and educational material while keeping their little hands off your cell phone.

Paint and watercolors

We cracked the code to keeping little Picassos off your walls and books- gift them a washable paint set. Toddlers find coloring and painting fun and entertaining, so maybe consider investing in some coloring books, washable, non-toxic paint or watercolors, and some paintbrushes, then leave them to their creativity. I mean, how else would you land your first fridge-worthy family portrait? Better yet, turn painting into a bonding exercise for you and your mini-me.

Wrapping up

Buying toys for young children might come off as a challenge, but there's no science to it. Children might be incapable of clearly communicating what they want; however, it should be pretty simple to deduce what the child loves if you're observant. Although it's too soon to tell the child's interest, this guideline should fine tune the insane pool of toys in the market for you to a selected few that might be compatible with the kids. Criteria, or no criteria, the best toys will always be those gifted from the heart.