What game for what age ?

What game for what age ?

Ages: that is not an universal rule

The game’s professionals that we interviewed were all wary about the type of age groups that are interpreted as the only ine. "Families are advised to not trust in informations age listed on the box of games, says Anne-Sophie Casal. Often for marketing reasons, the goal is to have the largest target as possible. "Parents are sometimes disturbed by the fact that the child is not able to play a game that is directed to his age, regret Carine Chauvet. But this has nothing alarming. "At Quai des Ludes, the notion of “level skills” permit to assess some areas of awaking areas is preferred. "The best way to avoid mistakes and choose a game that your child will like is to seek help from a professional who will know ask finer questions about the skills of child ', what he knows and what he does not yet ".

In contrast, the term "prohibited under 3 years" demands to be respected: it is a safety standard. For Anne-Sophie Casal, she thinks that it is better to choose a game egual or slightly lower at the child skills at this moment, it will help him to build self-esteem and to move forward: "When we say that the child will be quite capable of playing with the game so have fun, is that it is a good choice."

From 0 to 2 years old

During the first two years, toddlers develop the five senses. It is advised to focus on sensory toys that involve touch in handling, seeking hearing by sound effects (rattle, tambourine, xylophone), view the movement and vivid colors. The engines are also toys to remember, because they help the child to become aware of his movements, his movements in space: swings, small tunnels, slides.

"We tend to forget to play with infants, with children who do not sit up, says Alexandra Latouche. However, this is an age where there are many things to do. The 'cuckoo hidden' example of game with appearance and disappearance, entertains children. You can also lay your child on your stomach and have toys around him, and he will try to grasp them. It is good for working the curves of the back and neck, 5 to 10 minutes per day, no more. There is also the game that consist to attach a small bell around the wrist or ankle of the baby. By moving, guided by the sounds produced by the bell, he will understand the different parts of his body. Few minutes are enough. "

For children who sit up, games embedding and fitting can be offered and fine motor games in general.

From 18 months to 24 months old

To continue with nesting games. At this stage, children organize construction operations. As soon as the child walks, you can opt for colored stickers, paint, play dough, the first puzzles games that build the mathematical mind and geometric. It also begins with symbolic games, role-playing and imitation: doll, dinette, to reproduce everything that happens at home and so tame everyday gestures.

From 3 to4 years old

Games disguise and staging are emerging. The child invents but also embodies the characters. He uses figures as support for his stories. For more than 3 years, we can introduce educational games based on letters and numbers, depending on the sensitivity and awareness of the child.

From 5 to 6 years old

Board games are beginning with their more elaborate rules. We can start little earlier, provided to really play with the children, to explain and remember the rules throughout the game, to indicate whose turn it is to play, etc.

All age groups combined

All assemblies games that the child appropriates himself according to his level of competence, books, music...

Supervise Game without objects

The game without objects stimulates the imagination of the child. In this category we can include hide-and-seek, tell stories, recite rhymes and songs, the game of opposites, the game on different colors or body parts, games like "guess what I think" and for over 3 years, the famous "no yes and no no". All these games also help children to build their vocabulary and build their language.

Selection of some games :

Exercices games (0-2 years) 

- Jeu de pêche pour le bain - FNAC Eveil et Jeux

- Bâton de pluie – Djeco (petit hochet sonore)

- toupie magique – Chicco

- Hochet pouet – les lilliputiens

- Lucien le lapin – oxybull eveil et jeux

Symbolics games (3-4 years)

- Sac Nursery - 2Play (en grande surface de jouets)

- E-offroader - Hape

- blouse de docteur - Klein

- épée en mousse – Pouce et compagnie

- marionnette lion - Folkmanis

Rules games (5-6 years)

- À table les animaux - Selecta

- Pyramide des animaux – Haba

Allez les escargots – Ravensburger

Halli galli junior – Gigamic

Pic pirate – Tomy

Assembly games:

Magnetico – Klein

Clemmy - clementoni

From 0 to 2

Sensory game + nesting

18 months to 24 months

stickers + puzzle + building

From 3 to 4

disguise + playmobile + numbers and letters

Article from Anne-Sophie JACOB, trainer for jobs related to games' and toys'. FM2J center.