At Biome, we're often asked to recommend age-appropriate toys and games for children, and while every child develops at their own pace, there are general milestones we can guide you through. We've summarised the typical physical, motor, reading, and comprehension levels for each age, alongside thoughtful suggestions for toys and activities.
True to Biome’s ethos, we see playtime as an opportunity to inspire a love for the natural world. With screen-free, sustainably-made toys, children can enjoy play that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and motor skills—all while respecting the planet. From wooden puzzles to eco-friendly memory games and books, these alternatives nurture both growing minds and the environment.
In this blog post, we have you covered with carefully-vetted recommendations for children aged:
0 - 12 Months
1 - 2 Years
2 - 4 Years
4 - 6 Years
6 - 8 Years
8 - 12 Years
Age Group: 0-12 Months
Average Development Level
- Physical: Learning to roll over, sit up, and crawl. Some babies may begin standing or taking first steps in exploring the world.
- Motor Skills: Grasping natural, safe, sensory-rich objects, transferring them between hands, and developing hand-eye coordination.
- Comprehension: Responding to familiar voices, enjoying high-contrast images, and listening to rhythmic sounds.
Toys & Activities
- Tactile Play: Soft, eco-friendly organic cotton toys with natural textures, sensory balls.
- Visual and Auditory Stimulation: High-contrast black-and-white nature-themed toys, soft rattles, and musical toys with soothing sounds. Listening to nature-inspired sounds and patterns fosters early curiosity about the environment.
- Cause and Effect Toys: Toys that respond to touch with sounds or movement.
- Teething Toys: Soft and safe plant-based teething rings for soothing gums.
- Games: Simple peek-a-boo activities or interactive sound toys that encourage memory through repetition.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Wooden Rainbow Stacker, soft fabric blocks, teething rings, sensory toys.
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Londji My First Puzzle with soft and simple pieces.
- Memory Game: Peek-a-boo style soft toys, or sound-making rattles.
- Books: Lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel and board books.
Age Group: 1-2 Years
Average Development Level
- Physical: Walking steadily, beginning to run, climbing, and exploring new motor skills.
- Motor Skills: Fine motor skills developing with activities like stacking, pushing, and pulling.
- Comprehension: Understanding simple words and instructions, pointing to objects in books, and showing interest in interactive stories.
Toys & Activities
- Building Toys: Simple wooden blocks with earthy colours, stacking rings, or shape sorters.
- Push and Pull Toys: Promoting walking and gross motor development, animal-themed, sustainably made pull toys that mimic wildlife.
- Interactive Books: Lift-the-flap and touch-and-feel books for engagement, especially stories featuring nature and animals.
- Pretend Play: Simple role-play sets like kitchen tools or animal figures.
- Jigsaw Puzzles: Large, chunky wooden puzzles with knobs for easy grasping.
- Memory Games: Picture card games with simple pairs to match.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Wooden Blocks, Pull-Along Snail.
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Wooden Animal Puzzle .
- Memory Game: Djeco Memo Animals, a simple animal-matching game.
- Books: “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell (lift-the-flap) and “Where’s Spot?” by Eric Hill.
Age Group: 2-4 Years
Average Development Level
- Physical: Running, jumping, climbing, beginning to use tricycles, and exploring independence in movement.
- Motor Skills: Increased control in fine motor skills—able to stack, build, and draw.
- Comprehension: Understanding more complex stories, engaging in imaginative play.
Toys & Activities
- Building and Creative Play: Building blocks, wooden puzzles, or magnetic building tiles.
- Pretend Play: Eco friendly role playing kits, cooking sets, dolls, animal figurines, doctor kits, shop keeping.
- Outdoor Play: Balance bikes made from sustainable materials, scooters, or sand and water play sets.
- Art and Craft Activities: Drawing sets, clay, natural play dough, shape cutters.
- Jigsaw Puzzles: 8-12 piece wooden or cardboard puzzles featuring wildlife, ocean, and shapes with easy-to-handle pieces.
- Memory Games: Matching games with larger sets of pictures.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Trucks, Kitchen Set, Pizza Oven, Doctors Kit.
- Art & Craft: Magic Canvas (fine motor skills and creative expression)
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Londji My First Puzzle – Forest (Biome)
- Memory Game:
- Books: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen.
Age Group: 4-6 Years
Average Development Level
- Physical: Improved balance and coordination, able to run, jump, and climb with more skill.
- Motor Skills: Better fine motor control—able to cut with scissors, build, and draw.
- Comprehension: Engaging in complex storytelling, identifying letters and numbers, and early reading.
Toys & Activities
- Construction Sets: More complex building sets like LEGO or magnetic tiles.
- Board Games and Puzzles: Simple games that promote problem-solving and turn-taking.
- Educational Toys: STEM-based kits and counting games.
- Outdoor Play: Jump ropes, kites, bikes, trampolines, and active play equipment. Playing outdoors enhances balance and coordination, and connects children to the natural world.
- Art & Craft Activities:
- Jigsaw Puzzles: 20-50 piece puzzles with vibrant illustrations.
- Memory Games: Card-based memory games with educational themes.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Pyramid Blocks, Jump Rope.
- Art & Craft: Magic Canvas (practicing letters, numbers and drawing),
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Londji We Are the Gardeners Puzzle.
- Memory Game: eeBoo Life on Earth Matching Game (Biome), which features nature-themed illustrations.
- Books: “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss, “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson.
Age Group: 6-8 Years
Average Development Level
- Physical: Improved strength, agility, and balance, developing sports skills.
- Motor Skills: Writing clearly, drawing more complex pictures, and detailed craft projects.
- Comprehension: Reading independently, solving problems, and engaging in structured play.
Toys & Activities
- STEM Kits: Eco-friendly science experiment kits to explore the wonders of the natural world, building robots, and coding toys.
- Sports Equipment: Basketballs, jump ropes, or roller skates.
- Board Games: More complex games promoting strategy and teamwork.
- Arts and Crafts: Craft kits, painting sets, or jewellery-making sets.
- Jigsaw Puzzles: 50-100 piece puzzles with intricate designs, featuring wildlife and ecosystems.
- Memory Games: Multi-card memory games with educational themes.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Londji Kaleidoscope
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Londji Around My Planet Puzzle (100 piecese).
- Memory Game: Londji Memory Game
- Books: “The Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne, “Matilda” by Roald Dahl.
Age Group: 8-12 Years
Average Development Level
- Physical: Increased coordination for sports and dance, refining motor skills for precise tasks.
- Motor Skills: Mastering fine motor skills for writing, instrument playing, and model building.
- Comprehension: Reading complex chapter books, solving puzzles, and strategic thinking.
Toys & Activities
- STEM Toys and Robotics Kits: Advanced building sets, and kits that promote sustainable and renewable technology explorations.
- Board Games: Strategy games like chess or cooperative games.
- Creative Play: Advanced craft kits, model-building sets, and art supplies.
- Outdoor Equipment: Skates, skateboards, or sports gear for active play.
- Jigsaw Puzzles: Complex 200-300 piece puzzles that feature natural landscapes or ecosystems.
- Memory Games: Challenge cognitive development while fostering environmental awareness.
Our Recommendations
- Toys: Londji Travel Pouch
- Jigsaw Puzzle: Londji Pirates Puzzle (300 pieces).
- Memory Game: Londji Kaleidoscope Memory Game.
- Books: “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” by Rick Riordan, “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling.
