Age for Stage | Playgro ‘Play and Grow’ is an interactive development journey aimed to stimulate baby’s sensory development as they explore and interact with the world around them. ‘Play and Grow’ is designed to encourage baby’s sensory progression, stimulate curiosity levels and improve their ability to explore and interact with the surrounding world to discover new skills. ‘Play and Grow’ toys are perfect learning toys that help baby reach full potential, whilst being fun, entertaining and safe. Product types include crib/cot attachable toys to entertain baby, interactive and voice activated toys.
Playgro’s Age for Stage
Playgro introduced an ‘Age for Stage’ guide to help consumers select the most age appropriate products when shopping for baby with age grading icons on most of our packaging to further assist.The guide can be found on all Playgro packaging, making it easy for parents to find a product that best suits their baby’s stage of development. Develop, Discover, Recognise, Reward; Play and Grow each step of the way with Playgro. The packaging also has icons which show exactly what developmental focus each toy has in order to help you buy.
Stage 1 (0 months +)
Stage 1 is about stimulating baby’s senses and is suitable for babies from birth. Products focus on stimulating baby’s senses as baby awakes to the world. Toys focus on items that produce sounds and music, patterns and contrasting colours – this stage is all about stimulating your baby’s senses. The sense of sound and smell are fully developed at birth. As baby awakes to the world, vision increases and attractive mobiles above their cot and change tables catch baby’s full attention. Many toys in Stage 1 will have lasting appeal for many months to come.
Stage 2 (3 months +)
Stage 2 is about encouraging discovery and is suitable for babies from 3 months.This stage features items that encourage activities that stimulate, have patterns, shapes, variety of textures to reach and grab, pull and hold, and intriguing sounds. Stage 2 is about encouraging discovery. Babies love to explore the environment visually as well as through touch, smell and hearing. They are attracted to highly coloured objects, toys within reach, with different textures and sounds. Toys that can be grasped and taken to the mouth to explore further are popular.
Stage 3 (6 months +)
Stage 3 is about exploring and developing and is suitable from 6 months – or when baby is starting to become more mobile. It features toys that encourage dropping, rolling and shaking, whilst push and pull toys provide fun and education. Stage 3 is all about exploring and developing. Many babies can now maintain a sitting position so exploring through touch and doing things with ones hands becomes a favoured activity. Now babies are rolling over and some are attempting to move over on their tummies. Tummy time products are ideal for this stage.
Stage 4 (9 months +)
Stage 4 is about developing new skills and is suitable from 9 months. It features toys that encourage practicing fine and gross motor skills. As baby becomes more mobile, there is increased scope for toys that require larger actions, imagination and cognitive processes. Most babies are increasing their coordination and developing new skills.
Stage 5 (12 months +)
Features items that stack, open and close, can be put in and taken out, products that heighten awareness and coordination. With lights and sounds as rewards, characters, and stories, which encourage imagination and play, your baby is encouraged to explore and participate. Playgro!” toys at stage 4 are interactive, respond to touch in some way, are multifunctional and have long-lasting appeal.
Playgro Features and Benefits
Playgro infant developmental toys have been specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of growing babies.
Auditory Stimulation
- Crinkle feature
- Squeakers
- Unique songs music and sounds
- Rattling, jingling and chime sounds
- Movement activated sound
Gross Motor Skills
- Hanging toys encourage grasp and reach
- Tummy time activities encourage baby’s movement and interaction
Tactile Development
- Different textures- hi-pile fabric, soft velour’s and wide corduroys
- Ergonomic shapes
- Hands-on activities
- Easy for little hands to hold
- Textured teethers sooth sore gums
Visual Stimulation
- Flashing Lights
- Bright colours and contrasts
- Interesting patterns
- Mirror feature
- Colourful characters
- Encourages shape and colour recognition
Fine Motor Skills
- Spinners, rings and click clack beads develop finger and hand dexterity
- Wiggling feature
- Motion activated sounds
- Easy for little hands to hold
- Water pouch
- Sorting shapes and sizes
- Pull along activities
- Stacking toys
- Emptying, gathering, and nesting objects
- Pushing buttons