What Toys Should My Child Be Playing With?

In Play Therapy we believe that playing is therapeutic. This means that the types of toys children play with are important because they are used as symbolic expression. Ideally a child should have toys from these three categories

1. Real life toys

2. Acting out aggressive toys

3. Creative and emotional expressive toys

Within these three categories, children have the greatest opportunities to foster creativity, problem solving skills, imagination, competency, and relational skills.

Here is a list of some great toys I use in my playroom and I think all children should be playing with to encourage development.

Real life toys

• Doctor Kit

• Baby doll and bottle

• Doll family

• Toy phone

• Cash register and food

• Vehicles

• Domestic and wild animals figurines

• Dress Ups

• Animal puppets

Acting out aggressive toys

• Toy gun

• Handcuffs

• Soft rope

• Agressive animal figurines

• Plastic sword

Creative and emotional expressive toys

• Art materials (I love paint sticks)

• Sand

• Musical instruments

• Soft Ball

• Play-Doh

Bratton, S., & Garry, L.(2020). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual : a 10-session filial therapy model for training parents (2nd edition) Routledge.