• Choose Age-Appropriate Toys

• Help Your Child Learn Through Play

• Find Kids Toys on eBay

• Buy Kids Toys With Confidence

Choose Age-Appropriate Toys

Choose Age-Appropriate Toys

Consider the age of your child when selecting toys. Ask your pediatrician to suggest toys appropriate for your child's age group and also watch your child to find out which toys he or she prefers.

Follow the child’s interests, whether that’s fire fighters, space, fashion, or music, and choose a toy that is appropriate to his or her development level and interests. For example, children who engage in physical play will likely enjoy toys that develop gross or fine motor control, while musically inclined children may prefer toy instruments or musical play mats.

Remember: Safety first! Review all safety information before allowing your child to play with any toy.

eBay can help you find both hot and award-winning toys for children of any age.

• Infant and baby toys (0 to 12 months): Many toys designed for babies expose children to different scents, textures, colours, sounds, or moving visuals designed to stimulate all of their senses. When choosing a toy for your baby, make sure it doesn’t present a choking hazard or have sharp edges or protrusions. It should also be lightweight enough for a child to properly handle.     

• Toddler toys (1 to 3 years): Toys designed for preschoolers help engage one- to three-year olds in games of make-believe, allowing them to mimic grown-up roles and jobs. Dress-up costumes, tea sets, playhouses, trains, and dollhouses from brands such as Brio, Playskool, Playmobil, and Little Tikes all help preschoolers create their own imaginary worlds. Stuffed toys and dolls also become more important at this age, acting as childhood companions and confidants. As children enter preschool they also become engaged in memory games, visualization games, and art projects using crayons, paints, and modeling clay.    

• Preschool toys (4 to 6 years): Although stuffed toys and dolls continue to play an important role in the lives of 4- to 6-year-olds, educational toys and building toys begin to take on a larger role in their lives. Manufacturers typically list appropriate age ranges on each of their toys.   

• Grade school toys (6 to 9 years): Action figures and dolls can help children between 6 and 9 years old develop an identity in relation to the grown-up world. Interest in board games and sports start to develop as children begin to practice more interpersonal styles of play. Bicycles, scooters, and sporting equipment can be appropriate for physically inclined children, and many electronic games can help teach vocabulary, math, and more.     

• Junior and pre-teen toys (9 to 12 years): At about 9 years old children begin to indulge in lifelong hobbies and interests. Model kits become popular and video games become prevalent. Social interaction is also paramount and as team sports become a big part of the child’s life, sporting goods become prized possessions.

Help Your Child Learn Through Play

Help Your Child Learn Through Play

In his book Frames of Mind, Dr. Howard Gardner explains seven different styles of learning. These learning styles correlate with play styles, illustrating that children can learn from playing in a variety of ways.

• Logic toys: Puzzles, strategy games such as chess, and math games can help children develop logical intelligence. Kids enjoy searching for clues and establishing patterns that help them understand the world.    

• Verbal games: Word or board games, storytelling, and listening games can help young children develop language and verbal skills, including writing skills, reading skills, and communication skills.    

• Musical toys: Musical toys enhance a child’s rhythm and understanding of harmony and melody. Children who enjoy musical games can often find rhythms that other children miss, developing strong listening skills in the process.   

• Physical toys: Physical play toys teach children how to control their bodies and understand their senses. Children who enjoy physical play often like toys that challenge their fine and gross motor skills such as balls, bicycles, and other sporting goods.   

• Spatial games: Pictures, shapes, and diagrams help develop a child’s spatial intelligence. Spatial games, such as mapping games or row games like Connect Four, can help a child develop observation skills, imagination, and visual acuity.    

• Intrapersonal communication: “Alone time” gives a child the space to delve deep into imaginary play and emotions.    

• Interpersonal play games: Interpersonal play games teach children teamwork and group dynamics. Children who engage in interpersonal play develop sharing skills, communication skills, and teamwork.

Parental involvement in a child’s play can help develop creativity, interpersonal skills, and imagination. In order to help your child develop through play, you should observe your child play. Take an interest in your child's skill level and pleasures, such as music, blocks, and storytelling. When you play with your children, try allowing them to take the lead. Add difficulties to the game for the child to overcome. Ask open-ended questions that challenge the child’s problem-solving and creativity.

Children can often find new ways to play with toys other than the ones originally intended. Encourage this kind of “thinking outside the box” imagination, using toys as starting points, then see where the child decides to go. Don’t force playtime. Have fun with your child and learning often comes naturally.

Find Kids Toys on eBay

Find Kids Toys on eBay

Once you know what type of Kids Toys you want, go to the Toys & Hobbies portal and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: The primary Toys & Hobbies Categories list will help you narrow down toy item listings by subcategory. You'll find links for Action Figures, Building Toys, Educational, Pretend Play, Preschool, Stuffed Animals, and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand or more specific subcategories.    

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find kids’ musical instruments, type "kids musical instruments" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Kids Toys With Confidence

Buy Kids Toys With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

• eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.