Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

My DS is 3 and has PDD-NOS. He is very advanced academically...he can read, knows all his colors, numbers, things like that. My problem is that a lot of electronic toys for that age group are teaching letters, #'s, etc.... Any suggestions for toys that don't teach the basics but would still be good for a 3 year old. He loves animals and plays with them all the time but I feel like that's all he plays with lately.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

What about a Leapster. You can get him more advanced cartridges. My kids love them!

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

What about pretend play/dress up activities, doctor's kit, cooperative games like , memory match or uno moo, manipulative activities such as lacing beads, velcro fruit... I would stay away from the electronic toys and focus on toys that will foster social skills and other areas of development.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

iPad or iTouch.

we ran into that prob with AJ. he got his iTouch for his 2nd birthday, and we are getting him his own iPad for Christmas. he is 4. hes been using my iPad since he was 3

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

I would stick to non electronic toys then that will allow him to work on using his imagination, and role play, since he has mastered the academics. Afterall, PDD children have a hard time with that. Dress up play, kitchen set, building blocks, action figures, etc.

Message edited 12/4/2011 2:35:07 PM.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

Message edited 12/5/2011 8:36:40 AM.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

I agree with many of the others. He has the academics, so I wouldn't focus on electronic games. If he has fine motor delays, see if you can get coloring books, etc. that help develop fine motor skills. As for expanding his horizons, I would take him to places where he can learn whenever possible--museums, zoos, parks, etc. If he's doing well academically, he'll be fine and you can reinforce concepts while reading books with him or in everyday activities.

The pretend play is so important, so whatever interests him, use. DS loves Scooby Doo, so we bought him play figures. He makes up his own Scooby Doo adventures using them and loves them! Toy kitchen sets, pretend clothing, animal figures, boy versions of dollhouses (Imagine Next sells a lot of this), all great.

DS didn't do pretend play right away. He lined up his animal figures, and wanted to know what they were called. But I would take two of them and have them do something funny, and he liked it. So you may need to model how to play with them for him, and expect that he may not get it right away.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

DS has advanced puzzles for his age. He loves the challenge.

Re: Age appropriate toys for academically advanced

Thanks everyone. We have a lot of non-electronic toys as well, and I am going to limit his time to use the electronics. He loves animals, and has been obsessed with playing with them lately. I think I'll stick to those kinds of imaginative toys. Thanks for the good ideas.