Type Style Finder

Toddlers

The conventionally rounded approach to typefaces aimed at describing

or communicating with babies is still valid for toddlers. Faces that are con-

structed simply and offer a minimum of confusing detail, especially sans

serifs, dominate the category for this age group. Consider that toddlers of

three—and even two—years of age will begin reading during this time; the

simpler the letterforms, the easier it will be for them. Typefaces used to

convey the idea of toddlers to adults may be more stylized. Sans serifs, in

their simplicity, continue to convey the idea of childhood’s early stages,

but condensed, heavier weights, along with italics, convey the toddler’s

mobility. More decorative faces—ones that show different heights among

characters, shifts above and below the baseline, or create disconnects

between interior and exterior contours—present the quality of movement

and new sense of self associated with these young explorers.

Out of the crib, onto the floor—and out the door! Toddlers are active

and excited about exploring the world, especially now that they’re

mobile. Toddler style in typography and color is vibrant and fun.

Book Pages top, and detail

STIM Visual Communication

Timothy Samara

New York City [NY] USA

Age Groups

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Fontoon

TM

Graphic Sans Serif | Medium

Weight | Hand-Drawn Detail |

Condensed |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Sauna Black

Semi-Serif | Moderate Contrast |

Slightly Extended |

Underware

www.underware.nl

[e-mail]

31 (0)70 42 78 117

P22 Toybox Regular

Graphic | Uniform Medium

Weight | Erratic Baseline |

P22 Type Foundry

www.p22.com

[e-mail]

800.P22.5080

MVB Grenadine

Sans Serif | Medium Weight |

MVB Fonts

www.mvbfonts.com

[e-mail]

510.525.4288

Carousel

TM

Serif | Black Weight |

Extreme Contrast |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

ITC Freddo

TM

Sans serif | Black Weight |

Pronounced Contrast | Soft

Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Type Style Finder

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230

Age Groups Toddlers

Nice Weekend Bold

Modified Slab Serif | Slightly

Condensed | Medium Weight |

Garage Fonts Type Foundry

www.garagefonts.com

[e-mail]

800.681.9375

Slappy Inline

Graphic | Uniform Medium

Weight | Erratic Baseline |

T.26 Digital Type Foundry

www.t26.com

[e-mail]

888.T26.FONT

Arbuckle Black

Stylized Sans Serif |

Small Counters |

Garage Fonts Type Foundry

www.garagefonts.com

[e-mail]

800.681.9375

Chaloops

Graphic | Uniform Medium

Weight | Erratic Baseline |

The Chank Company

www.chank.com

[e-mail]

877.GO.CHANK

Tekton

TM

Regular

Sans Serif | Light Weight |

Uniform Strokes | Rounded

Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Chumley Medium

Graphic | Uniform Medium

Weight | Erratic Baseline |

The Chank Company

www.chank.com

[e-mail]

877.GO.CHANK

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Sample Color Combinations

Type Style Finder

Toddler Color

Building on toddlers’ newfound ability to distinguish more complex

colors, the toddler palette expands on the baby palette of primaries.

Tertiary colors—aqua, yellow-orange, fuchsia—and slightly desatu-

rated primaries, along with basic neutrals, such as brown and

beige, enter the palette. Combinations of these colors may be more

analogous, meaning that colors that are related to one another may

be combined—orange and yellow-orange, for example, or green and

aqua. Neutrals, while sometimes appropriate, should be considered

secondary with regard to the brighter hues of the color scheme and

therefore used sparingly.

15 C

92 M

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0 C

35 M

84 Y

0 K

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0 C

77 M

65 Y

0 K

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68 C

25 M

0 Y

0 K

>

54 C

11 M

49 Y

0 K

>

0 C

50 M

60 Y

52 K

>

20 C

20 M

25 Y

0 K

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0 C

35 M

50 Y

0 K

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68 C

0 M

5 Y

0 K

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80 C

0 M

28 Y

0 K

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