Toy shopping can be very puzzling for some parents. If you decide to go with your child’s instinct, you may end up with a roomful of shiny new outgrown toys in a matter of weeks. If you choose to go with your intuition, you may have to deal with the piercing realization that they may reject the toys after spending hundreds of dollars on them. In this regard, it is essential to understand what toys are all about and how to choose the best ones for your child. Here are a few tips to help you go about while saving you money and headaches:
AGE
The age of your child will always determine the type of toys you get them. Babies and toddlers will often require simple things like stuffed bears and small balls. Older children will go for more sophisticated toys like building blocks, toy cars, toy water guns and action figures. A kid’s stool would not be safe or appropriate for a toddler.
This variation is because as the child grows, they learn how things work and want to satisfy their curiosity by testing everything they can. Babies will be content with just watching a ball bounce away or seeing toys in different colours. A preschooler will want to pretend to be a firefighter and do what they think is done by firefighters. They will be fascinated by the notion of flying superheroes and will want to drive a car like their parents.
It is, therefore, important that you choose toys that offer age-appropriate satisfaction.
I would like to suggest pikler triangle.
BENEFIT
Toys are not only meant to make laytime more fun. Most toys are specifically designed to help your child(ren) develop a specific aspect or skill.
Some toys are made to help the kid develop their motor skills. Those that help with gross motor skills allow them to learn how to use and control larger parts like their arms, legs, head, wrists and feet. Toys that help develop fine motor skills teach them how to move smaller parts and control them to achieve specific movements, such as the fingers, eyes, toes and facial expressions. Such toys include electric toy cars, trampolines, music sets and building blocks.
Some toys play a very significant role in helping them build upon skills such as independence, critical thinking, creativity, assertiveness, reasoning and problem-solving.
Others help them develop social skills, especially those that work with more than one person, and others, like role-play toys, are educational. It is up to you to decide which toys are the best for your baby’s growth and development.
SAFETY
Toy safety is becoming a significant concern among moms all around the world. With the rapid increase in child products manufacturers, more and more toys are flooding the market, and it is becoming increasingly hard to tell which are safe for your child and which ones are not.
It’s a toy that comes with small bits that can detach and be swallowed easily; it is a choking and poisoning hazard. These are very common in stuffed toys. The stuffing could choke the baby when eaten and even poison them.
Some toys also break and produce liquids which could poison the baby when ingested. They could also be corrosive and cause severe skin or tissue damage.
When buying toys, it is advisable to have a look at the reviews by previous customers. These will give you helpful insights regarding their safety and quality.
EASE TO CLEAN
The toys should also be easy to clean. This is important because babies put everything they touch in their mouths, regardless of whether it is a toy or just nursery décor. You may, therefore, want to make sure that their toys are clean and disinfected as often as possible. Hard surface toys like building blocks and plastic bits are easy to clean, but stuffed toys will need to be thrown in the washer every once in a while. You should, therefore, have a look at the washing instructions and make sure that they are washable.
CROSS-GENERATIONAL PLAY
Some toys only work when operated by more than one person. They make great playtime for the family since everyone has to be involved. They are, however, more appropriate for older children who can take turns and play well with other family members. Such games include scrabble.
Cross-generational or multi-player toys allow the children to learn cooperation. They help build essential social skills, such as sharing and toleration. They also encourage brain development and skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making. More importantly, they help the family bond with the children.
DURABILITY
The durability and toughness of the toy is also an important consideration, especially if your child is not very gentle. If they somehow end up breaking their plastic toys or ripping apart their stuffed animals, you will need to find extra-tough ones. Breakable toys would be a bad idea, and the stuffed toys that are hand stitched will be hard to rip apart.
MULTI-USE AND FLEXIBILITY
You may save a lot of time and money on toys if you get those that are flexible enough to be used for different games. Such toys can be used in different ways for various games. For instance, building blocks can be used to make many different objects. If you get your child a set that can only make one thing, they will quickly grow out of them. It would also be useful if the toys could be used individually and by more than one player. This way, the child can have a great time playing with them alone and can also share them with others.
In conclusion, a lot of consideration needs to be made when purchasing toys. Safety is always a priority, so you will need to do your research and see if the toy poses any danger to the child. Remember, however, that no matter how harmless they look, all toys could hurt your child in any way. You should, therefore make sure that they are well supervised when playing.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
