Toys are tools for playing and since play is essential for a kid’s learning, toys also become tools for learning. For this reason, it is very important that you as parent make the right decision in choosing toys to give to your kid.
- Choose toys that will stimulate your kid’s mind and body, and hone his skills. Just few of the important areas of development in your child that call for nurturing are balance, bilateral coordination, body awareness, hand to eye and foot coordination, fine and gross motor skills, language development, listening skills, problem solving skills, shape and color recognition, muscle strength, social skills, spatial relations and visual tracking.
Be careful in making your selection of toys. Remember, those toys that are instrumental for your kid’s optimal learning engage your kid in activities and do not just make him a passive spectator. For example, a wooden train set like the Wooden 24 Piece Oval Train Set enables your kid to use his imagination in creating trains and communities while a barking electronic toy dog merely entertains your kid without expanding his mental ability.
- Choose toys that are guaranteed safe. Some of the things you have to put in your safety checklist are: there should be no parts small enough to fit your kid’s mouth; there should be no loose parts, no sharp or pointy edges that may harm your kid; there should be no plastic wrapping or long cords and strings that could pose as a suffocation or strangulation hazard; and the toy should be made of non-toxic materials and should not contain any amount of lead paint which is harmful to your kid.
- Opt for toys that are age appropriate for your kid. Always check the age recommendation on the packaging of the toy to see if it’s suitable for your kid. If you have doubts or think that your kid is too young for the toy even though the age recommendation on the toy indicates otherwise, opt for the safe side and trust your instincts. Remember, choosing toys that are suitable for your kid’s age is significant not only for your child’s developmental progress but also to ensure that the toy is safe to be played with by your kid.
- Select toys that are durable and has long term play value. Check on the toy parts to see if it is made of durable materials and opt for trusted toy brands to make sure that the toy you buy is made of high quality and will last a long time with your kid. Prefer toys that you think your kid will not be easily bored with. Those toys that offer endless possible activities like stackable blocks or building toys have longer play value than an electronic robot that walks.
- Choose toys that fit your family’s values. Don’t buy a toy that represents opinions or views that strongly oppose that of your family’s or the ones you hold strong convictions of. Your kid’s toys must not only be instrumental in teaching your kid skills but also proper moral values that he will need to grow up as an honourable individual.