Whenever I take my four-year-old daughter to the toy store, her eyes light up and she flits around like a busy little bee, excitedly taking in all the new sights and colorful toys on display. She darts from one aisle to the next, picking up a doll here or a pink tea set there.
She stands eagerly in front of the Barbie dolls neatly arranged in rows, with their voluminous and shiny hair, ball gowns, and a million other tiny accessories that would thrill any girl.
Toy stores these days are filled to the brim with toys of all sorts, many of which I never dreamed of as a child. Sure, there are still classic pleasers such as Play Doh and Barbie. But is it just me, or have toys these days become so much more sophisticated?
What can you read in this article
- Types of toys for different age groups
- Choosing safe and toys for babies and toddlers
- Right toys for your child
- Importance of toys in child development
Choosing safe toys for babies and toddlers
With the number of choices out there, choosing the right toys for your child can be tricky. But there are many ways to ensure you do.
Keep in mind that toys are an important aspect of a child’s development. But too many toys can be overwhelming for a child. When a child is overwhelmed by the sheer number of toys, it becomes difficult for them to choose something interesting.
So what types of toys for toddlers should you buy?
Often, the simpler toys actually benefit children more. In fact, everyday household items like pots and pans, shoe boxes, or clothing items, as long as they are safe, can be a great source of fun and learning for your little ones.
Encourage your children to create their own toys from simple everyday items. Older kids, for instance, can construct their own saranggola.
So try to choose the right toys for your child -- those that will encourage him to use his or her imagination, or hone his or her problem-solving skills. Such toys include playing blocks, puzzles, cardboard boxes, balls, and arts and crafts projects.
Types of toys for different age groups
It is vital to choose age-appropriate toys for your child. Here are some tips for choosing safe toys for babies and toddlers.
Types of toys for toddlers and babies
Toys for young children should be age-appropriate and reflect their developing abilities. Many free, safe, and acceptable play materials can be found at home.
Cardboard boxes, plastic bowls and lids, collections of plastic bottle caps, and other "treasures" can be used in a variety of ways by children of all ages.
As you go through the lists of recommended toys for kids of various ages, keep in mind that each child develops at his or her own pace.
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0-6 months
Infants are enthralled by movement, music, and simple black-and-white visuals. They're practicing eye-hand coordination, reaching, and grabbing while learning about their bodies.
Toys for babies at this age include mobiles, rattles, busy boxes, and anything they can grasp, swipe at, pull, kick, squeeze, or shake.
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6-8 months
Older babies can grasp little objects. They're studying cause and effect, and they'll go over the tasks over and over until they've mastered them.
They also like to slide toys between their hands and into and out of containers. Many of the same toys that neonates use will be used in new ways by older babies.
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8-18 months
Babies begin to anticipate consequences at this age, choose a goal, and take purposeful action to achieve it. They start playing about with scale, shape, and space. Push/pull toys, blocks, nested cups, rings on poles, shape sorters, and simple take-apart toys are all age-appropriate toys.
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18-24 months
Dress-up clothes, dolls, kitchen sets, toy cars, trucks, and school buses are all great for pretending to play with toddlers.
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2-4 years old
Children learn a lot about socialization and continue to engage in a lot of pretend play during their preschool years. They can assist children to develop creativity by using miniature farm and house sets, as well as big crayons, finger paints, and Play-Doh.
Because children make considerable progress in both fine and gross motor abilities at this period, puzzles, large Legos, blocks, and other building toys are ideal age-appropriate toys. Drums and hammer-and-peg toys are popular among this age range since noise is always enticing to little children.
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Importance of toys in child development
According to research, learning through play is an important part of a child's development. A child begins to discover who they are via play as early as infancy.
Providing ample playtime for your child is a fantastic benefit for parents since it allows their children to expend excess energy. Even at a young age, a child's mind increases simply by gazing around and taking in their surroundings.
Children can benefit from educational toys by acquiring a number of skills that they will need throughout their life. Educational toys can help children develop problem-solving abilities, resolve conflicts, and understand cause and consequence.
It also stimulates creativity and imagination while teaching children how to share. It also aids in the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Safety first
Toys must be age-appropriate. It is important to read age and safety labels.
Most toys will indicate on their packaging the appropriate age range of children who can play with that particular toy. While this merely serves as a guide, it can help you decide whether a toy is safe for your child or not.
To avoid choking, a good rule of thumb is: if a toy has small parts, then it’s definitely not something you should give to a baby or to children who still have the tendency to explore objects with their mouths.
Steer clear of holen and the sungka board. Toys with sharp parts, such as the trumpo are likewise unsafe for young children.
A toy should be strong enough to hold a child’s weight or withstand repeated banging against other objects or floors. A fragile toy is sure to break into small pieces and may result in choking and other injuries.
Make sure toys are free from lead and other toxic materials. Lead-free wooden toys are widely available. With just a quick shopping scan in the City of Manila, we were able to find some in National Book Store, Shopwise, SM Toy Kingdom Express in Harrison Plaza Malate, Daiso Japan, Toys R Us in Robinson's Place Ermita, Booksale Paco and Isetann Department Store in Quiapo.
The Boikido line of toys is also a safe bet. Boikido is availabe in Youji & Me.
Avoid letting your child play unsupervised with toys that can be considered to be fire hazards, such as paper dolls and even the traditional coconut leaf ball.
Versatile toys to match your child’s developmental skills
Lastly, choose toys you think will hold your child’s attention the longest. This will depend on the developmental stage and skills of your child, as well as the versatility of the toy. Examples of toys that have multiple uses and can be used for a long time are blocks, puzzles, and puppets.
Educational toys can be bought from many of the local bookstores and toy shops. For more unusual finds, you can visit Learning Plus, a newly opened bookstore in Fun Ranch, Tiendesitas.
Additional information from Margaux Dolores