When you give any kid any toy, they are likely going to be happy about it. Most of the time, children are not really too fussy when it comes to their toys. However, parents need to be.
Parents need to understand that there is more to toys than just being playthings. While they are expected to be fun, it matters that they are appropriate for the age of the child, safe, and stimulating too. Play-time is crucial in the mental, social, emotional, and physical development of kids. Therefore, while looking for toys at a toy store kettering oh, it is important to consider toys as tools for developmental learning.
When choosing toys for your child, remember to consider the following tips:
Keep things simple
You would not want to give your kid a toy that seems to do way too much. This prevents the child from using his own imagination as a result. Stuffed toys as the ones created by Paul Jessup or dolls are fine. But the ones that sing or talk or give directions to the child are not really ideal. They end up taking charge of the situation when it should be the child that is doing so. Avoid toys that are way too specific as they limit the child to tap into his imagination. Simpler ones are better since they allow the kids to not only be creative but spontaneous too.
Limit video and electronic games
This is the electronic age and there is just no way for parents to keep away their kids, even their toddlers, from computers. However, it is important for young kids to be only given a limited time of exposure to their gadgets. This is especially crucial since there are studies that connect overexposure to electronic gadgets can pose possible risks to the development and health of the child such as weight gain, hearing loss, and even delays in language development.
Do not choose toys just because they say educational
There is a huge boom in educational tools these days and it preys on the fear of parents that they should get their kids to learn as much as they can while their young in preparation for their future. While not all of these toys are bad, there are a lot of baby toys that seem to boast of being able to increase a child’s brain development when in fact, they do not. It is important to remember that the real toys which are educational are not really the flashy ones. Instead, these are the staples that have been responsible for the building of creative thinkers for many years.
Do not inundate your kids with so many toys
Keeping only a few pieces out at a time is always better. You would not want to give your child so many choices at once as this would cause them to have a tough time focusing on a single one of these toys. Rotating the toys is a good idea too. Reintroduce toys after a few weeks to make them feel new and fresh. Also, make sure that they are going to be age-appropriate.
Learn more about the importance of choosing the right tools for your child by reading about Paul Jessup online.
