Shopping for toys intended to delight your children can be extremely enjoyable, but also a little stressful. This is certainly true if you lack a bit of key information. Keep reading to gain some terrific tips on identifying the right toys for your kids and getting them at the best prices.
Want a toy that really engages your child? Look to toys that really challenge the senses. There are all sorts of multi-sensory toys on the market that play with sound, movement, and even scents. They truly give your child a lot to engage with all in one toy. This can mean a lot less purchases for you!
Be aware of how much space a toy will require. Don’t purchase anything that won’t fit in the child’s room. It can lead to a lot of frustration. Giant stuffed animals and toy cars a child can ride in might thrill a kid at first, but will likely be stored away somewhere and forgotten.
Know about the preferences of the child you are buying a toy for. Not all toys will be fun for the same child. Try to consider their personality and the activities they enjoy. Don’t let commercials and reviews completely dictate what you buy. Base your decisions on what you feel the child will most enjoy.
Puzzles are great in helping a child learn problem solving skills. A toddler can start off with a simple 5-piece puzzle. He starts to develop an eye in how things can fit together. As he improves his skill, give him a 10-piece puzzle. As he masters one level, challenge him with another.
When buying toys for children, do not get too caught up in traditional gender roles. Just because a toy is considered to be popular with one particular gender, children have their own preferences. If your child would be more interested in a toy that was meant for the opposite sex, you should purchase it for them.
Give your young child toys that can help him build his gross motor skills. Bouncing or playing catch with a large ball can help him improve his hand-eye coordination. A smaller ball with a squishy texture can strengthen his grip. A rocking horse can help your child develop his balance.
Kids love to do things that their parents do. Give them things that resemble what you do during the day. If you spend a lot of time cooking, provide them with their own pots and pans. You might even get a little help with the housework if you hand them a play broom or miniature mop!
Before you give any a child a toy, check the toy over for removable parts. An assembled or packaged toy might look to be big enough for play as-is. However, many toys come with detachable parts like eyes or noses. These can quickly become choking hazards to your children.
Toys can be fun without being high-tech. The classic basics are a great way to stimulate their brains. For instance, Lego, which has been around forever, is simple and help your child create something fascinating. Classic toys do wonders for a child’s imagination.
Know the age level and interest of the child when buying a toy. It is frustrating to you and the child when you discover that a toy is too advanced for them or simply doesn’t capture their interest. So listen when they talk and you will hear things to help you find just the right toy.
Careful with any toy stuffed animals that have goofy eyes and noses. These pieces are often glued onto the animal or stitched with a few loose stitches. In either case, they can easily be removed by a toddler. When this happens, they become a serious choking hazard for your child.
If you’ve got a mix of older and younger kids in the house, explain to your older kids the importance of putting away their toys. Your older children can help you protect the young ones from toys that are too dangerous for their current age. Ask them to place their toys at a level that’s too high for the young ones to grab.
Always check to see what type of power electronic toys use. Battery operated can use up a lot of batteries and can be useless with dead batteries. So always buy pack of batteries if the toys needs them so the child can play with the toy when they get it.
Clean baby toys once a week, or every other week to get rid of germs. Clean the toys according to the instructions. Keep in mind you can clean many toys in the dishwasher. A good way to disinfect toys is by soaking them in a solution of half a cup of bleach for about 5 minutes, rinsing and air drying.
There is no doubt that looking for just the perfect toys for your kids can be great fun, but if you lack a few useful bits of advice, it can be tough. Fortunately, now that you have read the advice above, you have what it takes to do the job right. Have fun!
