Help Your Kids Choose The Right Toys By Rachel Nunez At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

There are so many kinds of toys for kids nowadays that even the kids themselves have a hard time choosing which toy they like more. Some kids will pick toys based on size while others will choose those with attractive shapes and colors. Some of these choices are not necessarily good for them.

Foremost in a kid's mind when choosing toys is the fun that the toy provides during playtime. Parents must then help their kids choose the right toys by keeping in mind these factors when shopping for toys:

1. Is the toy appropriate for the kid's age?

Kids toy manufacturers indicate their age recommendation on the toy's box for a reason. Do not ignore this information and get waylaid by your child's enthusiasm for the toy.

If you want your child to improve on certain skills, give him toys that are appropriate for his age. Advanced levels of challenges provided by certain toys can be a source of frustration for your child if the skills needed does not match the child's stage of development.

2. Does the toy have no removable parts?

Safety is the biggest issue when it comes to kids' toy selection. You should look at a toy as a potential health hazard.

Stuffed toys are soft and cute, and most would think that they are the safest toys out there. This is actually a misconception. Stuffed toys, usually animals or dolls, that are intended for children over three years old might have eyes or other accessories that are potential choking hazards for younger kids. Choking hazards include any sewn-on, soft, or small parts that can be bitten off.

To be on the safe side, remember this rule of thumb - if the toy is small enough to fit a toilet paper tube, then it is unsafe for children under three years old to play with.

3. Does the kid's toy help him develop the skills he needs?

Toys are not only for entertainment but also for your child's mind stimulation. Where the child's mind is stimulated, then there is an opportunity to develop social, emotional, and intellectual skills, among others.

Children from age one to three like to have a mobile and tactile playtime. At this stage of development, playtime can indeed be messy because kids are interested in rearranging their environment. They like to empty or transfer objects from one place to another as a way of learning how things work.

Construction toys like blocks and stackers are perfect for kids in this age range. So are fit-together toys like shape sorters or simple 3D puzzles featuring familiar shapes like fruits, vegetables, and other objects associated with eating time.

For children between three and six years old, pretend play is the name of the game. At this stage of development, children become masters of make believe so give them toys that stimulate their imagination. Little girls will enjoy dollhouses and toy kitchens while young boys will love to have their own set of wheels just like their dads.

If your answers to the three questions are YES, then it is safe to assume that the toy is the right one for your kid.

When shopping for your kids' toys, help them choose the right ones by buying only what's good for them. They can't always have what they want, but they should have what they need.

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