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Choosing good products and toys for your children require considerable evaluation if you wish to get the most value and play out of them. Good toys have staying power, they engage, help build attention spans, stimulates questions and presents problems for solving. A good toy can be played with in many ways, challenges a child to do, think, or feel, contributes to the development of a child's physical, mental, social, and emotional skills.
SAFETY :
Our first criteria we'll look at is safety. A toy must be safe before you can consider anything else. You have to evaluate it yourself and not rely on the toy manufactures. Toy manufactures do their own testing but some faults are sometimes overlooked and you may end up buying a hazardous product that ends up getting recalled after accidents occurred. Ask yourself if the toy is age appropriate, is it too small, are there potential hazards, are there sharp edges, or there small pieces that can break off and be swallowed, is it nontoxic, and how will it stand to rough treatment.
AGE/ABILITY APPROPRIATE :
There are a number of reasons for selecting toys for the right age or ability. If a toy is too complicated or too simple for a child's ability then they will quickly lose interest. A child is much happier with an appropriately chosen toy. Also, safety is a concern. A toy designed for an older child can be a hazard to a younger child. A toy matched to a child's ability allows a child to gain more problem solving skills than an ill matched toy.
FUN :
More often than not a parent buys a toy only for the purpose of fun. Although it is important it is only one of the criteria that should be considered. A parent must select toys that match the personality and tastes of a child so a toy does not just sit in a closet. Ask yourself if this toy will entertain, excite or amuse your child. Not all toys are fun for every child.
VERSATILITY :
An added bonus is when a toy can be used in many environments or situations. For example, can your purchase also be used in the car on road trips, can it be brought camping, can you you bring it over someone else's house? Having the right toys when driving or visiting friends houses makes those experiences much more enjoyable.
DURABILITY :
Obviously you would want your purchase to last a long time. Keep in mind when evaluating a purchase children often put toys through a lot of abuse and wear. Also, determine is parts can be broken off and then becomes a safety hazard to your young child.
INTERESTING :
Durability can mean how long a toy lasts but also how long a child stats interested in a toy. You are not getting your monies worth if a child loses interest after one or two days. A toy must be interesting enough to entice a child as well as be fun to play with. Toys that provides opportunities to learn and to think each time a child play with it keeps a child interested in it much longer.
CREATIVITY :
Some toys that you should choose should expand a child’s creativity. Creative thinking is extremely important in a child's development. Some toys allow to expand a
child’s imagination in art and crafts. Pretend toys will help with language. Musical toys provides lots of opportunity for creativity. Books and reading exercise imagination more than videos.
VALUES :
Do not underestimate the power of toys on a child's behaviour at an early age. Positive toys will help balance emotions and good social skills. Negative or violent toys can teach a child negative behaviour.
EDUCATIONAL :
Along with fun toys most parents look for educational value in toys. Try not to find the all in one toy that teaches everything. Look for toys that specialize in language or math or social skills or other.
COST :
Affordability is always a concern. Remember that the cost of a toy should be measured in the value received. An inexpensive toy that is not used after twenty minutes of play is a waste of money. That money could have been put towards a toy that is interesting, fun, educational and versatile that may cost more. However the cost of such a toy is actually worthwhile if it is played with many times over. Look at the criteria above to help you find such a toy.
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