Tips for Buying Toys that Young Children will Love

Unless you know specifically what you are looking for purchasing toys for very young children can lead to an overwhelming experience. There are many things to consider beyond the price such as popularity, age appropriateness and safety concerns. Toys that are too small can cause a child to choke while toys that are to sophisticated may can cause the child to become frustrated. Another consideration is if the child you are purchasing the toy for has any sibling, whether they are younger or older their sibling is going to play with tat toy as well. For experienced and novice toy buyers we have put together a list of helpful hints to make your shopping experience easy.

Consider rattles and teething rings made of soft plastic for newborns and infants up to one year old. Other ideas include stuffed toys that are lightweight and machine washable, cause and effect toys – which are toys where the child is rewarded by doing something to it such as squeezing, pulling, touching. Before you buy check the item out to see if it contains any small parts that may come loose such as buttons, plastic eyes or any other embellishment, as they could become a choking hazard.

Choose toys that open and close and have lots of knobs and dials for children age 12 to 18 months. Ride-on toys are fun and age appropriate if the child can walk. Sorting toys are also fun for toddlers, as well as stacking items like blocks or cups. Sometimes simple toys like assorted balls, items with unusual textures like doll hair, rubbery or foam cars, even bath toys can provide hours of entertainment.

Toddlers enjoy toys such as push-and-pull buses and trains with plastic people they can remove. At this age children love to sort things out. Creativity is building as well; toys that tell stories, talk or make music are a sure way to encourage a toddler’s ability of expression. These types of toys help to improve a toddler’s hand-eye coordination.

Pick toys that center on make-believe for children age 2 to 3 years. At this age, children learn how to use their imagination. Wanting to mimic the world around them top toys for children this age include kitchen toys, plastic tools, toy phones and plastic animals. Simple games like checkers or memory even twister are also fun for children to explore, they may not play the game by the rules but they engaged in turn taking. Books are also a big hit by this age as they entertained by the story as they understand it more.

Purchase toys for preschool age and up (3-4 plus) that stimulate their mind and represent their interests. If your child is interested in building, consider buying Legos, keep in mind the block size, and refer to the age guideline on the package as well as consider sets that will fit with any current pieces the child also has. If your child shows an excitement for art, then buy an assortment of art supplies such as paint and chalk, paper, washable markers. For the creative type play dough is also a huge hit. Advanced imagination toys such as Calico Critters, Playmobile even dress up cloths are a good choice. For the thinking child you can try age appropriate games, puzzles and books.