How to Pick a Toy
Some ideas to keep in mind when purchasing a developmentally appropriate toy or educational materials:
- Inexpensive yet fun--an educational toy does not have to be trendy or expensive.
- Remember that some toys promote violence, aggressive play, and negative, social, racial, or gender stereotypes. Such toys are not recommended for children.
- Books can be a wonderful gift for children.
- Computer games should not be purchased.
- Please do not provide small toys or toys with easily dislodged parts that could be a choking hazard.
- Please do not provide toys with loose string, rope, ribbons, or cord.
- Please do not provide toys with sharp edges.
- Please do not provide toys that make loud or shrill noises.
- Provide only toys made of nontoxic, lead-free materials.
- Gift Cards for Children's Stores are also accepted.
- Blocks help with counting skills and spatial orientation. Large "Lego" sets or big blocks are inexpensive, small "Lego" sets are too difficult to put together and take apart.
- Wooden puzzles and large pegboards offer a simple challenge to toddlers, who love repeating and mastering these tasks.
- Musical toys and instruments expose children to sound, rhythm and tone.
- Musical recordings are a way to introduce language and repetition. Music is a wonderful for encouraging dance and creative movement.
- Puppets are great for enhancing language skills and learning about relationships.
- Toddlers enjoy peek-a-boo toys, showing objects disappearing and reappearing. These toys help children learn that an object that has disappeared is not gone forever.
- Preschoolers learn about relationships through dolls, puppets and figures.
- Puzzles enhance finger dexterity and spatial coordination.
- Board games encourage children to cooperate, share and follow rules.
- Blocks and construction toys promote math skills and spatial abilities.
- Dolls encourage children to bathe, feed and care for others, as children become aware of others' feelings.
- Transportation vehicles like small trucks, cars and boats, encourage imitation of adult behavior.
- Art materials are wonderful for fine tuning motor skills and creativity. An appropriate gift may be paintbrushes, watercolors, glue and sparkles.
- Big balls, ring tosses and bowling sets help children develop gross motor skills, take turns, learn rules and develop physical coordination.
- Musical instruments and recordings aid in language development, communication and movement style.
- Construction sets help children develop hand control.
- Choose challenging board games, since children are now able to understand rules and interact with their peers.
- Science and craft kits facilitate exploration and experimentation.
- Models to build, glue and paint offer children a chance to reconstruct an object, follow instructions and develop self-discipline.
- School-age children prefer a wide range of art materials, such as sparkles, fine brushes, hole- punchers and tape dispensers. A wide variety of different artistic mediums encourage children to be creative and use their imagination.