How Toys Help Children Grow

Toddlers are little explorers who learn by doing. Play gives your child a great opportunity to develop and practice new skills at her own pace by following her unique interests. The toys and play things your child has available to her can shape her development in important ways. 

Toys are important for other reasons, too. Children exercise their muscles with toys. Next time you see children rocking horses or riding bikes, notice the muscles they are using. 

First, look at the children themselves. How old are they? What interests do they have? What do they like to do? Judge an idea that you have for a toy by asking: Is it safe? Does it capture the child's interest? Is it attractive? Can the child use it alone or is another person needed? What kind of activities will it encourage?

Guidelines for Choosing Toys for Toddlers 

1. Choose toys that can be used in a variety of ways. 
2. Look for toys that will grow with your child. 
3. Select toys that encourage exploration and problem-solving. 
4. Look for toys that spark your child's imagination 
5. Give your child the chance to play with "real" stuff 
6. Toss in some "getting ready to read" toys 
7. Seek out toys that encourage your child to be active 
8. Look for toys that nurture cross-generational play 

INFANTS AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS 

1. Infants need bright-colored toys of many textures. They should be washable, non-breakable, and have no sharp edges that might cut or scratch. 
2. Toys should be large enough so they cannot be swallowed and they should have no small attached pieces (like eyes on a stuffed animal or bells on a shaker) that could be pulled off and swallowed. 
3. At this age, babies put everything into their mouths as part of exploring their worlds. Any toy they are given must be safe when used in this way 

TODDLERS AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS 

1. Toddlers are active and enjoy climbing, running, and jumping. 
2. They need toys to meet these needs. 
3. They also are interested in doing things with their hands as the small muscles in their fingers become more developed. 
4. However, toys for this age group should be simple and require little coordination. During this period, toddlers become interested in playing with others and in imitating grown-up activities. Toys like dress-up clothes are great for this! 

Appropriate Toddler Toys

1. push-pull toys
2. pedal toys
3. truck/cars big enough to ride
4. wagons
5. balls and bean bags
6. balloons (with close supervision) swings
7. climbing structures
8. books with simple stories
9. blocks
10. peg boards
11. puzzles
12. creative materials (crayons, play dough, paint)
13. water play toys
14. simple dress-up clothes
15. dolls and stuffed animals boxes

PRESCHOOLERS AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS

Childcare centers are an excellent places for children to understand different kinds of toys enlarge their knowledge of various things around them. Most of the toys help toddlers understand various shapes and structures, which helps them improve their IQ and intelligence.

The childcare centers are run by child care management software, so the teachers have more time to spend on the children and concentrate more on how to improve the services and enhance their value.

This is a dramatic and creative age. Many conversations between preschool-age friends start with "Let's pretend...." Children become social. They become interested in playing with each other instead of preferring to play alone. Many toys become props for cooperative play.

Appropriate Toys for Preschoolers

1. puppets
2. farm and community play sets
3. transportation vehicles of all types
4. simple construction toys
5. creative materials
6. books and records
7. wheel toys ,sleds
8. simple musical instruments boxes
9. climbing structures
10. prop boxes
11. water play toys
12. puzzles
13. balls
14. cognitive games
15. dress-up clothes
16. housekeeping props
17. dolls and stuffed animals
18. character toys

EARLY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS

This is the age that children start collections or hobbies. Toys occupy less time for this age group because children spend more and more time playing with friends in groups. Early school-age children start to show more awareness of sex role stereotypes, that is, what girls and boys are supposed to do. Often girls play with girls and boys with boys. Girls may play with dolls as "babies" and pretend they are doing "real" housekeeping. Often boys enjoy electric trains and construction sets. Encourage children to change these stereotypes. Boys can play with dolls and be happy, if they feel it is okay for them to do so.

Appropriate Toys for Early School Age Children

1. board games
2. marbles
3. jacks
4. electric trains (UL approved)
5. construction sets
6. science kits
7. craft kits
8. larger bicycles
9. prop boxes and costumes
10. puppets
11. fashion and career dolls
12. doll house and furniture
13. jump ropes
14. art materials of all kinds
15. work bench with real tools
16. roller and ice skates