Choosing Toys for All Ages

So many toys get cast aside only minutes after being unwrapped.  You’ve heard your friends and relatives tell you how children are always more interested in the wrapping than the actual gift.  To an extent this is true, mainly because toys are often too complicated for your child or they require assistance to learn how to play with them.

When your child is very young, under 6 months old, everything is brand new to her.  The most important part of selecting the right toy at this age is the interaction you as a parent have with your baby and the new toy.  Rattles and stuffed animals are most interesting to your baby when you create a game out of them.  They do not yet have the motor skills to do much with the toy, so you have to do it for them.

Be sure to buy age appropriate toys.  This is very important as your baby develops because every toy is designed to help develop a certain skill.  Most manufacturers now place an age guide on their products to ensure that they are being bought for the right age.  For children under 3 years old always be especially careful when selecting a toy to ensure that it doesn’t have any small parts that could be considered a choking hazard.

You may notice your child becoming interested in certain activities such as pushing, pulling or sorting items.  When you notice your baby focusing on a certain activity, you may want to pull out or purchase a toy that helps develop that skill.

Once your child does have the motor skills necessary to play with toys, don’t let the toy get cast aside until you have shown your baby all the features on it.  This interaction is great for bonding with your child and for your child to learn new things.  You may have a very fun toy, but if your baby doesn’t know how to turn on the sounds or what to do with it, she would much rather play with the box it came in.

On the other hand, don’t discount the box because you think it is a bad toy and that you think your child should be playing with the toy itself.  In fact, a box can provide your youngster with hours of entertainment and help develop many different skills.  Your baby will probably enjoy pushing or pulling the box around, playing peek-a-boo with the box or if she is old enough and the box big enough, climbing in and out of the box will due.

Be sure you rotate your toy inventory every few weeks.  Store toys that your baby no longer seems interested in.  Every few weeks, rotate some older toys back into her toy box and you will see your child have a renewed interest in a toy the previously stopped playing with.  Repurposing toys as your child gets older is a great way to recycle old toys as well.

By following these few simple tips, you are sure to enjoy playtime with your baby.  The toys you choose will not only be fun, but will encourage proper development in your baby as well.