Choosing The Right Toys For Your Toddler
June 18, 2008
It is necessary for parents to ensure that their child gets the maximum opportunities for learning and progressing. One of the main instruments that help parents further development of their child comprise of toys. A toy can help in the growth of social, motor, perceptive and sensory skills of a baby. Every toy has unique characteristic and functions and choosing the right toys for toddlers can be very tricky.
Electronic toys usually seem like fun but they are not suitable for small children. Children under the age of eight do not know how to properly take care of or handle an electronic toy that may have a heating element in them. Even if your tempted by a good deal, just pass it up they are unsafe for toddlers. Try to develop the habit of reading in your child by buying him storybooks. At this stage, he will not be able to read them. Buy books that have colorful pictures, so that he is attracted to turn the pages.
As he starts growing, there is a strong possibility of his reading the same books with interest. Toddlers love the toys that contain levers, push buttons, dials, hinges, etc, in short something they can finger. Try to buy toys that require the child to do something on his own, even if it’s pressing a button. It is important for parents to know the functions of a toy for toddlers to play so that the toddles can take the benefit from playing the toy. For instance, traditional toys help in the development of actions and will facilitate the learning experience.
Most toys these days are labeled for age appropriateness, by stating not suitable for children under a certain age, they should warn against choking hazards and other concerns too. These are important guidelines to stick to even if you feel something else looks fun and your child would love it. It’s not a bad idea to read the instructions because if it is too hard to understand then certainly your toddler wouldn’t understand either.
Shape-recognition toys are suitable for toddlers closer to age two than age one. They are composed of bright wooden or plastic cubes or other geometric shapes the child drops through matching holes into a box or other holder. These toys help your child develop eye-hand coordination, matching skills, and shape recognition. They provide challenging learning activities, but if too many pieces are involved, a child may become frustrated.
Dolls are a good example of toys that have moved out of the arena of sex stereotyping as the needs of boys, as well as girls, to cuddle and love have been recognized. Boy and girl dressing dolls are outfitted in special clothes that offer practice in the skills of zipping, buttoning, snapping, and tying. Toy telephone is another play thing that helps in the development of a child’s social skills. It will help him develop the art of conversation.






























