Choosing the right toys is an essential part of supporting your child’s development. There are thousands of options in toy aisles, each claiming to be the best.
Toys that inspire learning and exploration are ideal for children of all ages. However, kids learn in different ways at different times.
Safety
Whether you’re shopping for a new baby, a toddler or an older child, it’s essential to choose toys that are safe. The right toy can stimulate your child’s senses and help them develop skills. But the wrong one can cause serious damage and injuries.
The most common type of toy-related injury is choking, sending an average 477 kids to the emergency room each day. To reduce the risk of choking, check the toy’s packaging for age recommendations.
For example, toys designed for children under 18 months should be free of dangerous strings, straps or cords that could be swallowed. Avoid ride-on toys, such as tricycles and scooters, that are too large for your child to control.
Also, look for small parts that can be easily removed to ensure your child won’t choke on them. Similarly, toys with magnets should be out of reach for your little ones and those with batteries should be “UL approved.”
Safety standards are not perfect, but they do help prevent serious injuries to kids. Toys should meet certain criteria and be inspected by an adult.
If you’re buying a stuffed toy, look for a solid construction and tight seams. Make sure it’s machine washable and remove any loose ribbons or strings.
Toys made of hard materials, such as plastic and wood, have sharp edges that can cut a child’s skin or pierce their ears. They can also splinter or crack, creating a choking hazard.
Be aware of older toys, particularly hand-me-downs from friends and family, as they may not have met current safety standards.
It’s also important to check the toy’s paint and art materials for toxicity. These should be labeled with ASTM D-4236, which means they’ve been tested by a toxicologist to determine if they pose a threat to the health of your child.
Toys should be put away after play and kept clean. They should never be left in a toy bin or on the floor, where they might be tripped over and hurt someone else. Likewise, children should always play with their toys in separate rooms to prevent accidents.
Durability
When choosing toys for your child, it is important to consider the durability of each item. Durability refers to the toy’s ability to withstand wear, tear, and pressure without breaking or degrading. Investing in durable toys will ensure that your child has fun playing with them for years to come.
Toy manufacturers undergo various tests to make sure that the toys they produce are safe and strong. They also use high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
Durability testing includes drop test, tension test, and compression test. The first test involves dropping a toy from a certain height on a flat surface. The second test puts different parts of the toy under tension to see how much force they can handle before cracking or breaking.
The third test focuses on the ability of the toy to hold its shape. It is also important to note that some toys are made from a variety of different materials. Some are made from wood, while others are made from synthetic materials like plastic.
Wooden toys are generally more durable than their plastic counterparts, and they can often last for a long time. This means that your child will be able to pass them down to future generations, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.
While the cost of a wooden toy may be higher, it will be worth it in the end because you won’t have to replace them frequently. Moreover, wooden toys don’t require batteries or electricity, making them easier to maintain and less costly to repair.
In addition, wooden toys are often designed with the children’s age in mind. This means that they are more appropriate for younger children and can encourage more creative play.
Buying a durable toy can help your child grow and learn through fun, interactive play. It can also help your child develop social and communication skills.
When buying a durable toy, it is important to consider the craftsmanship, quality, and price to value of the toy. These three factors can make a big difference in the longevity of the toy and the value it will have in your home.
Environment Friendly
Choosing environmentally friendly toys is an excellent way to protect the environment while still having fun with your children. These types of toys are made with renewable resources and natural materials that are biodegradable. They also use a manufacturing process that doesn’t release carbon, greenhouse gases, or chemical toxins into the air or waterways. The Haba Nativity toy set is one such toy.
Most plastic toys contain harmful chemicals that can harm your child’s health. These can include phthalates, BPA, and lead. Some of these chemicals are known to mimic hormones and interfere with your child’s growth and development.
To avoid toxic chemicals, choose eco-friendly toys that are made with FSC-certified woods and OETEX-certified natural fibers like cotton, hemp, or bamboo. They should also have water-based stains/dyes/paints and nontoxic glues/nontoxic varnish.
Many of these products also have a zero-waste production process so that all wood waste, such as sawdust and remnants from the toy making process are reclaimed. This is an especially important consideration for a toy that will be used outdoors.
The best eco-friendly toys are made with a minimal amount of packaging. This is a great way to save money on shipping and reduce carbon emissions in the manufacturing process.
Another great option is to look for toys that are made with sustainable rubberwood that’s sourced from reclaimed latex factories. This type of wood has a low melting point and can be recycled to create other products.
Some of these toys are shaped from wood pressed in molds with extra wood waste from the manufacturing process. This makes these toys durable and sturdy.
Other eco-friendly toys are made with certified clean plastic, such as this education-minded truck that features a 30% less amount of plastic than traditional trucks. This type of plastic is certified as environmentally-friendly, so it has no harmful residues or chemicals.
There are plenty of eco-friendly toys on the market that you can choose from. The best ones are designed with safety and durability in mind so that they will last for years to come and be used safely by your kids. You’ll find that they cost a bit more than the average toy, but that’s usually offset by their quality and craftsmanship.
Cost
Choosing toys for your child is not only about providing them with fun and entertaining options, but also about ensuring they have an opportunity to learn new skills and build upon existing ones. Using your child’s imagination and incorporating their interests are two of the most important ways to help them learn and grow.
Toys that allow your child to put things together, take them apart and play with them in new ways are the best way for them to do this. Whether it’s building up a toy car or a bridge, or adding on different items from a set of wooden blocks, open-ended toys give your child the chance to play with them in many different ways and help them develop their creativity, logical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.
Another way to encourage your child’s creativity is by giving them the opportunity to create their own toys. Old clothing, blankets, pillows, and safe household items such as plastic bowls, whisks, containers, pots and pans are all excellent sources of creative play that can help your child explore their own imagination.
When it comes to cost, it is important to choose toys that are a good value for money. You don’t want to spend more on a toy than you need to, but you do need to be sure that it is affordable enough to keep your child happy and entertained.
For the most part, children’s toys are quite inexpensive. They can be bought at department stores, discount stores and even online retailers like Amazon.
Toys made of wood or other durable materials are usually less expensive than those with plastic parts. They are also often kinder to the environment.
In addition, you can save money by buying secondhand or from friends and family. Thrift stores, garage sales, hand-me-downs and online trade-in sites are all good places to start.
One of the best ways to ensure you are getting a great deal on toys is to look for sales and manufacturer coupons. These can be found in various online resources and by joining loyalty programs at your favorite retailers.
