Buying toys for your children should be easy, right? After all, every time they go into a store, they point out a million different things that they want. However, this can often make it more difficult. Plus, children get bored with things easily, so you don’t want to spend your cash on something only for your child to decide they want something new and shiny the next day. Not only that but with the many toys available today it can be overwhelming! But, don’t fret, as here are some great tips that should help you to find the ideal toy for your little one…
Always buy something age-appropriate
As mentioned, there are so many different types of toys on the market, and this makes it difficult to know where to begin. However, a good starting point is always the age group the toy has been designed for.
On every toy, you should see a label that indicates what ages the toy is suitable for. This label is imperative for safety, first and foremost, but it also helps you to determine whether the toy is suitable, and also how long it is going to be suitable for. If your child is five-years-old, and you purchase a toy for those between the ages of three and five, there is always a possibility your little one may grow bored of the toy very quickly.
Consider the assembly of the toy
Whenever you buy a toy, you need to know whether it is ready to go straight out of the box or is going to need some effort to put together. If the latter applies, which is often the case with the likes of dollhouses and larger items, you do need to be tactical.
Remember, as soon as your child sees the gift, they are going to want to play with it straight away. If you tell them they need to wait another five days until the weekend so you have time to put it together, be prepared to have a week of nagging on your hands.
Read reviews that have been left online
Other parents are very helpful! Whenever you are thinking about buying a certain toy, take the time to read reviews online to see what other people have had to say about it.
They will alert you to the pros and cons of the toy, as well as provide details on their child’s reaction to the item. What elements did the child enjoy the most? How long did they spend playing with it?
This info can be especially beneficial for craft toys, which only have a limited amount of use. You may find out whether it is a one-time activity, or whether it is something that is going to occupy your child for a number of afternoons to come.
Make safety a priority
Safety should always be your number one concern when you are looking for a toy for your child. As discussed, looking at the age group the toy has been designed for is an important step in this.
However, you should also check for toy recalls. It only takes a small amount of effort to research this online.
While toy recalls are rare, there have been a number of incidents where the brand recalled toys because they discovered a potential danger. A few minutes of researching this information online can help to prevent any accidents from taking place.
Select toys that do more than entertain
Another tip when buying toys for your child is to look for something that offers more than fun and entertainment. Of course, your child is going to have a number of toys that are purely for fun, as all children should.
Nevertheless, whenever possible, look for toys that have educational elements to them. For example, toy kitchens, block sets, and water tables all provide learning opportunities, yet they still offer immense amounts of fun and so your child will never know they are learning.
Toy kitchens and items like this that encourage role-play are great too. They help with developing your child’s social skills and creating a sense of responsibility and empathy with others.
Choosing the right toy
So there you have it: the 5 important tips that should help you to choose the right toy for your little one. If you follow the advice provided, you are bound to find the perfect toy. Happy shopping!
great tips! never thought about checking for toy recalls before, thanks!
Glad you’ve found this one helpful, Nick!
I think that a key element not mentioned is that I feel that buying some toys that promote the use and creation of imagination is essential. Examples might be Lego, for both boys and girls, that allow them to build a load of different things, or craft kits that might allow them to make picture frames, wind chimes, or paint things.
The imagination in itself is a gift :) Thanks Andrea for the additional point.
Great tips Christy. Thanks for sharing this about toys 💛
Thanks for being here, Nina!
Your so welcome ❤️
Great post!
Yes yes yes-assembly! The year my daughter wanted a Barbie dream house for Christmas I was newly widowed and didn’t realize that it was in a thousand pieces. Needless to say it sat in the box awhile….
I am going to be cynical, Christy, and say that if you want success with a toy it needs to be electronic. I am lucky, both my boys read but they are not the usual. Most kids only want computer games, ipads, iphones and the like.
It really is a different time than when I was a kid – electronics seem to rule!
While age guidelines are a good idea in principal, every child does develop somewhat at their own level. If your child seems really interested in a toy you think may be too immature or advanced for them, sometimes you have to use your instincts to decide and then observe them as they play to determine if it is a good fit. Also if you have more than one child, sometimes age appropriateness goes out the window because especially younger children want to do/play with what the older sibling has.
When my children were young I would focus on educational toys. They loved LEGO and building toys where they could create places where their doll people could play.
And LEGO is still popular :) It hurts if you step on a it though!
Great post
Great post, I’d also make the budget a priority…second-hand doesn’t have to mean damaged and it can all be cleaned. Also I try to give experiences instead of stuff for birthdays. Love the last point especially! Great post xx