With so many choices, holiday toy shopping can be an overwhelming (and expensive) task. Finding the right age-appropriate toy for babies, toddlers and preschoolers not only creates a holiday hero (you!), it also can enhance a child's development and foster his learning experience- without the child even realizing it.
"It's not just play," says Jane Duer, Manager of the Early Intervention Program at Children's Hospital of Alabama. "For children play is their work and their school. They learn through every encounter with you, their toys and their surroundings [intentional and unintentional]. Because play is so important and because there are so many toys on the market, research is helpful prior to making purchases for that little one. Parents should not only consider the safety of the toys they choose, but also the skills that will be developed during playtime."
The experts at Children's Hospital have provided the following guide to help parents choose the toys that will be most helpful to increasing motor skills; enhancing cognitive development and building upon what many children are capable of doing at each age and developmental stage.
Use these tips to help pick the perfect gift for the child in your life this season:
* Choose toys that can be used in a variety of ways. The more functions the toys have the more likely the child will play with them for more than the day they are opened. Examples include blocks, interlocking blocks, nesting blocks or cups and water toys.
* Toys to grow with your child. If you buy small plastic animals (small but not a choking hazard) the young toddler might put them in and take them out of a dump truck and then when older may engage in pretend play with them. Other examples may include stuffed animals and dolls, trucks and cars.
* Give toys that encourage exploration and problem-solving. Stuffed animals are a popular gift for toddlers and many of these end up as life-long buddies for the young child, but a toddler needs other toys too that provide an opportunity for skill building, exploration and problem solving. Examples include simple 4-5 piece wooden puzzles and shape sorters for the young toddler, cause and effect toys, nesting cups and blocks.
* Don't forget the items around the house. Some toddlers enjoy having a drawer or cabinet in the kitchen with stuff they can play with. Items such as plastic bowls and lids, wooden and measuring spoons, small pots are often a big hit. Mommy's old dresses and high heels, dad's hat and suit jacket can also spur a young child to creativity in play. Giving your toddler or preschooler the items you no longer wear or use is a great way to "recycle" and to help him develop important skills.
* Books are always a great choice. Even when your child is a baby, read to them from simple books. When they are able to focus on pictures, read from books with bright, vivid pictures. Real pictures are best for babies and young toddlers. Save the more complex books for older toddlers (closer to three years of age).
* Young infants need toys too. Young babies explore and learn about their world through their senses. Toys for this age should provide appropriate sensory stimulation (not too much or the he may try to avoid the toy by crying or looking away). Toys may provide visual stimulation (lights, bright colors, contrasting colors, simple pictures), auditory stimulation (music, voices) and tactile stimulation (nubby balls, soft fluffy stuffed animals). Babies often explore by mouthing objects. This is perfectly normal and can be expected. Just make sure the objects are clean and safe for the baby to mouth.
For more information on this and other children's health and safety issues, please visit our website at www.chsys.org
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