Promising to take my daughter to the toy store turned out, a dream come true for her, but nothing short of a nightmare for me. No, I am not talking about her manners. It was mine that was embarrassing!
The little one was shockingly much disciplined. On entering the store, she quickly ran to the centre area which had many toys laid out on a colourful carpet and within seconds was deeply engrossed in her play. I, on the other hand, stood fumbling and bewildered at the sights which greeted me. Toy shopping for one’s child, contrary to popular belief, is nothing short of rocket science. The mission though clear, to buy one toy for her, was impossible to execute.
How does a mom choose from this humongous minefield of toys where each one looks even more tempting than the other?
Should I buy the toy i-Pad which proclaimed to miraculously turn my little one into a genius or the toy piano whose box said it would a-tune her skills like Mozart, or the coloured building blocks which have won many awards or the cute furry cat which will teach English, Spanish, French and Chinese?
After a lot of mental trauma and ignoring the rolling eyes of the cashier (as I kept changing my decision), I finally decided to research on choosing the correct toys, in hopes of saving other mums (and humanity) from this shopping peril.
So here’s a small guide on how to choose the right toys for your little one:
Toys which will grow with your child:
We all are very familiar with the situation where our child plays with a toy for two days and then forgets about it. So choose toys that can be fun at different developmental stages like toy animals and figures, stuffed toys, trains and cars, doll houses, dolls, musical instruments. While a toddler makes a zoo, an older child can use them to enact a puppet show.
“Open-ended” toys :
Toys that can be used in multiple ways, sparking imagination and logical thinking are open-ended toys. For example, building blocks or Duplo blocks can be used to make a tower, a spaceship, an oven, anything is possible. Toddlers love to take apart and put back, so interlinking cups, connecting tubes, water and sand play toys encourage muscle control and as well as hand-eye coordination. Even everyday household items like shoe boxes, plastic tubs, pegs, pots and pans, spoons, scarves make great open-ended toys. However, do keep your child’s safety in mind avoiding very small and sharp objects.
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Pretend play toys:
Pretend play helps a child develop language skills, sequencing skills and social skills (pretend play is often done in a group involving other children). They love to take on roles and work out their own ideas about the world. Dress up toys, kitchen sets, doctor sets, tool sets, toy food, toy accessories, toy brooms and mops, musical instruments, all fall in this category.
Toys that encourage problem-solving:
A toy can provide one of the greatest learning experiences. Anything that interests a child, will teach him something. Look for toys that not only encourage your child’s imagination but also help them figure something out and become persistent problem- solvers. Puzzles, shape sorters, nesting cups or eggs, connecting toys, construction sets, play-dough, crayons, paints, simple board games for counting or matching, will all help in developing fine motor skills and logic skills.
Toys for physical activity:
I am sure all moms will agree on how their toddlers are magically filled with inexhaustible physical energy. So buy toys where the child can correctly use their physical skills and efficiently develop new ones, making you an appreciative audience rather than the constant “no” mom. Invest in balls, tricycles, pull-along toys, pushing toys like toy prams or toy wagons, bowling sets, gardening sets, tents to crawl in and out, toys sports sets, floor mats and use them to make fun obstacle courses.
After much research, I have also realized that there are many toys in the market with alluring buttons, lights, sounds and music. However, the more a toy will perform, the less the child will do. Your little one will just be a mere spectator. A truly good toy will always engage a child’s mind and body both. A child needs to use the toy to do something, be it solve a problem or make something or just figure out their own ideas.
Remember, anyone can buy toys. But buying good toys, now that’s the challenge!
Janani S Koushik
KSP Team
Mansi Zaveri
Rati Ramadas Girish
