Selecting the Right Toys for your Child
by: jhona
Total views: 235
Word Count: 532
Every
year, hundreds of toys flood the market, providing a wide range of
choices for the discerning parent, godparent, grandparent, aunt,
uncle and whoever feels like Santa the whole year through.
But
are you really discerning in your choice of toys? Child development
and play experts warn that there is such a thing as “sentimental
buying”. The toy buyer who gives a toy because he once had one like
it, or he aspired for it but never had one, or would like one for
himself had he been a child now or had it been available when he was
child. Experts agree there is nothing wrong with this, only don't
feel disappointed when the child does not warm up to your nostalgic
gift.
Psychologists
even note that toys bought by adults reveal much more about the buyer
than about the child it was bought for. You should not think that
“it is just a toy”. Evidently, a toy should be taken seriously.
Which
is just as well, because play, and the accessories used with it, is a
serious business, and should, by all means, be treated as such. Play
is the highest form of learning for a child. It is the official
“job”, the “profession”, the “business”, or however else
it is called in the adult world, of childhood. When kids engage in
play, they acquire new skills, learn about themselves and the world
around them, and find their place with regards to dealing with other
kids and the adults in their world and the world in general.
Keep
the Child in Mind
this
should get you on the right track – focus should be in the child
who will be playing with the toy. As every person and child is
unique, so is his needs and interests.
Know
the Child
That
is the most important consideration in buying a toy – if the giver
is not the parent, then he must get to know the child well.
Techno
Savvy
Early
childhood educators also caution against being lured into buying
electronic toys that only provide high-tech entertainment and not
much else.
The
True Toy
A
proper development toy is a “true” toy, in all senses of the word
– it can be manipulated by a child, motivate him to think and
conceive things, conjuring up a world all his own.
Be
Neutral
Don't
just amass toys specific to your child's gender. Let your son play
with his sister's dolls and let your daughter play with her brother's
trucks.
The
Classics
Experts
advise investing in toys with proven developmental benefits, which
are usually the classic ones – those that will never go out of
style.
Useful
Toys for Long Trips
When
going on long journeys, whether by plane or on road trips, it is
helpful to have an ammunition of toys to appease grumbling kids.
As
a final note, psychologists exhort parents and other adults to go
right down on the floor and play with your kids. This is one fun
privilege of being a parent which encourages interaction and bonding
with your child and creates opportunities for further learning.
About the Author
Jonnalyn Ajeda recommends Ozfree Online Classifieds if you're shopping for your children's toys. She also recommends Solitary Jewel for more tips and advice.
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