Playing with the different kinds of toys is part of a kid’s childhood – without these, it’s like you’ve taken away a big important part of their life. Not only, it is fun and enjoyable, but also it has a lot of benefits to your little one as opposed to playing with the electronic gadgets available today.
Some downloadable applications may be helpful to your child – they can learn the alphabet, count numbers, or even spell a word, by using such applications. However, doing these does not promote physical development as compared to using every part of your body when playing.
Listed below are the most frequently asked questions about baby toys:
Is there any safety concerns you should consider when buying baby toys?
Here are few of the safety considerations you should be aware of before buying your baby a toy:
- Always read and follow the labels. There’s no harm in reading the warning labels included in the box of the toy you are purchasing. Through this, you will learn about the hazards that may risk your child’s life.
- Make Sure the Toy is Non Toxic. If you are buying toys like crayons, art supplies, or any liquid containing toys, make sure that the toys do not contain toxic chemicals. You can check the labels to make sure they are safe in case of accidental ingestion.
- Check for sharp and pointy edges. Since many children have a tendency to put toys in their mouth or eyes. Hence, it is very important to check if the toy you’re purchasing has sharp edges as it may pose a danger to your baby.
- Ensure that their toy is strong and sturdy. Most infants like to throw their toys on the floor, so if the toy you’re buying is not made of strong, shatter proof material, they toy might break into pieces with sharp edges that can cause injuries to the child.
- Avoid toys with small parts. As much as possible, elude buying toys that have tiny or loose parts that can be unattached as babies tend to swallow things, which can lead to danger.
What kinds of toys are appropriate for your child’s age?
When purchasing a toy, opt for the items that are age-appropriate as it may help your child develop her physical, emotional, and mental skills.
- Birth to 6 months old – toys that they can hold and make noises such as rattles, balls, stuffed animals; toys that they can listen to like recordings of lullabies; and lastly, toys that are appealing to their eyes such as books that looked like it came to life.
- 6 months to 1 year old – toys that they can play pretend with, such as dolls, and vehicles with wheels; toys that can be dropped like soft balls and bath toys; items that can be built such as stack up toys; and lastly, toys that use their muscles like larger balls.
- 1 to 2 years-old – things with solving problems such as puzzles or blocks that snap together; art materials like crayons, colored markers, and a paper.
- 3 to 6 years-old – modeling clays, paper and cloth scraps for their very first collage; they can already play with any electronic gadgets as long as the game they’re about to play is interactive.
Can your baby benefit from playing with these toys?
Playing with these toys surely benefits your baby in many ways, such as:
- As indicated by the studies led by the pediatricians back in 2009, allowing the children to play with their toys as youthful as they are or permitting the kids who are already attending the school, to have a short break and play in the play area, will have a better behavior in the classroom, or in a room loaded with lots of individuals.
- Social skills. At the point when a kid is about months old, they wouldn’t fret the individuals around them; they simply play with their toys. As they grow older, they begin to communicate to the children around them, also. Through this active communication between him and his playmates, they will figure out how to impart, and collaborate with one another. Differing on specific things – for instance, who will be the pilot – can really help add to their social abilities.
- Physical development. Climbing trees, running around the playground, and even creeping can help upgrade the kid’s physical capacities as compared to video games and television. As they grow older, they will convey the longing to be constantly active, along these lines diminishing the likelihood of showing some heart diseases or other ailments. It might, likewise, decrease the danger of obesity.
- Mental skills. Studies suggest that more physical activity tests, the more likely they are to do well on academic tests, as well. For example, if your child is picking up the blocks, that’s when they learn how to count, even though they don’t really know the numbers yet, however, for the older ones, playing hopscotch during their recess time.
Are toys required to be tested to meet flammability requirements?
When the toy safety standard was made in 2008, it did not include the flammability requirements. Consequently, the toys should not be made of hazardous chemicals or any substances that may pose personal injury to the baby.
Baby toys are very important for our little ones to keep them busy and enjoy playing the same time. In choosing our kids toys, we can consider some of the criteria’s listed above to make sure that they have it at the right age and we can ensure their safety in playing those toys.
This is a good read for parents to be aware of the toys of their kids. Thank you for sharing this with us.