Guidelines for selecting toys for Young Children

Age Recommendations: Most packages have a recommened age range, this however is only a suggested range based on average child development. Use this information as a general guide for narrowing down toy options. Use your knowledge of the child's individual skills and development to determine if the child would fall into that recommened age group. Read any printed warnings on safety precautions that are also listed on the package to determine if there is an additional risk that would make the toy inappropriate for a young child. Parts: The parts of a toy are a major factor when buying for young children. Toddlers and preschoolers even put objects in their mouth if the piece is small enough. A simple test is to drop the small parts through a paper towel tube, if the toy fits through the tube it is too dangerous for young children. Inspect all components of the toy to determine if it contains small parts that could present a choking risk. Toys often come with small accessories to go with the main item that can be too small in size, this is something to look out for. Always look at the qaulity of the toy construction, especially when the toy has smaller parts attached to it. Poor construction can ncrease the risk of a small part popping off while the child is playing. Educational Value: Toys bring enjoyment to children, but they also can provide educational value for a young child. Choose toys that allow children to practice developmental skills that they are currently working on. Examples are: if a three year old child is learning to reconize letters consider letter blocks or for numbers a electronic preschool toy that features numbers would be great. For children who need practice with motor skills, choose toys that require small movements and control, such as blocks that click together or a set of stacking cups. Visualize how the child would play with the toy to determine the educational value the toy offers. Violence: Many toys can carry a violent theme, particularly in the form of weapons. Many action figures have weapons attached or promote fighting. Replicas of actual weapons also encourage a violent nature, these types of toys may encourage young children to get more aggresive when playing with other children. Consider if you want young children exposed to these aggresive toys, especially at a young age. Taken from www. livestrong. com-guidelines when choosing developmently appropriate oys for young children. Reference: American academy of Pediatrics Age Appropriate Toys Age one to three year olds Melissa and Doug's shape sorting cube is a well made classic sorting toy. This high qaulity wooden cube and vibrant shaped blocks set is perfect for fine motor skills. Match the wooden blocks to the correct cutouts on the cube, and slide them inside. Introduce child to geometry and puzzling fun with this sturdy shape sorter. Shape sorting cube meets and exceeds all U. S. safety standards. This is a appropriate toy for this age because it teaches shape sorting, and could also each colors with the bright wood blocks. This toy is perfect for fine tuning motor skills. This toy is appealing because it has bright colors, and different shapes for them to find the correct spot for each one, this could be using thinking skills. I think a parent would buy this toy because it teaches shapes as well as colors while fine tuning motor skills that is also why I would choose this toy, it is a great learnig toy for young children. Count and Learn Cookie Jar: Imagine that whenever kids get a cookie from the cookie jar, they actually learn counting and numbers too. This talking cookie jar smiles ts best at little counters while helping them to count the delious looking cookies from one to ten. If you cant count cookies, how about counting the colorful chips on each cookie? The back of the cookie shows the number to see if you got the correct number. This toy also has number recognition, this bright red jar encourages children to play and learn with friendly phrases as well. This qaulity toddler electronic toy makes learning math exciting and fun. This toy is developmentaly appropriate because it teaches young children numbers in a fun cookie counting way, it hs numbers for them to see, as well as chips to count hichever is easiest for the child. It is appealing because it is a bright red jar, with fun colorful chip cookies, something they can reconize and be fun for them to play with while learning numbers. It talks as well which can keep the child's attention. I think a parent would choose to buy this toy because it is a great fun way for a child to learn to count, as well as see colors, and to learn manipulative skills, and thinking skills as well. I would choose this toy for the same reasons, I think it would be a great, fun way to teach young children to count and understand numbers. Alaphabet Sound Puzzle: 26 piece alphabet sound puzzle by Melissa and Doug is a wonderful fun tool to teach young children their ABC's. Place pieces in their correct spot on the board to hear music, animals, vehicles, letters, numbers, and more. This puzzle pronounces the correct name of each letter when it is placed correctly on the board. Pieces are slightly raised above the puzzle board for easy grasping. Colorful pictures beginning with each letter are underneath each piece to help develop the relationship between letters and their sounds. This toy is developmentally appropriate because it teaches ABC and letter ecognition, as well as thinking skills. Helps children sound out letters and say words to help understand each letter. This toy is appealing because it is a bright colored puzzle with sounds to help a child learn the ABC's, words and sounds of a letter. I think a parent would buy this toy because children love puzzles, it is a easy way for them to learn letters, sounds an d use their thinking skills. It a is a great learning toy, and I would choose this as well. Puzzles are great, and this one has sound for the children to learn what each letter sounds like to help remember each letter, and to use their thinking skills.