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|  Choosing Toys!
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Contributed by Dr.Mandar |
With leading toy-manufacturers Mattel and Toys R Us calling back millions of their toys back for possible excessive lead content in their parts, it has become clear that parents need to be more watchful and more knowledgeable about choosing the toys for their children.
Whether it is an intricately draped emaciated looking precocious Barbie doll, a real-looking loud booming toy-gun, a remote-controlled toy racing-car or a miniature train revolving on its tortuous miniature railway-track- the exquisite and expensive toys have always been objects of desire for children. The parents- (some of them even taking the unwise route of stretching the family budgets to the maximum!)- have tried to give these fancy toys to their kids to make them happy. But does buying a really expensive toy make a child happier than a relatively inexpensive toy? I would categorically say- No! The simple practical guidelines for buying a toy are: - Choose a toy according to the age and interest of the child. The younger children fancy colorful and musical toys, whereas older ones might be more interested in something testing their physical or mental dexterity.
- Gender identity often plays a role in toy selection, where boys often prefer macho objects like guns and cars and girls prefer dolls and imitation household objects (kitchen-set, jewel-box etc.).
- Choose a toy that is sturdy and likely to last. Children are not really careful handlers of things and do throw and drop things around! So avoid too delicate and breakable kind of toys. Make sure that there are no sharp edges, pointed corners or loose small parts. Small breakable toy-parts often cause childhood accidents as children sometimes end up putting them in mouth, nose or ears!
- Avoid toys making a loud noise and that can lead to damaged hearing in long run.
- Under the age of 3 years, choking remains an important danger. That’s why avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) in diameter or less because they present choking hazards.
- Stuffed toys tend to accumulate dust and many times, lead to dust allergy. That’s why choose stuffed toys that are washable.
- Make sure that paint on the toy is not coming off and that the paint is mentioned to be lead-free by the manufacturer.
- While choosing a cycle or a skate-board for older children, make sure the skill levels of your kid are adequate. A helmet and wrist-and-shin guards are recommended safety gear.
- Don’t really go for the most expensive, most exclusive kind of toys. In children, the joy and happiness of getting something new is the same whether you give something expensive or something relatively inexpensive. Novelty wears off too quickly in young minds and your precious birthday-gift might soon end up at the bottom of the toy-pile!
- Choose toys, which will stimulate imagination- rather than those which just show off some mechanical repetitive actions.
- Always keep an eye on your kid’s toys to check any wear and tear and breakage. Repair or discard the broken toy at the earliest.
- As the kids grow older, card games and board games (Chess, Scrabble, Snakes & Ladders and carrom) are always good and handy options to have at home. A big ball fit to play football, basketball or throw-ball is the simplest and often most popular in-door and out-door toy for which you don’t have to spend a fortune!
When it comes to toys, it is more important that instead of spending more money to buy expensive toys for their kids, parents should spend more time in actually enjoying the play-time together! |
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