Toy shopping can help parents get in touch with their inner child. You you may experience lots of stress and be overwhelmed by the many details you must consider. The following information will help you buy the perfect toys for you kids.
If you child is a biter, you need to make sure that the toys you buy for him do not have loose parts. Even if a toy is recommended for a child age three or older, if your older child is a biter, that toy is still not safe for him.
When purchasing toys for young children, make sure you choose ones that are age appropriate. Toys designed for older children may contain small parts. These small parts may present a choking hazard to small children. Therefore, it is important that you choose gifts that are age appropriate for younger children.
If you choose an electronic toy for a child, make sure that you get the correct sized batteries. Most electronic toys do not come with batteries installed. For additional fun, you should purchase extra batteries. Also, if you want to say extra money, consider purchasing rechargeable batteries for the toy.
If you are buying a toy for an infant or a child under three, be sure there are no small parts. When children are of a younger age, they tend to enjoy putting objects in their mouth. The problem is, they could choke if they swallow little toy parts. You can check the label of most toys; there is typically a warning label if small parts exist.
If you are looking for educational toys for a child, stick with the classic. Building blocks, shape sorters, and stackable “donuts” have been around for decades and for a good reason–they help children use their planning skills. While there may be many newer educational toys, these tend to work best.
Be careful with toys that contain small pieces. Read the age recommendations on the side of the box. If your child is under the age listed, it’s best to look for another option for now. Small pieces with younger kids can lead to major choking hazards. They can also cause trips and falls.
If your child is using a toy a lot, be sure to give the toy random spot checks for any sign of breaking. Toys break. It’s as simple as that. And if you see a break starting to occur, you can save yourself a potential accident by replacing it before it occurs.
Do you have a little scientist at home? If so, you may be interested in Skyrocket’s attachable microscope. This microscope attaches to your smartphone or tablet, allowing youngsters to zoom in on spiders, bugs and more. This technology allows the child to take video or pictures using the smartphone’s built in camera.
Never hang any toys that have cords, ribbons or any kind of string in a playpen or crib. Young kids can get entangled which can cause harm or death. Also, discard all the plastic wrapping the toy comes in as soon as possible since children can play with it and get injured.
Children like to pretend play during the day. Giving them play furniture and dolls will have them playing house. Toy kitchens are a gourmet restaurant in the mind of a child. This allows them to put their imaginary skills to use. Make sure that the props you give them are safe.
Do a bit of research when buying toys used. You should play it safe when buying older, previously owned toys. Try to look them up online or examine them thoroughly before handing them off to a child. Make sure they haven’t been recalled for any reason and don’t have any loose parts.
Before you give any a child a toy, check the toy over for removable parts. An assembled or packaged toy might look to be big enough for play as-is. However, many toys come with detachable parts like eyes or noses. These can quickly become choking hazards to your children.
Check the construction of any toy you are considering. You want a toy to feel solid, even if it’s made of plastic. If a toy feels flimsy and like it’ll break from limited play, then choose a different toy. It can be a serious hazard for your kid if you choose a poorly made toy.
If you want your child to develop an interest in your hobby, give a toy that simulates what you like to do. For instance, if you like fishing, give your child a toy fishing rod with plastic fish that he can “catch”. Give him a little tackle box to carry around like his dad.
If you are shopping for your own children, you may start remembering your own childhood. Or, it may be utterly exasperating. Use the tips here to have fun toy shopping.