Making the Right Choices on Toys

Undoubtedly, children enjoy playing with toys. Through exploring, manipulating, and eventually sharing, children learn valuable skills as they play with their toys. However, we should never overwhelm our children with too many toys. Nonetheless, on occasions when you need to purchase toys, you may find these tips on how to select the appropriate toys for your child handy.

#1 Your child’s age
If toys are too advanced for your child’s age, they might get frustrated easily or may even result in injuries. E.g. Small parts in toys are not suitable for children below the age of 3. On the contrary, purchasing a toy made for children of younger age group may cause them to get bored of the toys too quickly.

#2 The toys’ materials
It is always important to check the material before purchasing. Do check if the smell of paint is too strong as it may affect children’s respiratory system. Toys should also be sturdy enough to withstand multiple times of playing, throwing and hitting.

#3 Playing methods
Some toys such as blocks and Lego can be played by children from 3 – 7 years old and are therefore more worth buying. It is important to consider if the toys will be able to be played by the child after they grow older. A toy with endless possibilities of playing will also be more appealing to children as compared to toys that can only be played in one particular way.
List of toys for different age groups

From birth to 1 year old
Rattles, large interlocking plastic rings or keys, cloth toys, musical and chime toys, push and pull toys, shape sorters and stacking blocks, pop-up toys, toys with reactions when squeezed.

1 year old – 3 year old
Ride-on vehicle, push and pull toys, small climbers, blocks, Lego, stacking toys, sandbox tools, puzzles, dolls, play household items, pop-up books, bath toys.

3 year old – 6 year old
Construction toys, dolls and stuffed animals, puppets, puzzles, books, plastic figures (animal, dolls), dollhouses, arts and crafts materials

6 year old – 10 year old

Sports games, building kits, art and craft materials, puzzles, books, musical instrument, plastic figures (animal, dolls), electronic games, construction toys, science sets