How to Choose Learning Toys

When choosing learning toys or developmental toys for your child, consider safety and each area of your child's development. Children should have access to a wide variety of toys that offer a wide array of learning experiences. Use these guidelines to choose the best learning toys for your child at their current level of development.

1) Make sure that the toy is age appropriate. Many toys will have a suggested age range on the packaging. Use your best judgment. If your child is seven and the package says for ages 7 to 9, but you think that your child will be frustrated with the complexity of the toy, then choose something that is closer to your child's level. If the package says for ages five and up, but you know that your five year old still puts small parts in their mouths, then don't buy the toy with small parts. Just evaluate why you think they labeled the package for a certain age before you buy. If you're not sure, call the manufacturer and ask.

2) Make sure that the toy is something that will hold the child's interest. It could be the most educational toy you've ever seen, but if your child is not interested, then it will go to waste. Young toddlers love bright colors, textures, sounds, and patterns. Older children get more interested in small detailed items. If there is a learning cube or something that you think your toddler may not be really interested in but you want them to be, consider letting them put stickers of their favorite character on it. Children will usually like things that they are familiar with or associate with something else that they like. Another tactic is to give it to them right after or during the time that they are playing with what they love so that they associate the two things together.

3) Choose toys that help with an array of developmental areas. Some toys will help with a few different areas. Make a check-list of developmental goals and make sure that there are toys available to the child that will help with each area. Children should get experience in each area every day to develop properly. Here are the five major areas to concentrate on:

a. Cognitive Development
b. Speech and Language Development
c. Social and Emotional Development
d. Fine Motor Skills
e. Gross Motor Skills

Making sure that you provide toys that concentrate on these five areas will help you to ensure that you are giving your child the tools that they need to succeed. A lot of preschool toys will focus on these developmental areas. You can use toys that hit multiple areas of development as staples in your child's play room or living area. An example of a toy that may help in many areas is an activity table. Keep development in mind when you shop and your child will have many developmental opportunities at hand.