| g toys for children can be a daunting prospect, | | | | language. Writing and art interests can be developed |
| whether it's for your own kids or for someone else's. | | | | with phonics toys, erasible writing products, colouring |
| Like it or not, you are faced with choosing something | | | | toys and model kits, craft kits and different painting |
| that can be valued for a long time, something that's | | | | mediums. Environmental, engineering and science |
| ''cool" and something that provides safe and engaging | | | | interests can be met with trivia games, maps and |
| play from a plethora of offers arduously promoted on | | | | puzzles, chemistry sets, telescopes, microscopes and |
| television, in catalogues and in kids magazines, | | | | advanced building sets. Music choices encompass |
| sometimes with questionable consequences. Every | | | | karaoke, musical instruments and sing-along products, |
| parent has to do daily battle with the war cry "I want." | | | | as well as music players. |
| whenever an item that is coveted by a child appears | | | | Gaming and outdoor play |
| on the screen in front of him or her, especially if it's an | | | | Clearly one of the most rapidly developing trends in |
| item that has substantial peer value. Yet, after shelling | | | | toys, is that of computer and electronic gaming, which |
| out what in this day and age may feel like a king's | | | | includes software purchases for desktop or laptop |
| ransom, that same valued trinket can be found laying in | | | | computers, Play station and X-Box gaming consoles |
| the dust, unwanted, within a remarkably short time. | | | | and portable gaming products. These options provide a |
| Buying a child a toy however is not only about filling the | | | | great many variables, with a huge number of titles |
| void of their immediate "I want." Much of the decision | | | | available in each of the formats. |
| involves the values that the buyer ? the giver ? wants | | | | While computer gaming can be enormously engaging |
| to impart in making that choice. | | | | for children of all ages, its basic nature can frequently |
| Include your own values | | | | play against the idea of open sharing, as the computer |
| From the youngest of ages, toys are what children | | | | gaming environment is often very private, and |
| learn from. It is in play where children learn many of the | | | | single-player oriented. This can develop into sibling |
| values we adults want them to carry forward into their | | | | squabbles and selfish behaviour on the part of the |
| future relationships. Play is what helps teach them that | | | | game owner. If you are considering buying electronic |
| others have feelings, that sharing is a necessary | | | | gaming as a gift for a child who is not your own child, it |
| human condition, that possession and ownership are | | | | would be wise and prudent to clear the purchase with |
| rights and responsibilities. If we want our children to | | | | the parents first, as not all parents are comfortable |
| value our own contributions to the communities in | | | | with their children having these products. |
| which we live, we will more likely try to impart similar | | | | A large part of children's play also ties in with having |
| values through the choices we make for them. This is | | | | happy and healthy kids. Exercise is a widely |
| reflected through choices in educational toys, outdoor | | | | recognised component of health, and is reported in |
| play, music, sport, fashion and many other pursuits. | | | | much of the media as a declining activity in kids, |
| A toy bought by a special relative or friend can often | | | | contributing to an obesity problem in modern society. |
| be regarded more highly by a child than other toys | | | | To foster regular exercise, it is important to promote |
| simply because of the meaning of the relationship: the | | | | outdoor play with children and this can be achieved |
| toy representing that relationship in times of absence | | | | with the choices of toy purchases. Many sporting |
| for example. Much loved toys often have special | | | | activities evolve from toy purchases, and can include |
| meaning attached to them, not because of the value | | | | any number of ball games ranging from any of the |
| of the toy itself, but because of its origins. | | | | football codes, basketball, netball, cricket, hockey, |
| In sharp contrast, many toys purchased on the whim | | | | baseball and so on. |
| of the war cry "I want." are done so with the primary | | | | Other toys that encourage outdoor activity might |
| intention of bringing peace to the household and involve | | | | include transport toys such as bikes and scooters, |
| little of the purchaser's personal values in the actual | | | | skates and skateboards, mechanically propelled cars |
| choice. Sometimes this can lead the child to continue | | | | and carts; athletic activities such as swings and slides; |
| demanding that his or her needs are met with material | | | | sand toys and water activities. |
| acquisitions based on selfish desires, resulting in 'spoiling'. | | | | Safety first |
| Educational toys | | | | Regardless of your relationship with the child for whom |
| While toys are for fun and play, they also help children | | | | you are purchasing a toy, safety is an issue of |
| in their educational, social, emotional, and physical | | | | paramount importance. It's imperative to review all of |
| development. As they become engaged with objects | | | | the safety information published with the toy's |
| for their own amusement, they are also working on | | | | instructional literature. If the toy looks unsafe and there |
| cognitive and motor skills, both important developmental | | | | is no published literature about its operation, it would be |
| processes in very young children and kids with some | | | | wise to avoid that particular purchase. Danger lurks in |
| learning or physical challenges. As educational | | | | the oddest of corners. The most common |
| resources, toys that present challenges to children | | | | consideration of toy safety includes strings or cords |
| frequently stimulate their ability to reason. | | | | that could wrap around a young child's neck, packaging |
| Parents and other adults can get involved in playing | | | | with sharp corners or protruding wire ties. Very young |
| with their children's toys too. These activities help | | | | children often put what may be interesting objects to |
| babies exchange contact with others and builds their | | | | them in their mouths. Small components can pose |
| language skills. When adults interact with babies and | | | | chocking hazards, as can plastic bags large enough to |
| their toys, they are helping babies learn that the toys | | | | be placed over a head. Battery compartments should |
| exist even when they are not seen or heard. This | | | | be secured with a screw, providing a safely locked |
| helps in their development into play with their peers in | | | | housing. |
| pre-school, helping them understand rules of play and a | | | | Equally important with removing hazards that may be |
| sense of right and wrong. In play, toys empower | | | | present, is the need to educate children on how to use |
| children, permitting them to control their environment | | | | toys safely when playing alone or with others. While it |
| temporarily and make decisions independently of | | | | is important that kids should not be endangered, it is |
| adults. | | | | also important that they learn how to assess a risk |
| There are a number of ways to make choices in | | | | and take steps to eliminate or minimise risks at the |
| educational toys for children. A first step might be to | | | | earliest of age?both to themselves and to others. |
| consider their development at playschool, pre-school or | | | | Age and Gender |
| school, and make choices that help in the child's | | | | One of the primary considerations for toy shopping is |
| development in that environment. Another | | | | how to chose a toy that is suitable for a girl or boy, at |
| consideration is to consider where the child's personal | | | | a particular age. Most toy manufacturers discriminate |
| interest's lie and look in that interest area. Building toys, | | | | by both gender and age in the advice they give for |
| construction models, and sand and water toys can | | | | their toys. However, these guides are given as advice |
| foster an interest in mathematics through volumes and | | | | only, and may not necessarily reflect the readiness of |
| measures. Books and board games that employ | | | | your child for a particular product, or the ability of a |
| instructional cards can further an interest in reading and | | | | particular product to satisfy your child's current needs. |