Priya
Choosing the best toys for your kids is no simple deal. There are numerous options and most toys claim that they are safe. Thus, it is important to have a quick list of the things to consider before buying toys for your little ones.
Taking your kids out to a shopping mall or even outside would lead to atleast one instance of then asking for a toy. As a parent, it is hard to say “No” to those puppy eyes. Instead of simply denying their request, you can get them a better toy. I’ve listed the things to consider before buying toys to help you with choosing the safest toy for your kid.
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Things to consider before buying toys
When my first daughter was young, I had to extensively research on each toy that I thought she would need. From teethers to Barbie dolls I had to make sure that they are safe for her. By the time I had my second one, I was pretty equipped to come up with all the things to consider before buying toys. A friend of mine who is a new mom asked me for my advice on choosing the best toys for kids. So I thought I’d write about it here so that it’d be helpful for other moms.
It is essential to look for the following things to make sure that you are getting the safest as well as the best toys for your kids.
- Is it made of a safe material?
- Does it help your kid?
- Is it durable?
- Would they like it?
Let’s look into these briefly so that the next time you are thinking of getting a toy, you need not be worried about anything.
What are the safest materials for toys?
There are a lot of toys that are made of various materials and most of those are toxic and are made of harmful chemicals that might cause a lot of health issues for little ones. Thus, it is essential to look for toys that are made out of safe materials.
The most common and easily available toys are those that are made of plastics. But most of these have harmful substances like BPA and phthalates. These chemicals can lead to diseases starting from breathing issues to even affecting the neurological developments. Thus, it is important to look for BPA and Phthalate free plastic toys.
An easy alternative for plastic toys are wooden ones. Most wooden toys don’t have any chemicals in them. If it is a coloured wooden toy, it is important to check if they are made of food grade colours. Some wooden toys such as teethers are made of neem and other such woods that have anti bacterial properties by themselves.
If you are looking for a toy for babies, it is advisable to go for food grade silicone toys. These toys don’t contain any toxic materials that are usually found in most plastic and rubber toys. They can be easily sanitised, making it safer for your little ones. Apart from these, soft toys made out of cotton and stuffed with cloth are also completely safe for your kids.
These days, there are a lot of companies that are conscious of the baby’s health as well as the environment. They provide the safest as well as the best toys for kids at affordable rates. Let’s look at the next factor that you should consider before buying toys.
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How does it help your kid?
The best toys for kids are those that are not just for playing but also enhancing their skills. Your little one’s brain goes through a lot of development in the first few years. It is important to make sure that the toys that they are playing with helps them with improving their motor and other sensory skills.
Most kids these days are used to playing video games and watching videos on screens. That’s why it is crucial to look for a toy that would help them to move around. Even simple toys like small balls, discs and such can make a difference when you play along with them. Physical activity is very much needed for a growing child.
If you are looking for something engaging while also helping your little one to learn, you can go for puzzles, building blocks and talking books. These help them to improve their vocabulary and induce creative thinking in them.
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Durability and Enjoyability
The next important factor that should be considered before buying a toy is the durability of it. Babies and even kids do like to throw around their toys. Thus, the toy you choose should not be easily breakable. Durable toys also prevent choking and other accidental hazards.
The toy should be something that would stay with your kid as they grow up. I still have my favourite toys and even though some of them have worn out, many toys still look like they are new. Thus, look for toys that are made of better quality and that are durable so that your kid can have them as a reminder of their sweet childhood.
With the numerous toys that are available in the market, we might end up buying toys that our kids don’t like to play with. All these toys will be put in a box somewhere and as the years pass by and this box will only keep getting bigger. That’s why it is important to think twice before buying any toys.
Most toys that are made today are expensive. So, it is advisable to think about the durability as well as the enjoyability of the toy. Often, we end up having to keep buying toys simply because of their lack of durability. Thus, look for the toys that are affordable and long lasting.
Quick list of tips to check.
Now that I had touched upon the 4 major things to consider before buying toys, I’ll make a quick list of a few more basic yet needed points to remember.
- Even if it is a safe material make sure that it has heat and cold resistance, particularly teethers, nibblers and cutlery for babies.
- Make sure that the toys don’t have any detachable parts. Even soft toys like plushies sometimes have sewn in eyes and nose that would easily come away.
- If it is a battery operated toy, check if the batteries and magnets are safely placed and out of your child’s reach.
- Look for organic clothes and colours along with the BPA and Phthalate free labels.
The best toys for kids are those that they enjoy, play and learn with while also being completely safe for them.
Conclusion
Shopping for toys has really become quite easy for me these days. This quick guide has also helped my friends. All it takes to buy the best toys for kids is to ensure that you follow your gut while also being conscious of the utility, durability, safety and likeability of it.
I hope that the above-mentioned list of things to consider before buying toys helps ease your struggle of finding the best toys for kids. Happy playing and learning to your kid from me!
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