Get Your Toys for Toddlers on This Holiday

Executive Summary by Mark Easterday and Jeremy White

Five Tips for Buying Toys for Toddlers

These five tips will help you choose the perfect educational toys for toddlers and get to the party in time.

Toys for Toddler

First, be sure to buy a toy that is for a toddler. It is important that they toy is in the right age range for the child to make sure it is safe. Little hands and mouths are not safe around toys with little detachable parts. Most toy stores arrange their products by corresponding age ranges, so head straight to the section designed for the child you have in mind.

Next, think about choosing a gift that allows parents to interact with their child to build skills important for later academic success. It is important for toddlers to be exposed to letters, letter sounds, and numbers. Look for brightly colored blocks, oversized flashcards, or puzzles with letters and numbers that may also have a tactile component like a fuzzy duck or shiny moon.

Third, to please both parent and child, shop around for great toddler books. Books made especially for toddlers are typically ones made from thick cardboard. They may have pop-up characters, animals with fur that kids can pet, and flowers with a scratch-and-sniff scent. It is important for parents to read to their children to introduce them to language and ideas, and also to instill a sense that reading and learning are important.

Next, remember not to overdo it. It is always flattering when the birthday boy or girl latches on to the gift you presented, and barely lets go long enough to finishing opening the rest! Choose something that will stimulate their minds and spur their development.

Last but not least, think creatively when shopping for educational toys for toddlers. Maybe you could try a wardrobe of dress-up clothes, so they can pretend to be a soldier, astronaut, or athlete. When you are racing through the toy store on the way to another great birthday party, remember to choose a stimulating and creative toy that is age appropriate for your little friend.

Avoid Dangerous Toys for Toddlers

In fact, children under three or four years of age are particularly prone to choking on small objects (they put everything in their mouths!). When making a purchase for your little one this holiday season, keep a watchful eye by closely inspecting not just the labels, but the toys themselves. Labels are good guidelines, but they aren’t foolproof. In fact, some believe that manufacturers intentionally over-label toys for toddlers to insulate themselves from potential lawsuits.

While toys made for children three years of age and younger must, by law, be large enough that they do not present a choking hazard, it’s best to closely inspect them yourself. Aside from choking hazards, be sure to avoid toys that are sharp. Most toys made for children three and younger have smooth, rounded edges. If a toy has sharp or jagged points, it may not be safe for your toddler.

Here are some gifts that are good ideas for toddler one- and two-year-olds:

* Cloth or plastic books

* Building blocks

* Push and pull toys

* Soft, washable balls, animals, dolls (make sure the
eyes can’t come off and there are no buttons)

* Toy phones

Sure, you want to get your child the perfect gift. But no gift is perfect unless it is safe and age appropriate. Finally, keep in mind that children under three years old, regardless of how safe you deem the toy, need adult supervision when playing with the toys for toddlers.

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE TODDLER STORE.