In daily life, when buying toys for babies, it is a matter that requires attention and care to choose toys that are liked by the baby, safe, and educational from thousands of options. The following points for attention can be used as a reference:
1. Choose toys that help with the physical and mental development of children.
Based on different ages, choose toys that enhance the physical and mental development of children, such as promoting social skills, communication skills, motor skills, hand-eye coordination, building confidence, and fostering imagination and creativity.
2. Choose toys that allow children to participate.
Or let the child participate? If a toy is only pretty and makes the child quietly admire it without learning new things through play, then it's not a good toy. Toys should induce children to explore and imagine, creating fun in the process. "Looks good but not useful" toys will make children observers rather than participants, and they will easily get bored with the toy.
3. Choose age-appropriate toys.
Buying a remote-controlled plane for a three-year-old baby may not have a good effect. Of course, besides choosing toys suitable for the child's age, you can also choose toys for slightly older children. Parents can play with them while the child imitates.
4. Choose toys that grow with the child.
Balls are a good choice. From touching and playing with them at a young age to kicking them with other children as they grow older. Books are also a good choice, suitable for children of all age groups.
5. Choose toys that maintain the baby's interest over time.
Toys in a child's hands usually lose their appeal in just a few days, wasting the parents' money! When buying toys, consider whether they are durable, chew-proof, washable, etc.
6. Choose safe toys.
This is something parents need to pay special attention to when selecting toys. Small parts in toys, easily breakable or detachable parts, sharp objects, or toys that can be easily bitten by children, all pose dangers.
7. Play with the toy yourself first.
Before purchasing a toy, parents should play with it themselves first to see if it is safe or if it can benefit the child. You can find other children in the toy store to try it out before making your decision.
8. Read the instructions for use of children's toys beforehand.
For toys that require maintenance, the method will be specified in the instruction manual. This is especially true for complex toys or infant toys. For infant toys, check if there are methods for cleaning or disinfection, such as whether they can withstand high-temperature sterilization or be washed.
9. Observe the child playing with the toy.
Observe the child playing with the toy; if they are highly engaged and not easily distracted by other things, then you've succeeded.
10. Regularly maintain and inspect the toys.
Pay special attention to regularly checking the toys of children under 3 years old. Check if screws are loose, if small parts (like noses and eyes) on plush toys are detached, or if plastic toys have cracks that could cause other dangers.
The safety of a baby's toys cannot be ignored, and parents must ensure quality control for their baby's toys. At the same time, the most important thing is to select appropriate types of toys according to the characteristics of each stage of the baby's growth, aiming to pick the best companion for the baby's growth.