Finding the right toys
Finding the right toys for your child is a hit-and-miss affair.
No matter how much research you put into it, how many shops or catalogues
you scour or other parents you get advice from, you’ll end up with some toys
that your child plays with and others that he or she doesn’t.
Boxes or cupboards packed with toys that rarely see the light of day are
an inevitability of modern parenthood. Depending on your child’s ability
to concentrate, even the popular toys may provide only a short period of
entertainment before child moves on to something else - and every parent
has witnessed (or will do) their child casting a new toy aside only to
play with the box it came in or the label attached! ‘Grown-up’ objects
such as a set of keys or the TV remote control are also likely to be far
more interesting then a mere child’s plaything.
Despite the lottery of buying toys that will be a success,
you have more chance of getting it right at least some of the time
if you familiarise yourself with the various stages of your child’s
development - then toys can be bought to fit in with the abilities and
interests of your baby as he or she grows up. Arguably, certainly during
the first year, you don’t really need to buy any manufactured toys at
all - you’re bound to be given some and you’re likely to find everything
else you need to stimulate your baby around the house. On the other hand,
there is certain pleasure in choosing and buying toys for your baby so, if
you are going to do it anyway, it’s worth following the guidelines given in our guide.
.”Be suspicious of any toys that makes claims along the lines of ‘hours of fun for your child’
on the packaging - 10 minutes or so is much more likely.” - Chris, father of Cal, age 2
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What? Toy Guide
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