Toys play an important role in a child's life. Aside from providing tons of fun, toys also offer a great opportunity to develop and practice new skills at their own pace by following their unique interests. 

As a parent, it should be your priority to offer your child toys that help them learn something new. The toys you see in toy stores may seem colourful and attractive, but not all of them are right for your baby or toddler. How do you know which is right for your child, you may ask? Here is what you should consider when looking to buy baby toys or toddler toys. 

Give Preference for Toys That Can Be Used in Different Ways 

Small children love to pull things out, take things apart, put them back together,  and build things up. Toys that are "open-ended," mean that your child can use them to play in a variety of ways Great examples of open-ended toys are wooden blocks or chunky plastic interlocking blocks, which can be used to make a build, a road,  a bridge, a zoo, a spaceship, etc.  Toys like this assist your little one to develop problem-solving and logical thinking abilities by igniting his creativity.

Choose Toys That Grows With Your Child

source: sciencing.com

If you've ever bought your child a toy that they played with only for a couple of days and never touch it again, then you know how this can be frustrating. To prevent this, buy baby toys designed for different development stages. For example, a young toddler will have fun playing with small plastic animals, using a shoebox as a house for them while an older toddler can use them to act out a story they make up. Other examples of toys that will grow with your child are action figures, trains, dump trucks and other vehicles, stuffed animals, toddler-friendly dollhouses, etc. 

Choose Toys that Encourage Exploration and Problem-Solving

Toys that give kids an opportunity to figure something out on their own—or with a little assistance—help them build their logical thinking skills and become persistent problem-solvers. They also aid in the development of spatial relations abilities (the ability to understand how things fit together), hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills in children. Shape sorters, puzzles, nesting blocks or cups, blocks, and art materials like play-dough, crayons, paint or clay are good examples of toys that encourage exploration and problem-solving. 

Consider Toys that Spark Your Child's Imagination

source: speechblubs.com

Around the third year, a child's creativity really takes off. At this stage, they become able to take on the role of someone else (like a king or a princess) and imagine that something (like a block)is actually something else (like a piece of cake). So, offering your child toys that they can use as they develop and act out their stories is very important. This includes toy food and plastic plates, stuffed animals, toy tools, dress-up clothing, action figures, etc.

Check to See If the Toy Is Appropriate for Your Child's Age

Your child will only enjoy a toy if they can use it. Your baby will be encouraged or challenged to use and improve one or more developmental abilities when he or she plays with an age-appropriate toy. This concern becomes more important as your child becomes older and more intelligent. He may become bored with a toy that does not present him with any challenges. A toy that is too difficult to operate, on the other hand, may annoy your little one. He may have lost interest in a toy he acquired prematurely by the time he obtains the abilities needed to enjoy it.

Consider the Safeness of the Toy

source: newborncaresolutions.com 

Although toy manufacturers' age guidelines take safety into account, you should inspect every toy you intend to give your child carefully. Your baby will bang, drop, kick, pull, throw, bite, and suck on each toy you give them during the first year. A toy must be sturdy in order to withstand this kind of abuse. If it's breakable, your child will undoubtedly break it into pieces. To avoid choking, stay away from toys with parts smaller than one centimetre in diameter. Toys should be painted or polished with non-toxic materials because your child will definitely gnaw on them. Finally, they should be simple to clean so that you can maintain them (relatively) clean and germ-free.

In addition to these fundamental safety issues, the weight of any toy should be considered. Any toy will inevitably fall onto your baby's toes or hit them in the face, the reason why you should stay away from toys that will hurt them. Also, any toy with sharp edges or strings or ribbons long enough to wrap around your baby's neck should be avoided.

As a rule of thumb, the simpler the toy the longer it will last. Simple toys tend to have fewer parts, which makes them more durable than more elaborated toys.