Shopping For Toys Is Child’s Play

As a late-in-life-Dad  I have to stay on top of the Kid/Christmas experience and with zillions of toys to choose from, buying the right toys seems like a daunting task. But I found some interesting research that can make things a little easier for grandmas and grandpas and senior pops!

• “Educational” toys are no better at teaching kids than regular toys. Kids learn from playing. It can be a game of tag or playing with a toy they love or a toy that tries to teach. If a kid plays with a toy, he will learn. If he doesn’t play with it – it doesn’t do much good. But research shows that kids don’t learn more from toys that “teach.”

• Kids love toys that other kids have or that other kids are talking about. Just because your child says he wants a toy doesn’t mean he will a) play with it or b) enjoy it. So just asking your child isn’t the best way to choose a toy.

• The classic toys still work. Every year in toy tests, kids still enjoy Candyland, Play-Doh, Sorrow, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky and lots of the other classics – which is why they are still around.

So happy hunting, shop with love but remember your time is the best gift you can give!

Source: Marianne Szymanski author of “Toy Tips”