Choosing The Right Toys For Your Child
As the holiday season gets underway, toys are often at the top of children’s wish lists. Kids may beg for the popular toys seen in the store or at their friend’s house, but it’s important for parents to consider what is appropriate for their child’s age, skill level, and developmental needs.
Aleeya Healey, MD, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center has researched the topic and offers guidance on how to pick appropriate toys.
For younger children, Dr. Healey recommends toys that involve the child’s imagination and creativity. She said art supplies like paint, crayons, and Play Doh will spark the child’s creativity, and play sets like a kitchen or school set-up will help them role play.
“People joke that on Christmas morning, kids wind up playing with the box more than the actual toy. But playing with the box is the best kind of play because it’s so open ended,” she said.
Dr. Healey also suggests looking for toys that foster social skills like paying attention, taking turns, being patient, and compromising. For example, a matching game may help a young child focus and work on their memory; Jenga helps teach kids how to be patient; and board games teach children how to take turns, work with their peers, and be cooperative.
An important note for parents… Dr. Healey says don’t let your child win!
“Parents have to be careful running the show,” she said. “I see a lot of parents and siblings let the younger child win all the time, but that’s not the purpose of playing a game. The purpose is to learn to follow a set of rules and to be good losers or have good sportsmanship.”
As for electronics, Dr. Healey recommends limiting your child’s screen time, but also says there are some benefits to certain electronic toys. She says there are educational games that teach math or spelling, or there are multi-player games where you interact and work with peers.
“It’s not all bad, but you have to be mindful of what you’re playing, who you’re playing with, and for what duration of time,” said Dr. Healey.
And if you’re looking to move away from the toy aisle, Dr. Healey says experiences are great gifts for children too.
“The best gift any parent or person can give a child is the gift of time,” she said. “Interact with them, go somewhere with them, or give them 30 minutes of your undivided attention.”