The Right Toy at the Right Time
Of all the toys available to children, how in the world do you know which ones to choose?
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has a few guides that may help. These guides break down not only which toys are safe for children at certain ages, but also which toys are most appropriate for their physical, mental and social developmental stages.
First, a toy should be appealing to the child. Seeing the world through a child’s eyes and encouraging their interests is a fantastic first step in choosing a gift.
Second, a toy should be suited to the child’s physical capabilities. If we select a toy that’s beyond a child’s physical skill we miss out on meeting the child’s immediate needs for play and discovery.
Third, toys should match a child’s mental and social developmental stage. This can be challenging, especially when buying a toy for a child you don’t see every day, like a grandchild, niece or nephew. While each child develops along their own unique timeline, these age-group suggestions offer a great place to start when selecting a toy to nourish a child’s often invisible internal life.
Last, but not least, choosing well-constructed, durable, and safe toys is essential. Good toys should last and be safe to play with.
We take great care to stock toys that meet these criteria and love to introduce children to toys they adore, can operate with ease, that enhance their mental and social well-being, and that will last through years of safe play. It’s what we’re here for, and it is our greatest joy.