| Most of us have been there before. You open the | | | | explore and create with oversized paper and |
| mailbox to find a brightly colored invitation to the | | | | crayons, or clay. |
| birthday party of your favorite two year old. You | | | | Third, to please both parent and child, shop around |
| hang the invitation on the refrigerator with great | | | | for great toddler books. Books made especially for |
| intentions to stop at the toy store after work to | | | | toddlers are typically ones made from thick |
| buy a great birthday gift. Several weeks later, you | | | | cardboard. They may have pop-up characters, |
| realize the party starts in 2 hours and you have yet | | | | animals with fur that kids can pet, and flowers with a |
| to get the perfect gift. You jump in the car, race to | | | | scratch-and-sniff scent. It is important for parents to |
| the toy store, and run inside. Suddenly, you are | | | | read to their children to introduce them to language |
| surrounded by a sea of remarkable toys and start to | | | | and ideas, and also to instill a sense that reading and |
| panic! Take a deep breath and slow down for just a | | | | learning are important. Books also provide great |
| minute. These five tips will help you choose the | | | | bonding moments between parents and children. |
| perfect educational toy and get to the party in time. | | | | Next, remember not to overdo it. Sure, it is tempting |
| First, be sure to buy a toy that is for a toddler. Sure, | | | | to try and pick out the biggest and best gift that will |
| their parents may tell you that their child is so | | | | be at the party. It is always flattering when the |
| advanced, that they should be in third grade by now. | | | | birthday boy or girl latches on to the gift you |
| But let's face it; you should buy a toy that's fit for a | | | | presented, and barely lets go long enough to finishing |
| two year old. Otherwise, the child may not be | | | | opening the rest! But, the size of the gift and the |
| interested in it, and end up just playing with the box. | | | | amount of money you spend is not as important as |
| Also, it is important that they toy is in the right age | | | | the impact that your gift may have on that particular |
| range for the child to make sure it is safe. Little | | | | child. Choose something that will stimulate their minds |
| hands and mouths are not safe around toys with | | | | and spur their development. |
| little detachable parts. Most toy stores arrange their | | | | Last but not least, think creatively when shopping for |
| products by corresponding age ranges, so head | | | | educational toys for toddlers. Maybe you could try a |
| straight to the section designed for the child you | | | | plant that they can learn to love, water, and care |
| have in mind. | | | | for, along with their very first watering can. Or |
| Next, think about choosing a gift that allows parents | | | | perhaps they would enjoy a wardrobe of dress-up |
| to interact with their child to build skills important for | | | | clothes, so they can pretend to be a soldier, |
| later academic success. It is important for toddlers to | | | | astronaut, or athlete. |
| be exposed to letters, letter sounds, and numbers. | | | | When you are racing through the toy store on the |
| Look for brightly colored blocks, oversized flashcards, | | | | way to another great birthday party, remember to |
| or puzzles with letters and numbers that may also | | | | choose a stimulating and creative toy that is age |
| have a tactile component like a fuzzy duck or shiny | | | | appropriate for your little friend. Just don't forget to |
| moon. Some phonological based toys also talk or sing | | | | grab some wrapping paper on the way to the cash |
| to children. Parents always enjoy helping their child | | | | register. |