| Since your child's development proceeds so rapidly | | | | misleading in this area. Because the interests and |
| during the early years, and since each child has a | | | | abilities of preschoolers will change very quickly, most |
| unique pattern of development and a distinct | | | | toys will be appropriate and appreciated only for very |
| personality, it is practically impossible to find a toy | | | | brief and specific periods of time. Yet because they |
| that will be stimulating and suitable for all preschoolers | | | | are in the business of selling as many toys as |
| at all times. In order to determine the comparative | | | | possible, most manufacturers routinely stretch their |
| play value of a particular item at a particular point in | | | | recommended age ranges to ludicrous limits. Keep in |
| your child's development, it is imperative for parents | | | | mind that if you put too much faith in the |
| to be thoroughly familiar with their child's specific | | | | manufacturers and neglect to take adequate note of |
| interests and inclinations of the moment and the | | | | your child's behaviors and tendencies of the moment, |
| abilities she has already mastered, as well as those | | | | you may miss the mark by many months on many |
| that are likely to emerge in the coming months. While | | | | occasions. |
| this will not make you infallible, and you may | | | | Adult Perspective - Preschoolers do not buy toys for |
| sometimes be confused by some common | | | | themselves, and the younger ones are not even |
| misconceptions and misleading information, but it | | | | adept at articulating what they really want. |
| certainly will give you the best shot at success when | | | | Consequently, many toy manufacturers have a |
| buying toys for your preschooler. By using these | | | | tendency to design and market their products in |
| basic guidelines you can buy toys that your | | | | ways that will appeal primarily to the adult purchasers |
| preschooler will like and will aid them in the rapid | | | | rather than child players. It is crucial to keep in mind |
| period of development they are in. | | | | that no matter what the pleasant associations we |
| Recommended Age Ranges - Because of the federal | | | | have with iconic toys these preferences are |
| regulations, the recommended age ranges that are | | | | developed in later childhood and toddlers usually do |
| printed on toy boxes usually are reasonably reliable | | | | not know(nor do they care about)the differences |
| guides when it comes to the safety considerations of | | | | between such "stars" and generic toys. Therefore, |
| a particular toy. However, parents should keep in | | | | when selecting playthings for your preschooler, it is |
| mind that there are no regulations regarding play | | | | important to make sure you try to look at items |
| value, and these recommendations can be extremely | | | | through her eyes rather than your own. |