| With all the choices available, picking the best toys | | | | apart from flashing lights which might amuse it for a |
| for your baby can be a bit of a minefield. Advice, on | | | | short time, they do not offer much for the |
| what to buy, can also vary considerably. However, | | | | development of a very young child. |
| there are some basic guidelines which when followed, | | | | There are some questions that parents should ask |
| should help parents make the best choice both for | | | | themselves when choosing toyso Is the toy likely to |
| the child and themselves. | | | | hold the baby's attention?o Will it survive the "abuse" |
| Firstly, toys, in addition to keeping a baby amused, | | | | that even a baby can inflict?o Is it too complicated - |
| are a vital factor in the early learning experience. | | | | babies need solid simplicity?o Will it challenge the baby |
| A baby does indeed learn from the things that she | | | | so that baby will not get easily bored or frustrated?o |
| plays with, so the more things she has access to, the | | | | Will it encourage the baby to think and stimulate |
| more she can learn. Consequently many parents | | | | creativity and imagination?o Will the child be engaged |
| spend a fortune on baby toys only to be | | | | in play and not simply a spectator?o Can the toy be |
| disappointed when the child discards them very | | | | played with in more than one way?o Does the toy |
| quickly. | | | | have novelty value - different to toys they already |
| Babies learn about their world by using all five of their | | | | have?o Does it that "fun appeal" that will encourage |
| senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. It is | | | | a parent to join in with the play? |
| important that all these senses are engaged and | | | | Then there are the more basic considerations such |
| stimulated by the toys they are given. Through | | | | aso safety (sharp edges, risk of choking),o size (can |
| playing with their toys, babies:o learn to control their | | | | the toy be easily manipulated by the child),o colour |
| body movements and begin to exercise control of | | | | (babies recognise primary colours much better than |
| their worldo learn to work things out, solve simple | | | | pastel shades)o durability (babies can be quite |
| problems and develop ideaso begin to develop muscle | | | | destructive)o washability (it is inevitable that toys will |
| control and co-ordinationo begin to develop their | | | | get dirty and are inevitably destined for your baby's |
| imagination | | | | mouth) |
| According to the founder of the Institute of | | | | If all this seems a little overwhelming, then rest |
| Achievement of Human Potential a child spends | | | | assured, most of the above will quickly become |
| approximately ninety seconds playing with an | | | | second nature. Toys are fun items and there is no |
| average toy. After looking at it, feeling it, tasting it, | | | | reason why buying toys cannot also be a fun |
| sniffing it, and shaking and banging it to see if it | | | | experience. Instead of spending hours trudging |
| makes a noise, the toy is discarded, much to the | | | | around toyshops, it is possible to consider all the |
| disappointment of the doting parents. | | | | possibilities from the comfort of your home, by |
| Does this mean that the child has an extremely short | | | | simply clicking your mouse. |
| attention span or that they are not very smart? On | | | | One excellent place to start is by visiting THE BABY |
| the contrary, in that 90 seconds the toy has been | | | | STORE, a virtual "baby superstore", from where you |
| completely "road tested" by all the child's senses. | | | | can actually buy everything your baby needs. Explore |
| So what should a parent look for when buying toys | | | | the extremely wide range of baby toys, chosen for |
| for babies? Unfortunately, we now live in a | | | | the highest quality and best value for money. Shop |
| predominantly electronic age. While electronic toys | | | | at your leisure and have everything delivered to your |
| may be suitable for older children, then for a baby, | | | | door. |