2006-07-23 19:11:00 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Preschool
Children do not require expensive toys to remain interested. They do need a variety of toys and definietly sensory play with sand and water is a definite.
Music and movement to music.
Lively story telling
and art and crafts....
2006-07-24 02:22:47 · answer #1 · answered by wollemi_pine_writer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember to get two or three of many of the toys, as it is not developmentally appropriate to expect children 3 and under to share. You'll save yourself a lot of aggravation if you do that.
2006-07-26 00:00:36 · answer #2 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
educational toys, such as leap pad electronics, shapes and fun games, something not going to drive you completely up the wall..
the einstein videos, it more less depends on the age of the children because you want to keep them intrested in the toy. and group activity games.. i babysit alot.. haha... but yea pretty much anything educational and fun, to your standards
2006-07-23 19:19:41 · answer #3 · answered by beana6910 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Safe toys, like Fisher Price......wooden blocks,
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This is aa PDF file with a lot of information......
http://ccld.ca.gov/Res/pdf/childcarecentersaguide.pdf
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Through toys, children learn about their world, themselves, and others. Choosing toys that appeal to your children and foster their learning will help you make their early years count. Toys can teach children to
figure out how things work
pick up new ideas
build muscle control and strength
use their imagination
solve problems
learn to cooperate with others
Remember that good toys are not necessarily expensive, and children do not need very many. The more a child can do with a toy, the more likely it is to be educational. Here are some tips to help you choose toys wisely for your child:
Hands-on toys build eye-hand coordination, encourage ideas about how things work, and foster cooperation and problem-solving.
Books and recordings help children appreciate words, literature, and music.
Art materials foster creativity and build skills that lead to reading, writing, and seeing beauty in life.
Few toys are as durable as hardwood unit blocks, and they teach children about geometry and gravity, shapes and balance.
Construction items contribute to muscle strength and help children learn about science and number ideas.
Musical instruments and experimental materials such as sand, water, and clay offer children control while appealing to their senses.
Active play equipment builds strong muscles and confidence to meet physical challenges.
Pretend play objects such as dolls, stuffed animals and dramatic figures give children a chance to try new behaviors and use their imaginations.
If your child attends child care or preschool, look at the types of toys available. Is there a variety of safe and interesting toys? For toddlers and young preschoolers, there should be multiple copies of toys -- a great way to avoid conflicts.
Get involved in your child's play
Match toys to fit your child's thinking, language, physical skills, feelings, and friendships. Each child grows and develops at a different pace, so watching your child's play and playing together will enable you to choose appropriate toys and worthwhile activities for your child.
Parents who take part in pretend play with their one- to three-year-old children help them to develop more varied and complex play patterns. These children, in turn, engage in more pretend play with other children and tend to be more advanced intellectually, better able to understand others' feelings, and considered more socially competent by their teachers.
Good toys are
appealing and interesting to the child; proper for the child's physical capacities; appropriate for the child's mental and social development; suitable for use in groups of children; and well-constructed, durable, and safe for the ages of the children in the group. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/toys.p.t.2.html
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LIVERMORE, Calif., Sept. 30, 1996 -- In today's enormous market of toys, there is more concern than ever among parents about safety, says Lane Nemeth, mother and former day-care director who specializes in toy safety.
Nemeth, Founder and CEO of Discovery Toys has advice for parents on how to ensure their children's toys are safe. She recommends that parents use a Small Parts Cylinder ($2.48, Discovery Toys, 800-426-4777) to test the safety of small parts on their children's toys.
Children spend most of their time with toys, from day one through their growing-up years. Nemeth believes that an informed, good toy purchase is an investment in a child. Although some safety issues are based on good common sense, there are other helpful guidelines that can assist parents in choosing safe toys.
Nemeth suggests parents do a toy safety check-up using the five S's of toy safety:
Size -- small parts such as buttons, eyes, wheels, staples or bells can easily come off or be swallowed. The Small Parts Cylinder is a handy measuring device. If a piece fits in the container, the piece is too small for children under three years.
Shape -- buy toys with smooth surfaces. Avoid sharp edges and blunt ends as well as brittle, plastic or glass products or metal pieces that can bend and cut.
Surfaces -- labels on toys should tell you if they are non-toxic and fire resistant. Avoid beads made from seeds or painted with toxic paint and any toys containing liquids that could leak.
Strings -- these are suitable for older children but can become wrapped around wrists or necks.
Supervision -- provide a safe place to play and be aware of potential dangers in toys.
"Play is a child's work," says Nemeth, "and it's vitally important to provide them with safe, fun tools for their development. This includes choosing toys that are right for your child's age." It's important to follow the manufacturer's age recommendations and keep toys designed for older children out of the reach of younger children.
Small Parts Cylinder, $2.48, Discovery Toys, call 800-426-4777
CONTACT: Vickie Silver of Discovery Toys, 510-371-3755
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/products/safetoys.html
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/toddler/toys_young_toddlers.html
Younger Toddlers (1 year olds) developmental milestones and their abilities and interests:
Toddler Physical Development
endless exercise of physical skills.
likes to lug, dump, push, pull, pile, knock down, empty and till.
likes to climb-can manage small indoor steps.
manipulation is more exploratory than skillful.
active interest in multiple small objects.
by 2 years, can kick, catch a large ball.
by 2 years, can string large heads, turn knob, use screw motion. (All beads given to this age gioup should be at least 1-3/4 niches (44 mm) in diameter, however, if any object appeais to hi easily in the child's mouth, keep it away from the child.)
Toddler Mental Development
interest in causing effects.
interest in mechanisms and objects that move or can he moved-prefers action toys.
combines objects with other objects-makes simple block structures, uses simple stacking toys, does simple puzzles.
very curious-constant experimentation with objects.
interest in hidden-object toys.
at 1 1/2 to 2 years, groups/matches similar objects-enjoys simple sorting toys.
identifies objects by pointing-can identify pictures in hook.
enjoys water, sand play.
makes marks on paper, scribbles spontaneously.
first imitative play-imitation of adult tasks, especially caretaking and housekeeping tasks.
Toddler Social Development
most solitary play--relates to adults better than to children.
tries to do adult tasks.
expresses affection for others-shows preference for certain soft toys, dolls.
likes being read to, looking at picture books, likes nursery rhymes.
by 1 1/2, enjoys interactive games such as tag.
ALL TOYS for Young Toddlers
Children prefer action toys that produce movement or sounds by the child's own efforts
toys need not he highly detailed but should be realistic looking.
toys should be lightweight for easy lifting and carrying
bright colors preferred.
In play, child always on the move - large muscle activities such as running, climbing dominate over small muscle activities such as exploring objects constructing.
Child beginning to combine and put together objects.
Beginning of imitative play.
Toys should meet safety regulations for age
sturdy, unbreakable, not likely to break into small pieces and strong enough for child to stand on or in.
nontoxic materials.
no sharp points or edges.
too large to be lodged in windpipe, ears, nostrils.
no detachable small pans.
no parts that could pinch or entrap fingers, toes, hair.
not put together with easily exposed straight pins, sham wires, nails.
no electrical parts, unless supervised by adult.
Active Play
Push and Pull Toys
push toys with rods (rods with large handles on ends).
toys to push on floor-simple, sturdy with large wheels.
special noise and action effects.
for steady walkers, pull toys on strings (broad-based to tip less easily).
from about 1 1/2
simple doll carriages.
wagons - low, open, big enough for child to get in.
small rocking horses - confined rocking arc, stout handles rather than reins knee height on child,.push/pull toys filled with multiple objects.
Ride-On Toys
ride-ons propelled by pushing with feet-no pedals
stable ride-ons---4 or more wheels, wheels spaced wide apart, child's feet flat on floor when seated.
ride-ons with storage bins.
ride-ons that make noise, look like animals
Outdoor and Gym Equipment
all gym equipment needs adult supervision.
low, soft climbing platforms.
tunnels for crawling.
swings (pushed by adult) seals curved or body-shaped of energy-absorbing material with restraining strap.
from about 1 1/2
simple low climbing structures.
low slides with handrails.
outdoor play equipment with stationary rather than moving parts.
Sports Equipment
soft light weight halls, especially with interesting visual effects, noises, unpredictable movement.
chime ball, flutter ball.
large balls (easier for child to maneuver)
(All balls given to this age group should be at least 1-3/4 inches (44 mm) in diameter, however if any object appears to fit easily in the child's mouth, keep it away from the child.)
Manipulative Play
Construction Toys
small lightweight stacking blocks (15-25 pieces).
before 1 1/2 most interlocking mechanisms are too difficult
from around 1 1/2
solid wooden unit blocks (20-40).
large hollow building blocks.
large plastic bricks (2-4 inches or 50- 100 mm) to press together
Puzzles
simple pre-puzzles or form boards - 2-3 pieces each piece a familiar shape.
from around 1 1/2
3-5 piece puzzles with knobs easier to use (knobs firmly attached).
Pattern-Making Toys
peg board with a few large pegs.
Manipulative Toys
activity boxes attached to crib or playpen or freestanding-simple action mechanisms (doors, lids, switches).
hidden object toys.
simple pop-up toys operated by pushing a button or knob.
nesting cups-round shape few pieces.
simple stacking toys-few pieces no order necessary.
shape sorters-a few common shapes.
from around 1 1/2
fit-together toys of about 5 pieces
activity boxes with more complex action mechanisms-turning knob or dial, turning simple key.
pounding/hammering toys.
nesting toys-square or other shapes.
stacking toys of 4-5 pieces.
simple matching toys.
simple number/counting boards (1-5) with large pegs.
simple lock boxes & lock/key toys.
jack-in-the-box toys (adult supervision if toys spring back quickly).
toys with screwing action (child can usually manage only 1 turn).
Dressing, Lacing, Stringing Toys
large colored beads (fewer than 10) (All balls given to this age group should be at least 1-3/4 inches (44 mm) in diameter, however, any object appears to fit easily in the child's mouth, keep it away from the child.)
from around 1 1/2
lacing cubes or board with thick blunt spindle.
Sand and Water Play Toys
simple floating toys-1 or 2 pieces, easy to grasp in one hand
sponges small shovel and pail.
from around 1 1/2
nesting tub toys
bathtub activity centers
funnels, colanders
small sandbox tools (rake should have blunt teeth)
Make-Believe Play
Dolls
soft-bodied or all-rubber baby dolls.
simple dolls with no hair moving eyes, or movable limbs.
dolls to fit easily in child's arms, or small dolls (5-6 inches).
simple accessories for caretaking - bottle, blanket.
simple doll clothes, need not be detachable.
from around 1 1/2
large peg people.
Stuffed Toys
very soft lightweight easy to hold.
slender limbs on toys for easy grasp.
for safety reasons no whiskers, buttons, bow belts.
Puppets
puppets operated by adult.
from around 1 1/2
small hand puppets sized to fit child's hand.
soft, plush puppets that double as stuffed toys.
Role-Play Materials
toy telephone, full-length mirror.
simple housekeeping equipment.
simple doll equipment-carriage bud.
from around 1 1/2
simple dress-ups, hats scarves, ties, shoes, jewelry.
role-play toys that can be pushed & make noise - mower, vacuum.
child-sized equipment, oven, fridge, sink, table, and chairs.
Play Scenes
(All figures should be at least 1 1/4 inches (44 mm) in diameter, however if any object appears to fit easily in the child's mouth, keep it away from the child)
before 1 1/2
child may enjoy handling, carrying around figures.
from around 1 1/2
familiar, realistic scenes - farm, airport, garage - not overly detailed pieces (4-6 pieces).
prefer scenes with moving parts or that make noise.
Transportation Toys
lightweight vehicles of a size for easy handling (not too small) and with secure wheels.
push or pull cars and trains.
vehicles that make noise.
first train- 1-2 cars, no tracks ,simple or no coupling system.
from around 1 1/2
more detailed vehicles -- doors, hoods that open.
trains with simple coupling system - large hooks, magnets.
Projectile Toys
not suited to age group
CREATIVE PLAY
(arts, crafts, music)
Musical Instruments
rhythm instruments operated by shaking enclosed bells and rattles.
from around 1 1/2
rhythm instruments, operated by banging - cymbals, drums, xylophones.
Art and Craft Materials
large crayons.
sturdy, large-size paper.
Audio-Visual Equipment
operated by adult
tapes, records or CDs of nursery rhymes and rhythms.
hand-cranked music box, worked by child if crank is large and easy to turn.
LEARNING PLAY
Games
not suited to age group
Specific Skill Development Toys
not suited to age group
Books and 'Peek-a-Boo' Books
sturdy cloth plastic, cardboard books with few pages.
picture books, nursery rhymes stories with repetition.
books to be held and read by adult can be more fragile with paper pages.
from around 1 1/2
touch-me or tactile books.
Adapted from the CPSC Which Toy for Which Child booklet
Related Links
toddlers
toys
developmental
milestones
interests
physical
development
mental
social
climb
kick
catch
ball
sand
solitary play
books
nursery rhymes
tag
games
books
find books about toddlers and toys
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/toddler/toys_young_toddlers.html
These sites should help you a great deal.......Much Luck to you all.
2006-07-23 20:11:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋