December 12, 2002

Toys! Toys! Toys!

It’s the holiday time of the year, and a great concern to most girls and boys is, of course, toys, toys and more toys! They’re not the only ones, right? Parents are concerned about toys that will last and be useful over time.

"We all know that toys are often expensive and even though that may be the case, the most expensive toys are not always the best," according to Karin Bartoszuk, North Dakota State University Extension child/adolescent specialist. "For instance, a battery-powered vehicle or robot might soon become boring to your child, because it can only do limited things. Toys that can be used in many different ways will be more interesting to your child."

Keep the following tips in mind when you shop for toys on your children’s wish list.

• Is the toy age appropriate? Will the child be able to play with it in its intended way? Are the child’s hands grown enough to manipulate the toy as designed?
• What skills will this toy or material help a child to develop? Will it help to strengthen muscles or enhance fine or gross motor skills and coordination?
• Is the toy safe? Are there sharp edges, little pieces or toxic materials that could hurt a child?
• Is the toy worth the cost? Is it useful over a long period of time, and therefore worth the price? How long will it be interesting to the child?
• Can this toy easily be cleaned or washed?
• Before buying a toy, name three different things that your child could do with the toy. The more things a child can do with a toy, the longer a child will play with it.
• Will this toy stimulate your child’s creativity and imagination? If so, how?

Keep these things in mind when you go out shopping for children, and not just at Christmas time" Bartoszuk says. "We all have probably heard of a child that played more with the box that the toy came in rather than the toy itself. That’s certainly not what a parent intends. Make that list, and check it twice!"

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Source: Karin Bartoszuk, (701) 231-8488, kbartosz@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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