Are you Buying the Right Toys for Your Children?

"Different toys can influence children's behavior in different ways."

A moment of reflection hit me as I read this statement from an Early Childhood Education Professor at ECSU.

It's true.

Parents such as myself tend to focus more on the more prominent influences in my children’s development. Mainly the people and the environment that surrounds my kids.

However, this subconscious attentiveness to the bigger picture often distracts us from noticing that even the seemingly insignificant and inanimate things such as toys also play a crucial role, for that matter.

If toys then are instrumental in developing a child's character, this begs the question: What is the right toys?

We may want to jump to the answer right away, but it's far more crucial to understand why we need these "right toys" in the first place.

According to a study, in the United States, around 90% of preschoolers' play involves a toy. Unfortunately, this means that a vast majority of parents who buy toys for their children are inadvertently influencing their kids’ character, without their knowledge.

This is the reason why we need the right kind of toys.

Unless everyone understands the depths of how toys impact children, we might stumble down the pitfall of buying toys that are neither beneficial nor uplifting for our kids.

While some toys may elicit age-appropriate intellectual and social development, other toys tap into the negative extremes — violence and aggravation. As parents, we can never understate this fact if we aim to raise intelligent and well-mannered children. Further emphasizing the need for the proper toys.

So, what exactly are these toys?

Honestly, there is no such thing as "right" or "wrong" toys to begin with. However, there is a general rule of thumb to determine whether a toy is a good choice for your children or not. So naturally, this metric subliminally influences a parent's perception of the rightness or wrongness of a toy:  

“Basic is better.”

You're better off choosing a bag of wooden blocks than that Iron Man action figure your son wanted for Christmas. Or a kids' microscope than the new edition Barbie doll for your daughter's birthday.

Today, all toys mostly boast of their complicated features and complex controllability. But, not one commercial has ever emphasized this:

The simplest toys are the best kinds to give your kids.

Why?

While complicated toys thrive in how many features they pack, kids often lose interest in them quickly because these toys can function even without a child's participation.

On the other hand, basic toys encourage imaginative, interactive, and open-ended play. These toys invite a child's participation; that's why they rarely lose their value in the long run.

Toys are designed originally to foster your kid's development throughout their childhood. Therefore, as kids grow, parents need to capitalize on their rapid transition from infancy to school-age by giving them the toys relevant to their developmental needs.

The right kind of toys supports the development of the social and spatial skills of kids. These toys are also effective in training their motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. More importantly, with the most suitable toys, kids can learn to:

• Acquire knowledge
• Grow emotionally, and;
• Cultivate an unrelenting curiosity that guides them from that point forth

Give kids the right kind of toys, and you potentially influence not only their behavior but also pique their interests.

Who knows, these interests might turn into a passion that shifts their future careers' trajectory. Now, that’s a parenting hack you don’t want to miss out on!

In conclusion

Although it's the parents' prerogative to classify the right and appropriate toy for their kids, speaking from experience, I believe that STEM toys are the best ones to get your children.

Nothing invites curiosity than a child's unquenching desire to discover the world. With toys that advocate science, technology, engineering, and math — your children's quest for answers may come to fruition.

Take it from a parent who witnessed how his children appreciate STEM toys. If you want to get your kids involved in a life of learning, science gadgets are a good place to start.