Criteria for Choosing a Good Store-Bought Toy

This information is taken from a workshop by Cari Ebert called The Power of Play: Effective Play-Based Therapy and Early Intervention.  Cari is a Speech Language Pathologist who works in the field of Early Intervention in Kansas City.  Her passion is to "empower parents and pediatric therapists who want to gain an appreciation of the power of play in the development of young children."  Consider these criteria as you look for Christmas presents for your little ones.

Top 10 Criteria for Choosing a Good Store-Bought Toy

1. Select toys without batteries.  The more the toy does, the less the child does.  battery operated toys limit creativity and imagination.  We want the child to provide the power and the imagination.
2. Choose simple toys that can be used in a variety of ways.  These toys are more likely to grow with the child.  For example, nesting cups can be used to stack, to nest, in the tub or sand box, to match like colored items, as a hat, etc.
3. Look for toys that encourage active play instead of passive entertainment.  Is the toy entertaining or does it have actual play value?
4. Select toys that are safe and durable.  We want toys that are constructed well and will hold up to lots of use.
5. Choose toys that can be easily manipulated.  We want the child to be successful during play time while challenging his abilities just enough.
6. Seek out toys that are made of natural materials. Children need a break from cold, hard plastic toys.
7. Select toys that are interesting to your child, but expose him to new toys as well.  
8. Look for toys that allow the child to learn naturally through exploration and encourage problem solving.  Avoid toys that force-feed academics.
9. Select toys that spark the child's imagination.
10. Choose toys that are interesting to the adult too so cross-generational play can be fostered.

Traditionally Recognized Good Toys for Toddlers

Blocks                                       Stacking towers                  Balls

Wooden puzzles                      Shape Sorters                      Pegboards

Pounding sets                          Activity Boxes                    Lacing Beads

Musical Instruments             Push-pull toys                     Ride-on toys

Chalk and Chalkboard           Art supplies                         Fisher Price Barn

Toy Vehicles                           Toy tools                              Play figures

Household objects                  Puppets                                Toy food and dishes

Baby doll and accessories      Stuffed animals                   Books

Cari's Favorite Toys for Toddlers

Velcro Food                                                         Muffin tins                           

Empty bottle and wooden clothespins            Hot Wheels cars and a wrapping paper tube

Basket and balls                                                 Container "blocks"

Small cookie sheet and magnets                      Mickey Mouse paint samples from Home Depot

Random objects/manipulatives                       Tub of dry beans, lentils, macaroni, or rice

Toy animals                                                        Large cardboard boxes (big enough to get inside)

100 piece cookie cutter set & play dough       Any activity based on the premise "put in, dump                                                                               out and do it again"

Toys with multiple identical pieces                  Car ramps

Memory Game cards and mailboxes              Empty containers (Huggies wipes, yogurt, etc.)

Crocodile Dentist game                                     Bubbles

Tunnel and Parachute                                      Magna Doodle

Puzzles with doors                                             Board books with flaps

Soft blocks                                                          Wooden blocks

Buckets                                                               Non-plastic toys

Dollhouse                                                            Flashlight

Mirror