Kids Toys: MORE than fun!

Kid and dino

Kids toys are fun! Even grownups think so. But beyond fun, kids toys offer children a whole host of learning experiences. The best kids toys help children develop, grow and learn - all at the same time.

Here are 10 tips from LearningToys.ca, to help you choose the best kids toys:

Look at every toy as a learning tool. When choosing kids toys, consider the child's potential learning experience while playing with this particular toy. Does it encourage skills that are valuable to the child at this stage?  Is it the best learning toy for the child at this age? Visit our Learning Centre to learn more about the best kids toys for a child of a particular age.

Make sure kids toys are fun to play with.  Children are naturally attracted to toys that can teach them something.  If a learning toy is fun, a child will want to play with it more often and for longer periods of time - the best of both worlds.

Choose kids toys with the correct level of complexity. Help children build confidence and self-esteem by providing learning toys to help them feel successful. The best kids toys will have a level of difficulty that is challenging enough to require some effort, but not so difficult as to be frustrating or intimidating. Remember, a little work on their part results in a greater sense of accomplishment. And determination to succeed will get stronger as a child feels that it is within his/her reach.

Match kids toys to their style of play. Some kids love to make believe, turning every toy and object into something else. Others are focused on the real world, wanting to do 'real' things with 'real' tools. Still others are fascinated with how things work - absorbing every detail and tidbit of information, dismantling toys and objects as they try to better understand the world around them.

Match kids toys to their attention span. Yes this is important. But the best learning toy for any child will help them expand that attention span. A child who is as busy as a little bee, might need a learning toy involving a quiet activity that takes only a few minutes to do. Follow this with higher levels of the same toy, or different toys using the same skills, that are just slightly more time-consuming. Keep in mind that it is completely normal for young children to have short attention spans. Attention spans increase naturally as a child develops.

Look for toys that encourage independent play. When kids play with toys on their own they learn how to figure things out on their own and solve problems. Developing independence and confidence in these abilities is an important stepping stone to future learning. Puzzles and building blocks are ideal for developing independent play. Pretend play toys that develop imagination also give kids room to grow and develop.

Select open-ended kids toys that a child can play with in several different ways. The best kids toys will help children develop creative thinking and imagination and keep children interested for longer periods of time. Discovering new ways of playing with an old toy can sometimes be as much fun as getting a new one.

Help children develop social and communication skills. Look for kids toys that promote cooperation, sharing, and turn-taking. For little ones it may be any kind of learning toy that encourages play with other children. For older children these valuable skills are easily encouraged with board games.

Promote fitness and overall health. Active kids toys that get them moving and burning energy are exhilarating. The best kids toys for active play will help develop muscle strength, coordination and balance.  But most important,  developing confidence in these skills gives kids a leg up when attempting unfamiliar physical tasks.

Keep other family members in mind. Is there a baby or toddler in the house? If so, watch out for toys that include small parts. Are there other children that may want to join in on a group game or activity? Do Mom and Dad have time to help with instructions or provide guidance to accomplish a particular creative project? Make sure to choose the kids toys that take family dynamics into account.