Reborn Toddler Girl Thea Shamiso by Nikki Holland - The SMN Show 21
Shopping for Toys for Toddlers
What's more annoying than spending tons of money on toys for toddlers only to have them put the toys down and look at you for more? The trick is to buy the right toys in the first place. That means toys that are age appropriate and engaging.
The first problem is toys that are not age appropriate. It's important to know your own children and what they like and are ready for. This should be easy for parents but is often more difficult for grand parents, uncles and aunts, etc. who don't interact with the child on a regular basis. If that's you, ask the parent. It's okay if the toy isn't a surprise to the parent, it's for the child. If asking will help you make a better choice, then by all means, ask.
There are some toys that are fun for all children in broad age ranges. For toddlers, this would include building blocks. It's hard to go wrong with good quality wooden blocks of various shapes. Children from three to seven or eight can have fun stacking and creating with blocks. As they get older, their buildings will become more intricate and imaginative. Very young children won't build much but they do have fun knocking down whatever you might build.
Boys love cars. Choose cars that are very durable and can be played with for a long time. Also, for younger children, choose cars and truck that are simple and without a lot of detail. Let them use their imaginations.
Some girls like cars, too, but they tend to gravitate more towards figures like dolls and My Little Ponies. Remember, with younger girls, simple dolls and figures without a lot of detailed accessories and clothes tend to work better. Like cars, chldren use their imatinations and will play with dolls for hours at a time coming back to favorites often.
There are certain toys that will engage children for hours and hours. These are games that are fun to play and toys that use imagination. The problem with many toys today, even very expensive toys, is that they either do only one thing or they do things that just aren't much fun for children.
My grandfather once bought me a toy car that was very expensive and had incredible detail. The doors opened, the steering wheel turned the wheels, the hood opened to show a very detailed engine. The trouble was, it wasn't much fun to play with. It was way bigger than my other cars and just had too much going on. I had a lot more fun with small wooden cars that had almost no detail, just wheels that rolled. I'd push them all over the house in parades or just heavy traffic.
The same principle can be applied to games, simple but fun. Games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders are great for small children because they are simple and have few rules. They teach important ideas like taking turns and playing fair. Two or three good board games are all that's need to occupy children on a rainy afternoon.
Beware of games that have more than one page of rules or too many different parts and pieces. These get to be more complicated and less fun for small children. It's great to play games with your children, but they should be able to play alone or with others their own age.
You don't have to empty your 401k this Christmas to buy toys for toddlers. Simple, fun and engaging toys are all they want. Toys and games for little ones should be uncomplicated, durable and fun. For a great selection of toys and games for pre-schoolers, check out Toys for Toddlers.
About the Author
If you keep in mind a few simple concepts, you can choose toys and games that will please your children for hour upon hour. While shopping, remember - replayable, simple, engaging. For a great selection of toys recommended for children under six, try Toys for Toddlers.
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Frequently Asked Questions...
My 2.5yo girl plays with her hair and pulls it out, may have toddler Trichotillomania, how can I help her?
She has been playing w/hair since she was a baby. She usually uses a doll's hair but has switched to her own hair in the past month, for no particular reason. She does it to fall asleep or to soothe herself during the day. The right side of her hair is considerably shorter than the left side and she is developing bald spots. She has many dolls to work with but prefers her own hair right now. I am worried about her having a lifelong issue w/trich. I don't want her to pull her hair all out. I hope it is a phase and does not signify deeper issues; anxiety, nervousness , depression etc.
Answer:
*smile* Dear, you are obviously an extremely caring mother. My goddaughter did the same thing when she was 1.5 y/o, and trust me, it will stop. It is a phase. You can always give her things to occupy her hands with.
The best way to deal with it is when you see her doing it, gently pull her hands away from her head and say "No honey we don't do that". You will have to repeat yourself many times, but eventually, it will stop.
It may be a sign of stress, but all toddlers have stress. Just keep getting her to stop it, and she will.
Good luck!
