Educational toys aren’t simply just objects of play: they’re designed to promote children’s intelligence and make their physical and emotional development. Hence, they’re also called “instructive toys
For example, it’s common for children three or younger to put objects, including toys, in their mouths. If they’re left unattended, this may cause choking. This is why toy manufacturers have to follow guidelines. Not only them but parents should also supervise kids’ play.
Educational Toy Guidelines
Regarding choking, think large to prevent it. Ensure all educational toys and their parts are larger than your child’s mouth so they can’t easily swallow them. Apart from small toys.
Projectile, and shoot objects into the air– may cause choking and eye injuries
Additionally, always follow age-appropriate toy recommendations to ensure their safety. Even if your child seems advanced compared to others of the same age, avoid giving them toys meant for older children. The age levels for toys are neither determined by intelligence nor maturity but by safety factors.
It’s also important to consider a kid’s temperament, habits, and behavior. For example, if they’re curious about the kitchen, allow them to join you when you’re cooking but with safety in mnd.
Lastly, always read labels and instruction. They tell you what ages the toy is safe for and how to use it. Understand it well since you must teach your kid to play it safely while having fun. When reading labels, note the following guidelines.
Toys made of fabric must be labeled as “flame-resistant” or “flame-retardant”;
Stuffed toys must be labeled as “washable”;
Painted toys must be labeled that they “use lead-free paint”;
Crayons and paints must be labeled with “ASTM D-4236” on the package. It means the product has been tested non-toxic and non-hazardous by the American Society.
Benefits of Educational Toys
Educational toys help improve children’s learning intelligence in various ways. They can develop kids’ logic and problem-solving skills, encourage communication skills.
Specifically, here are common skills kids can gain when playing with toys:
Sensory Skills – Playtime helps kids develop their sense of hearing, and touch. For example, toys like crib mobiles and interactive toys can provide tactile sensations to babies, stimulating their senses.
Language Skills – Toys that can teach the alphabet, pronunciation of words, and vocabulary can help develop your kid’s language communication skills. They especially help toddlers learn words daily, which can promote their language development.
Creativity and Imagination Skills – Children are already incredibly imaginative, and toys can help expand children’s imagination even more. Most educational toys are designed to further support kid's.
More importantly, children who aptly develop the skills mentioned above are found to be likely to have their intelligence quotient (IQ) increase gradually. Besides skill development, educational toys are helpful for kid's.
Problem-Solving Skills – Toys aimed at problem-solving help kids determine what’s wrong when something doesn’t work. These enable them to be open-minded, be more aware of their surroundings.
Are Educational Toys Safe for Kids?
Educational toys and other kinds of toys are made safe. Most countries monitor and regulate them. For example, if you’re from the United States (US), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mandates all manufacturers to follow their safety precautions.
Final Thoughts
As parents, safety is your priority when buying any kids’ toy. You can easily achieve it by researching the right toys at the right ages online and reading the labels to ensure they follow the government’s recommended safety standards.
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