When it comes to buying a toy a million things come to mind, I personally think that one of the great perks of being a parent is dealing with toys. The inner child within is always looking for a new an exciting toy that we can get for our own child and as an added benefit we also get to play along. There are tons of learning toys for kids or at least so they claim to be. Let’s see what makes a true learning toy.

Construction

This is very important since any toy must be well-made, material should be sturdy, BPA free, child safe (no sharp edges or moving parts that can catch limbs or skin and cause harm, no tiny parts that could present choking hazard), must be durable and easy to wash and clean.

Visual Appeal

We want the toy to be appealing to the baby, so a variety of colors is usually a good attention grabber. Does it have an unusual shape making more unique and interesting. Look for items that pop-up when a given action is taken. The size and weight should also be taken in consideration based on the child’s age.

Target Development

Not all babies learn at the same rate or in the same way, therefore we must find what is suitable for our little one. What is this toy targeting? Memory development (color, numbers, letters), speech or vocabulary improvement, motor skills, hand and eye coordination. We must consider how important each of these is for our child.

Dynamically Engaging

Look for toys that encourage thinking, taking actions, engage the child’s attention as well as his body for mental and physical development. Consider specifically what your child needs most, what could benefit him the best so he will develop the most in the shortest time possible.

VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker (Frustration Free Packaging)

Learning Should Always Be Fun

A baby’s brain is constantly learning, adapting, feeding on all external inputs. It is up to us to make sure that those inputs are positive, engaging, challenging, stimulating, and above all that they are fun!

Play with your baby, let the inner child in you come out. Have fun with your baby, those are the moments that matter most.