When it comes to toys, most parents feel like they have no option but to go and queue in long stretches to a toy shop. As the summer holidays approach, you know that it is time for more outdoor activities and this simply means an added expense on toys. Unless you are from Richard Banns or Donald Trump family, you do not just want to make purchases without considering your budgetary limitations. Besides, while in playing with a toy is part of learning, the type and source of the toy is equally important.
Types of toys:
There are many types of dolls, however, the most common and perhaps most popular are dolls, and the toys that are representative of some life-size individuals or objects.
Factors to consider when choosing a toy:
- The age of the child: this factor has two significance; one is safety and second is the ability of the child to enjoy. Whether you are making a home made toy or you are buying from the toy shop, you have to be sure that the child cannot swallow it cause physical injury such as bruising the eye.
- The gender: while we should not promote one gender over the other, children will themselves identify with specific gender. They will therefore choose certain types of toys based on what they see boys and girls play with. This should be encouraged because it is part of earning. Even if a girl child chooses a toy commonly used by boys, there is no harm, they are simply toys for fun.
- The choice of the child: involving the child in making or choosing a toy in the shop is very important. It develops self esteem in the child and also a sense or responsibility.
- Your budget: toys need not be expensive; in fact, they should be made or bought in as little cost as possible. This makes it easier for the child to appreciate them and sustainable for the parent to keep the supply.
- Expert opinion: if you are not sure of which toy will help your child develop skill better for life, then you should consider seeking an expert’s advice. This is also important if you are not sure of the safety of your child when they use a particular toy. Safety is not just about the physical safety, it also includes the mental safety because certain toys such as play station may have games with messages that are morally wrong. This means hat you need to watch out the computer games that your children play.
Home made or toyshop toys, which ones are better?
While this is an issue that may considered debatable, the science behind it actually point in favor of homemade toys. There are both educational and financial benefits of using homemade toys. Homemade toys are cheaper because you often use recycled materials and you assemble them at home. This teaches your children how to conserve the environment and also to be creative. By using recycled materials, you are likely to save money thus improve your cash flow.
You can literary clean up your compound by making the homemade toys from the used materials that were to be discarded. You will in the process also teach your child a skill that they can survive on. There are people who have made an industry out of making homemade toys for sale and now earn decent living after improving them with time.
How to make homemade toys:
- How to gather ideas of toys: most parents are afraid of making toys at home because they lack ideas of what toys they can make. If your child is of speaking age, then consulting the child would be a good idea. You can also get ideas by trying to imitate other life size objects. Children will generally want to associate their play or mimic adult life.
- Where to find materials: you need not buy materials to make toys at home. Use recycled materials such as cardboards, broken cups that do not have sharp edges, cartons or boxes that contained shopping materials or gifts. Plastic container for items bought would also make good materials. Used clothes can also be used to make dolls.
- How to go about constructing: Always involve the child in construction of a homemade toy. Never despise the age of the child, even the one who cannot talk will observe and keep the imprints of the process in their minds. They would be able to develop their artistic minds.
Conclusion
Making your child’s toys at home have several benefits as discussed above. You do not have to be perfect at the beginning because we all learn. The more you practice, the more you get to make better toys. The time spent with your child in making the toy is part of quality time that improves your relationships and builds self esteem. The benefits far out-way the convenience of buying a toy from a shop.
Aqeel Syed is a hobbyist blogger, who blogs about creativity and brain development at his blog www.ilchi.org/
