Choosing toys for your child

The best toys for kids

Toys can be a great way to support your child’s development. But your child doesn't need as many toys as you think.

The best toys for children are ‘open-ended’. These are the toys that your child can use in lots of different ways. They encourage your child to use her/his imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills. Moreover, the best toys are those that prevent gender stereotypes and instead encourage development of a broad set of socio-cognitive and creative skills.

Open-ended toys include:

• blocks – one day your child uses them to build a tower, and the next day she/he might bring the block up to her/his ear and pretend it’s a phone
• balls – they’re great to bounce, look at, roll, hold and throw
• cardboard boxes – your child can pretend these are shop counters, ovens, cars, boats, doll houses and more
• role-playing – with some hand-me-down clothes and bits of fabric, your child can become anything or anyone she/he likes
• creative art materials – coloured paper, paste or glue, crayons and washable markers can spark your child's imagination.

You don’t always have to buy toys. Everyday household items like pots and pans, plastic containers, clothes baskets and blankets often make great open-ended toys. Just make sure that any household items your child plays with are safe, so avoid sharp objects or small objects that could cause your child to choke.

Choosing toys for children

Many toys have age-range information on their packaging. This can be useful it's only a guide. Your child’s interests and stage of development will probably give you a better idea of what to choose.

Age-range information can be important for safety, however – for example, when toys contain small parts that a baby could swallow. In these cases, it’s wise to follow the recommended age-range information.

Parents and carers should be aware of the gender implications of the toys and games they select for their children. For example, girls are often encouraged to play with dolls while boys are encouraged to play outside – this initiates socialization of gender stereotypes of the roles they are traditionally expected to play in society as adults. Instead, parents and carers should aim to develop a holistic range of socio-cognitive and creative skills for children of all genders:

• Ensure children of all genders are given equal and adequate time to play
• Ensure that children of all genders are encouraged to play with gender-neutral toys and games
• Encourage children to play with toys and games traditionally associated with the opposite gender
• Avoid toys, games and brands and games that deliberately encourage stereotypes, e.g. pink packaging, images of unicorns, rainbows, princesses for girls; guns and weapons for boys, etc

For your baby, the best ‘toy’ is you, a carer or other close family member. Your baby will delight in watching your face, listening to your voice and simply being with you. Even play activities like looking at a brightly coloured mobile and learning to reach for a rattle are more fun when you and your baby do them together.

Toddlers love to play with boxes, and often have more fun with the wrapping a present comes in than the present itself. Other good choices for toddlers include building blocks (you can even make from empty milk cartons) and clothing for dress-ups. Toddlers also enjoy simple musical instruments that they can shake and bang, such as a drum made from an upside down pot and a wooden spoon.

Older children also love to play pretend.  Very simple props around the house--such as a scarf, a cooking spoon, or a hat--give your child all kinds of ideas for make believe.  Preschoolers usually love blocks and other construction toys, again with home-made options.  Puzzles or games that get your child playing with others are also good choices.

Toys and your family values

You’re the person who decides what toys are OK for your child to play with in your home.

If you have strong feelings about certain toys, it can be a good idea to talk to your child, especially as she/he grows older. You could mention your family values. For example, ‘Guns can scare and hurt people very much. We don't allow play with toy guns in our family.'  

If you don’t want other grown-ups to give your child certain toys as presents, a short, calm explanation of your feelings should do the trick. In the end, it’s your decision.