How to Buy Toys

Nothing is more exciting--and potentially overwhelming--than a trip to the toy store with your child. The aisles of tempting toys seem to stretch for miles. So how do you choose developmentally appropriate toys that do not break the bank?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Review the list of toys recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org). These guidelines will help you select toys that appeal to your child's current developmental stage. Recommendations range by age--from infancy to early adolescence--and toy--from blocks to crayons, puppets and computer games.

2. Put safety first. Packaging is labeled with a suggested age range, to use as a guideline when buying a gift. If the toy is for your own child, use your judgment about what is appropriate, but remember that the age guidelines are generally well researched.

3. Go to a big retailer for good prices and selection, but don't overlook independent toy shops. Although prices can be higher in boutiques than at large retailers, the atmosphere is less frantic and it is easier to find a knowledgeable staff member who can make recommendations. You can find unique items in boutiques.

4. Shop on the Internet, especially during holiday times. Major sites such as BabyCenter.com are well organized, provide buying guides by age and advice from other parents, have frequent sales--and you don't have to wait in line. Internet shopping works especially well for gifts, since you usually don't pay sales tax, and shipping is often included in the price.

5. Cruise garage sales and second-hand stores for used toys. Make sure they don't have any broken or missing parts before you buy.

6. Choose toys that are well made and can handle lots of wear and tear. Also remember that the best toys can be used over and over for many different types of play. These toys allow the child's imagination to take over, versus the child feeling there is only one thing to do with it and becoming bored. Good examples are blocks, Play-Doh, art supplies and train sets.

Tips & Warnings

• Try before you buy, at a friend's house or a store that provides toys to play with. Some libraries lend out toys as well as books. Check with your children's librarian.
• If your child doesn't seem interested in a toy, or if he or she is overwhelmed after receiving many toys at a holiday or birthday, stash the toy away and re-introduce it after a few months. More than likely, your child will be excited about the "new" toy.
• Choking, strangulation and suffocation are major causes of death among children under 3. Do not buy toys with small parts or balls that are loose or can break off and end up in your child's mouth. Use a toilet paper tube to test the size: If any loose parts fit inside the tube they are potentially lethal.
• Strings and balloons also pose a significant hazard. Make sure strings are not long enough to encircle your child's neck and never let children play with uninflated balloons.