Play is a word that brings a smile to our faces, and it should do the same for our children. When we think of the play, we think of the many toys and games that we have enjoyed as children. These are the memories that have shaped us and taught us different skills that we may not even be actively aware of. Toys and games are a vital part of a child’s life and you would do well to stock up the nursery with the right kind of toys so that your child can have a similarly wholesome childhood. You can find a variety of toys and games in the aisles of Walmart, Target, Costco and even dedicated toy store chains like Toys R Us. This will help you in bringing many skills and memories to the nursery so that your child may have a happy childhood. Here is a quick set of tips that will help you play with your child! Board games: These kinds of games are great for bringing the entire family together for a round of laughter and play. This is also a great way to teach children a lot of life skills including planning one’s moves and getting headlong into managing resources.

A number of things define a happy and well-rounded childhood. Good nutrition, good education, and many other such factors come into play when it comes to shaping a child in the best possible manner. When children are busy growing up, they also need plenty of play in order to exercise their imagination, creativity and learn things about the world around them. Toys and games are thus a vital part of one’s childhood, which must not be missed out. There are different kinds of toys and games that one can buy in order to entertain and educate a growing child. Let us cast a glance on such toys and games, as well as the places where one can buy them. Infant toys : These toys are usually in the form of various shapes with bold colors so that the child learns to recognize the basics like colors and shapes that will help in understanding the various aspects of the world around him or her. Rattles, small stuffed toys for the crib, crib mobiles, play gyms and various other such toys and games will help the child in getting entertained even as he or she gets attuned with the world. These kinds of toys will be easily available at all toy stores like Toys R Us as well as the toy aisles of stores like Target, Walmart, Costco, and others.

Kids ride-on toys remain all the rage and with good reason. They are extremely fun to play with and can cater to very young children as well as 5-year-olds and above. Ride-on toys are terrific additions to any child’s toy collection and can be used in different settings like schools and day care centers as well. Before setting out to purchase one, however, you need to know how to choose it. Since there are so many, picking the right one will ensure kids make the most of it. Choose age-appropriate ride-on toys Ride-on toys should be age-appropriate. Despite being designed for small children, some may be built for one-year-olds while others for 5-year-olds. Whether purchasing for your own child or a day care center, always look for ride-on toys that are suitable for the child/children in question. They are safer and will be able to facilitate development better. Manual vs. battery-operated Kids ride-on toys are either battery-operated or manual where they must be pushed. Which to choose is entirely up to you and your budget. Battery-operated toys are understandably more expensive, but they are easier to use, as kids do not need to put effort to move them. On the other hand, manual toys encourage physical exertion and are a great way to get kids to use their energy in a positive way.

Puppets are a good way to engage your child in interactive play. They are used extensively for the development of cognitive and motor skills in young children. Child care workers often employ puppets to encourage kids with delayed speech. At home, you can think of multiple ways to introduce a puppet friend to make your interaction with your kids fun and educative. Before you buy a puppet for your child, you must educate yourself about the kinds of puppets available in the market. An informed buying decision ensures that your new purchase is not gathering dust in some corner of the house. Hand puppet Also called glove puppets, these are the most popular variety. Your hand puppet may or may not have a movable mouth or it can be with or without arms. In either case, kids are attracted to their large size and adorable faces. You can slide them over your hands and use your fingers to manipulate the movable parts. They can be used conveniently, even by young kids. Finger puppets These miniature puppets are a rage with younger kids. The simple cap like design can be worn on each finger of the hand. There are usually no movable parts to worry about, you just need to bend your finger and modify your voice to switch between characters – a great buy for kids below five years of age.

Right from the age of 3 months, a child starts interacting with the environment. Young children learn by observing and experimenting with every object they come across. As parents, it is our responsibility to provide them with a rich environment, which promotes development in all areas. Toys are an effective tool to bolster learning and the best toys are those that help your child grow and develop his or her motor and cognitive abilities. Toys are also an effective tool to cut down screen time. From building vocabulary to analytical thinking, there are toys to meet each of your specific need. In this article, we talk about all the pointers that you should consider before buying a toy for your child. Age: Select toys according to your child’s age. Most toy manufacturers clearly state the age group for which a particular toy would be most suitable. These ratings are quite reliable and can help you in making an informed decision. Department stores like Meijer have well-cataloged sections for age-appropriate toys. Area of interest: Every child shows a natural inclination towards some activity. You could make this interest a basis for your choice. For example, if your child is interested in drawing or colors, you can go for art sets, and if he is more inclined towards analytical games, you can think of puzzles or problem-solving toys.

Children love taking things apart and discovering their toys so to speak. And toddlers are exceptionally curious. While most children display this trait, boys are generally seen as the ones who like to build stuff, fix stuff and basically do guy things. Choosing toys for a boy isn’t really that tough if you research a bit and know what the child is interested in. Here are th e top 5 toys boys love: Shape blocks – The s hape blocks help develop motor skills and eye-hand coordination and also fulfill their “need-to-build” urge. Colorful ones help because it stimulates their vision. LEGO blocks LEGO is an absolute favorite among children. But boys tend to be gifted this toy more. Remote control car – Boys absolutely love this. Check the age appropriateness of the toy and only then buy it for your child or gift it to one. Either way parental supervision is important. Basketball set for toddlers It’s never too early for basketball. Min i basketball hangers are available in most toy shops and it’s pretty easy to set up. Hang them at a height that is most comfortable and watch them shoot hoops like a pro in no time.

As a parent, you’d always want the best for your girl. If you’d have noticed, kids notice the different jobs that people do, and they’re always curious about it. What better way to give your girls a real-life teaser with toys? These are fun toys that will also make your girl learn new techniques that go into each task. Take a look. Baking Toys girls like a baking set, tea set or a cookie cutting set that come in safe materials like plastic can show your girl how baked goodies are made. No wonder each girl has her own kitchen set, because little girls love to pretend to do home chores. These are colorful toys that come in attractive shapes and sizes, and are ideal picks as toys for girls. Once your girl learns the basics of cooking, you’d give her a cookie cutting set or a pizza baking set to let her learn a bit more of what goes inside the kitchen. Tattoo Making These days, in every birthday party, your little girl would notice how tattoo artists paint people’s face or arms with glittery colors. So, why not gift your angel a tattoo set that she can use to paint others with her artistic designs.

Toddlers need constant entertainment and attention. They love things that move and make noise and the gift is bound to be a complete winner if it can do both. While a rocking horse is a great idea and is popular with kids there are other toys that will keep your toddler occupied. Here are five toddler toy ideas including the trusty rocking horse to keep your little one happy and content. DIY kits Toddlers are very fond of assembling and disassembling or rather breaking and building. DIY kits are excellent to feed the builder in any toddler. DIY kits range from putting together jungle with monkeys, birds, and tigers to the fictional fairly land full with fairies and mischievous dwarves. LEGO DUPLO Designed specifically for toddlers, DUPLO bricks are about twice the size of typical LEGO bricks. This makes them easier to be handled by little toddler hands without the fear of being swallowed accidentally. Every toddler deserves a personal LEGO DUPLO kit. Many different LEGO DUPLO sets are available out there to enjoy building houses to trains and cars. Some of these DUPLO sets come with alphabets engraved on the plastic bricks to let your little one get the much-needed dose of alphabet learning in addition to having build-them-up fun.

Buying a new toy for your baby is generally a no-brainer. Giant teddy bears and overstuffed soft toys are the most popular options and are some of the most loved toys. Available in every size, design color, hue and texture, these toys are great for kids’ development. You can never go wrong with gifting a teddy bear – giant or not – to a baby provided the child plays with it under supervision. Here’re 9 more toys and games that are sure winners with babies. Auto-play musical toy: You can get many types of musical toys in the market. Select a colorful and bright-looking musical toy that auto-plays some lovable music. Infants truly adore friendly melodies. Moreover, a musical toy promotes auditory development in babies. So get a toy that plays classic and peppy melodies. Prefer the ones with large buttons and an easy grip. Activity gym: Whether it is an arched activity gym or without arches, it is a place of exploration for infants. A comfortable gym with its hanging little toys are wonderful for babies. Beginner shape puzzle: If the baby is more than six months, then you can present him/her a shape puzzle that is designed for beginners.

Toys and games are important for kids. But you’ll find both good toys and not-so-good toys in terms of what they offer to your kids. So, what qualities should you look for in best kids’ games? Are cheap toys better for kids than expensive ones? If you have been thinking of these or similar questions, you may want to know what makes a toy good for your kids. Here are some ways to determine if a toy is good for your child. Quality The best kids’ games and toys are made from safe materials. Always check labels to gather safety information for any toy you plan to buy. Check if painted toys are covered with non-toxic paints. Buy only those stuffed toys that you can easily wash at home. Refrain from giving your kids stuffed toys that may contain poor quality fibers. The materials used in toys must be non-toxic. Learning The best kids’ games and toys include the ones that are engaging and fun. Look for toys that are appropriate for your child’s learning curve. What works for another kid of the same age might not be right for your child. If your kid is interested in puzzles only, stick with it.