
Choosing Toys That Support Healthy Development

The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out a great position paper advising on the place of toys in a child’s life and what types of toys are best. This point is great:
Recognize that one of the most important purposes of play with toys, especially in infancy, is not educational but rather to facilitate warm, supportive interactions and relationships.
Simpler toys tend to be better for kids’ developmentally and will have more longevity than flashy, electronic toys. Look for toys that promote creativity and imagination. A toy that has one purpose will grow old quick, but something like a wooden block set can have many uses.
Some of the toys and games that are perennial favorites at Solaris include:
- Finger putty such as Crazy Aaron’s
- Play-doh
- Modeling Foam
- Kinetic sand
- Legos / Duplo
- Don’t break the ice
- Giggle Wiggle
- What’s in Ned’s Head
- Beanie babies (great for symbolic play)
- Balls
- Bubbles
- Puzzles
- Zoom ball
- Mini trampoline
Further reading:
Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era
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