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Kids toys have been around for as long as we can remember. From the simplest wooden peg doll to elaborate children’s games, baby toys play an important role in children’s learning and development. You might be determined to only buy toys that provide educational value, but you want the kids to have fun when playing with them. Amazing as it may seem, kids can have fun and learn at the same time.
At times, finding just the right toys can seem overwhelming. There are so many to choose from and many of us are just not interested in buying the latest gadget or licensed products, especially when we are constantly bombarded with ads. At Peanut Gallery, we select products that foster creativity, encourage imagination and build kid’s confidence in their own abilities and believe they will be treasured by both kids and their parents alike. Here are some tips we have put together to help when choosing kids toys:
What is your child interested in?
To save you spending money on toys that will sit unloved on the shelf, you need to pay attention to your child’s interest and buy gifts that will help them develop those interests. For example, there is little point in buying dolls for little girls who would rather play with trucks or tool sets for little boys who would be happier painting. Most children display their interests through play and complementary toys will enable them to advance their development in that area and have fun while they are doing it. If, for example, your child enjoys role playing and making up stories, toys such as farms, dolls houses and pretend food are likely to be popular. If your child finds it difficult to engage in imaginative play but prefers active play, then gifts such as quoits, bowling and musical instruments may be better suited. Peanut Gallery’s products are divided into 22 categories to help our customers choose just the right gift for their area of interest (see category links on home page). These categories are also included in our “help me choose” gift selector to help customers choose by both age and category.
Make sure the toys you buy are age appropriate
We have all made the mistake of buying products which we like the look of but which are just too advanced for the child. Often, the result of this is that the child becomes disinterested in the gift due to the fact it is beyond their capabilities. By the time they are developmentally ready for the toy, due to a negative experience with it to start with, they may still be reluctant to embrace it. Most toys have an age recommendation which makes choosing easier, particularly when buying for someone else’s child. Peanut Gallery has a “help me choose” gift selector which lists various age groups to assist with choosing the right age appropriate toys (see link below).
Help Me Choose
Allow kids to let their imaginations run wild
Once kids get older, it is very difficult to avoid buying the latest character based products since kids are much more aware of, and exposed to, branding. For babies and young children, however, we believe it is much better to buy toys which are not dominated by television and film characters. This allows little ones to gain ideas from their daily life, develop their own characters and story lines and basically build their own creativity without having preconceived ideas placed upon them through their toys.
Choose toys fit for the purpose intended
This may sound obvious, however often we have a fairly good idea of how the gift will be used and, even if this is not how we would like them to be used, we still go ahead and buy them.
Buy quality products that you know will last
You could buy lots of toys from bargain shops rather than one quality product because it feels like you are getting more for your money. Many cheap, plastic baby toys simply do not last, however, and some can even be dangerous. Choosing quality gifts designed to stand the test of time often results in better value since the toys can be played with many times over and passed on to younger siblings.
Note: The tips expressed herein are the opinions of the authors and are intended to be a guide only. | 
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