Holiday Toy Buying Reference Guide

Holiday Feature

• Make sure toys are safe. The toy shouldn’t have any small parts the child can put in his or her mouth. Equally important, the toy should be durable. Pieces of broken toys pose just as great a choking hazard.

• Toys that can be used for a variety of things will be used more than a toy that has a single use. Open-ended toys let children be creative and use their imagination. For example, a toddler can use a large ball for playing catch, kicking in the back yard or as a stool for spinning in a circle.

• Toy packaging gives recommended ages for the product, but sometimes the recommendations are off. Look carefully at the toy, examine it and determine if it might be too challenging or not challenging enough for your child — both of which will cause it to be discarded.

• Gift givers need to think about what they are going to buy before heading to the toy store, which can be an overwhelming shopping experience. Go toy shopping without any idea of what you’re looking for and you’re more likely to make a mistake.

• Purchasing a toy for a friend or relative’s child? Call the parents and make sure the child doesn’t already have the toy and that the parents are fine with the proposed gift.
  

Source: Texas Woman’s University Department of Family Sciences

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu