Children love their toys and most parents will do tremendous efforts to satisfy their playful desires. But even when it comes to kids and their relationship with toys, there are limits. Most of these limits are subjective to each family and what they consider important in terms of children’s needs. When it comes to How many toys does the average child have, there is no straight answer represented by a certain number.
But there are certain aspects that will help you satisfy all your child’s needs and desires when it comes to toys. And I will touch all these aspects so you can find it easier to find the answers that you need
[alert type=”info” close=”false” heading=”Quick Answer”]Most kids will have at least 2 toys of each category. For instance, they will have 2 different games to play with their friends, two cars or two dolls, two interactive toys, etc. The reason why most parents tend to purchase 2 toys of the same category is that children seem to break them fairly easy. And you want to replace the damaged one as fast as you can if the need arises.[/alert]
What types of toys does your child really need
Nowadays you can find everything you can imagine on the market. Manufacturers come up with new and interesting toys every year. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend your salary on all of them just because your child is attracted to those items. If you think about it deep enough, you realize that all toys are made to capture a kid’s attention and get them hooked on them. So if you go by these criteria alone, you will end up buying toys every month because your child will always want a new one.
But in the endless commercial ocean of toys for children of all ages, there are some that might actually be a good investment. Here’s how to choose the best toys for your baby and why you should consider the following aspects when you start shopping!
1. Find educational toys
Toys are meant to entertain children and there is no doubt about that. However, you can choose toys that do just that or you can find toys that come with one or more educational aspects. For instance, you can find a toy that requires your child to sort different objects by size, color or category.
Or a toy that comes with different sounds in order to teach your kid the letters, numbers, animals or simply different songs. Such toys will entertain your child and teach them useful things at the same time. And all children should have at least an educational toy to play with for a harmonious development.
2. Make sure you purchase toys that are age appropriate
Manufacturers split different toys into different age categories. There are several reasons for this and it is more than a simple marketing strategy. The most important reason why you need to choose a toy that is appropriate for your little one’s age is safety. Toys for young toddlers will be free of choking hazards and other types of risk. This makes them safe to play with for your child and easy to maintain since they usually come in big pieces and soft materials.
Another reason why it is important to choose a toy made for kids of a certain age is the educational function. Children at 2 years old need to learn different things and develop different skills than children at 4 years old. However, this doesn’t mean that you are stuck with certain toys dedicated only to certain ages. If your child is at a different level than others, you can choose a toy that will suit their needs. Just keep in mind the safety aspect as that is truly the most important one.
3. Stay away from toys that can break easily
Sure, toys break in general and children exploit them to such a rough level that it is impossible to keep a toy for long. Or is it? The truth is that if you pay close attention to certain toys, you can choose the ones that are at least made to last longer. For instance, toys that are made of wood will not break as easily as toys that are made of plastic. And if you invest in wood toys or toys made of a long-lasting material, you have all the chances to save some money for the long run.
If you neglect this aspect, you risk to end up with a living room full of broken toys that you will constantly try to repair or replace.
4. Consider your child’s talents and points of interest
The toys you are purchasing for your child are strongly connected to their interests and dominant skills. Or so they should be. If you have a boy who loves to build things, the best toy to buy him would be a Lego set. However, if you get him a car that he never had any interest in, you might not obtain the same benefits. Try to observe your child’s areas of interest and see what sparkles their curiosity before actually pulling your credit card out.
Buying toys that your child likes will help them develop certain skills and even perfect their native talents. For instance, if your child has a talent for painting, there are plenty of painting sets you can get to motivate that talent and support its development!
5. Never get a toy just because you like it
Many parents look at potential new toys from their perspective. Others buy toys for their kids that they wish they had when they were young. Or they simply get a new toy because all the educational benefits it can bring. All these approaches are less than perfect however and they will only make you happy but not your child. Even if you know as a parent which toys are better for their development, try to find a common path between your functional point of view and their childish interest in certain products.
If you purchase the toys that seem the best in your eyes, you will end up needing to purchase more because your kid will not be as satisfied as you expected them to be.
Kids don’t need a lot of toys to have fun
The idea that children need to have as many toys as they desire in order to have a good time playing is rather false and a form of overreaction. But parents want to make their babies happy and while there is nothing wrong with that, buying a lot of toys is not exactly the best way. Let’s see why buying your child too many toys can actually work against their best interest and you should consider limiting those options.
Children who have too many toys are easily distracted
There were many studies made regarding children that can play with as many toys as they want. And the conclusion seems to be the same: these kids develop a certain level of distraction that doesn’t work in their benefit. First of all, your toddler’s brain will develop over the years according to the things and experiences that you expose it too.
They are like a sponge, absorbing everything around them. If they are exposed to a variety of toys and games since they are fairly young, their brain will develop in a chaotic way. If this doesn’t seem like a big problem at first, think about how hard it will be to get them to be organized later in life. Plus, a child that is easily distracted will develop other problems such as concentration issues, memory issues and even understanding issues. To what degree these unfortunate events will develop along their life, it is hard to tell. But it is always better to avoid them in the first place.
They don’t appreciate their toys as many other kids
If toys come easy to them and in a generous number, children will not understand their value at all. They will look at their toys as a never-ending resource which will teach them to be greedy and ungrateful. And the first victims of such a selfish behavior are the parents who will have to keep supplying for them. But this type of behavior doesn’t remain trapped in the childhood phase. More often than not, such children become grown-ups who don’t appreciate their goods or the work that others put in for them.
It is very important to consider these consequences when you are so excited to invest in a new toy each week just because you couldn’t resist. Sometimes, less is better!
They don’t take the time to profoundly understand each toy
Getting back to the educational purpose of certain toys, a child needs the opportunity to explore them. If they have 5 different toys at a time, they will simply jump from one to another without paying much attention to either of them. And with this behavior, you will not only waste a lot of money on toys that will never fulfill their purpose, but you will also indirectly teach your child to be superficial. These are two consequences that no parent wants to face!
To avoid this, introduce one toy at a time to your kid and see how they react to it. Make sure you explain them all the features of that toy and also leave some space for their curious spirit to explore it. Once your kid will understand how a certain toy functions, they will develop their skills and discover new interests while playing with it.
Try to have your kids make their own toys
If you are intrigued by this suggestion, you are on the right path. Once your child reaches 4 or 5 years old, you can combine playing time with creative time and help them make their own toys. You will need to provide the basic materials like crafting paper, colors, glue, stickers maybe some washi tape or other types of accessories. But that doesn’t require as much money as you would spend in order to purchase brand new toys regularly. Plus, you can help your child develop their imagination and dexterity by creating whatever they want.
Start with season toys such as snowmen made of cardboard or decorations for Christmas and Easter. Once you see your child interested in these practices, you can invest in more complex crafting guides and projects. When it comes to creating their own toys, there is no limit to what they can achieve. And you might be surprised by their ingenuity and talent over time. Not to mention that you will support their ability to create different and unique things. This will make them feel independent and more confident in their own skills and capacities.
Look online for different projects that you can create with your child and find new ways to have a great quality time together! This is an amazing way to bond with your kid and increase your intimate connection by creating new toys for them to play with. And the memories you also make together are priceless.
Conclusion
Your child doesn’t need so many toys to be entertained and you should consider satisfying their desires in a beneficial way. Spending a lot of money on toys can be tempting for a parent who wants to make their child happy. But try to avoid the traps in this process and consider alternative methods of playing like the ones above. As important as toys are for the development of a child, their quality should always be superior to their quantity.
Try to decide what your kid really needs and don’t follow social stereotypes in order to create a perfect childhood for them. This means you will have to spend quality time with your child as well and make sure to understand their interests before investing in them. In the long run, you will end up with a kid that will appreciate both the toys you get for him and you as a parent. And this is priceless so it is worth the emotional and time investment in the process!
Sources:
https://www.todaysparent.com/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/
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