Learning Through Play, But Keeping It Fun #Fisherpricemoms
Have you ever thought about Play? How we play? How our children play? It’s something that is studied and analyzed and reviewed. The infographic above is by Fisher Price demonstrating some of the ways play helps our children grow and learn. It’s really interesting because frankly, I don’t think about play in this way.
Play to me is just fun. As a parent I completely understand the benefits (and huge importance of playing outside, using imagination, creating fun etc) but I don’t think of play in a clinical way. Our children don’t either.
I think sometimes we forget that our kids aren’t reading the parenting books or reviewing the websites that we are. They just play because it’s fun.
When we buy toys, that’s what we ultimately are looking for, right? Fun.
I think the kids are drawn to toys that appeal to their personalities. Imagination play, building, imitation – it depends on what our kids like. What do I look for when I buy toys? Here are a few things that cross my mind:
1) Is it fun: How do they play with it? Can they use their imagination? Will they get board with it quickly?
2) What is the quality/material like? Durable? Long-lasting? Is there an eco-factor (can I consign this later?)
3) How long will they play with it? Months? Years? Can it grow with them?
4) Is this toy battery operated? If so, how loud is it? Can I reduce the noise? Does it need to be battery operated (for example, we bought a solar powered cash register. It doesn’t make loud beeps or noises, but is one of our most popular toys!).
Some items are impulse buys throughout the year (I’m looking at you mini-lego figures) but most of the time we try to save really special items for birthdays and Christmas. Of course, we are lucky enough to be able to check out some cool Fisher Price toys as a Fisher Price Mom too!!
What do you look for when shopping for toys for your children?
Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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