Parents Have A Big Hand In Toy Buying

Walking through the aisles of toys in a toy store can be overwhelming. Even before you get to the store, millions of advertisements flashing on your TV have already confused you on the zillions of choices. So how do you choose the right toy for your children?

Parents can find guides in magazines, websites, and forums. Helpful guides can also be found at local stores where attendants work with parents and children daily, and have learned about the toys the store carries and choices that other children have made. Eugen Lisov, creator of Child-Toys-Guide.com, a site focused on helping parents worldwide to choose the best toys for their children, says that watching your child closely to determine his/her preferred activities, skills level, preferred band(s) and movie(s) is the best plane to start with. Based on these observations one can get a clue on what types of toys your child would prefer. Other additional (and obvious to most) are the child’s age and gender, toys that the child’s friends play with, and the oft forgotten age-gap between the parent and your child.

Charles A. Smith, a child development specialist at Kansas State University Research and Extension strongly recommends that parents follow the age recommendations for each toy. He says that a toy recommended for older ages may not only be unsafe but also not suit a child’s development level. He also says that buying toys that children will be able to put together and teach themselves how to use can be very beneficial. In addition, board games that invite others to play along can teach values and be something that parents and children can do together.

There are certain issues to avoid as well when purchasing toys. You certainly don’t want an injury to your children. Kidshealth.org reports that choking is a particular risk for kids ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths. The site also advises to ensure that a toy isn't too loud for your child. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn — even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears — and can contribute to hearing damage. However, the most important thing a parent can do is to supervise play. Not only does it help to avoid accidents, it also provides important moments of bonding that growing children require.

The recent lead paint scare has made toy buying even more difficult this year, but armed with proper advice, parents can still buy the right toys for your children. And when in doubt, ask the attendants in the local toy store; they deal with parents and toys on a daily basis and know the merchandize more than any ‘expert’ in magazines and websites. Feel free to ask for advice on what’s ‘hot’, educational, and what the other kids are buying, so your kids are as cool as the other kids!

Sujan Manandhar
MBA, M.Sc. IAKM (Kent State University)

My Little Red Wagon
http://www.mylittleredwagon.com

How the Paint Grinch Tried to Steal Christmas!

The recent recall of toys has suggested that toy sales will be slow this holiday season. Already some of the toys manufacturers and sellers have estimated that the losses will be in the billions of dollars. Yes, this will be a big dent in the economy, but this will also be a dent in the children and their learning.

For many kids, Christmas is a time for new toys. From the Shell Shockers to the Talking Kitchens, these toys lead the imaginations of boys and girls across the world. Kids spend hours with their toys and learn and grow with these. These hours lead to years of memories that are carried along from siblings to friends to families.

Educational toys have benefits cannot be measured in dollars. The different selection of toys can benefits children of all ages. Eddie Tober’s article “Educational Baby Toys” states that toys are of vital importance in the learning process of babies and the rate at which they absorb information can depend on the development of their neuromuscular skills. Toys can be of assistance to help stimulate their development as well as their overall growth and maturity. A good start for children can take them a long long way.

As children grow, toys play a larger role in their lives. Toys and games teach children numbers, letters, shapes, and about countries, history and geography. Good educational toys invite children to explore many ways to play. Nicole Munoz in her article “Why Choose Educational Toys” states that children learn problem solving skills as well as social skills through dramatic play. Games like wooden building block sets can help in the development of fine motor skills and stimulate creativity. Toys that allow a child to create whatever he/she imagines are very beneficial to healthy growth and development.

For older kids, group/team games teach them higher lessons like responsibility, trust, patience, timing, and teamwork. These are valuable lessons for adults that children can get a head start by working with other children and peers.

The importance of toys in a child’s life can’t be underestimated. These recalls have certainly been a major setback. Already this corporate Grinch has done its damage. Now it’s up to us to make our stand. We can’t have these manufactures and sellers make and take these toys at will. Children need their toys. Children need their learning. There are better toys out there. There are sellers that know and care. Find them!

And let the games begin!


Sujan Manandhar
MBA, M.Sc. IAKM (Kent State University)

My Little Red Wagon
http://www.mylittleredwagon.com

Customers Should Demand Better Made Toys.

Even if you do not have kids and don't pay attention to the news, you've heard about the toys recall and high level of lead paint content! The issue is everywhere – on the news, in Congress, in the store aisles, and in the forums and dining tables. Everywhere you look, you see and hear loud signs that warn buyers about these toys. Beware, beware, beware!! These recent toys recall has changed the way people think about toys and shopping in general. Shoppers are more aware of labels and origin of the products. A smart buyer has been born! Or risen from its dormant state! Why the sudden concern in product origin and labeling? Why are goods 'made in China' dangerous? Why is everyone on the "I told you so!" bandwagon? Is it because its concerns mostly toys? The children? Given the risks involved, the reaction of the American consumer, especially the American parents, is quite fitting. Kidshealth.org reports that excessive lead contact could lead to headaches and stomach pain and even to behavioral problems and anemia. In addition, it can also affect a child's developing brain. But avoiding these toys is not the answer! The American consumer has long demanded cheaper products. The Mattels are designing them cheap and are hence being made by low bidders somewhere in the Far East in sweatshops competing for these gargantuan contracts from the Mattels and the Walmarts. The lower the price the lower the quality of products. It's Economics 101. The solution is not short term. Its years of 'how low can you go' that we need to stay away from. Measures in Congress do not change our shopping habits. The low priced bidder in China will find a new way to cater to our low-priced wants, and not all of them will be 'safe'. We need to demand better and safer products from our retailers. The giant manufacturers and retailers are certainly not looking out for the consumers. It's not the low price we should look for, but the knowledgeable retailer. Its not the aisles and aisles of Barbies and Webkinz we should demand, but the savvy salesperson who knows about these products. And such service is not at the Walmarts, but your smaller retail stores who actually care about their customers and products. But slowly these giants are pushing out these small retailers. Or should I say by us who love these low priced (and low quality) products along with the low service and product knowledge that these giants are so good in providing. Let's smart up consumers! Let's demand safer products, not by not buying them, but by not asking for them. Let's demand more knowledgeable retailers. Let's demand better service. We don't need Congress to send these toys back. We need better toys AND smarter buyers! Sujan Manandhar MBA, M.Sc. IAKM (Kent State University) My Little Red Wagon http://www.mylittleredwagon.com