Holiday Toy Buying Checklist
With the holidays just around the corner, early childhood therapists everywhere are asked the same question: what do you think I should get my child for the holidays?
As a mom of two kids, I get it. There are LITERALLY millions of toys on the market. There are toys for every character, TV and YouTube show. Classic toys like blocks, puzzles, and train sets, as well as toys which mimic the tools our modern lives - I'm looking at you toy cellphones.
Not only are there so many toys on the market, but there are so many voices telling you which toys are best, which toys are healthiest for your child and most beneficial for their development.
There is so much information to take in and consider that it can be so overwhelming. Instead of giving you another list of toys to consider, I prefer to give the families I work with a checklist. Four questions to ask themselves when they buy a toy, not just at the holidays but throughout the year.
Does this toy meet my child where they are now?
One of the most confusing things about toys is often the seemingly random age ranges on the packages. For so many of the children I work with, those ages just don't jive with when they are ready for those toys. And to be fair, those age ranges often take other factors into consideration, like choking hazards, when they are created.
But if your child is developmentally delayed, or just not interested in a certain type of play yet, those age ranges can be confusing and misleading at best, disheartening at worst.
Instead, I ask families to think about the things their child is doing right now when buying toys. Is your child showing interest in containers? Then maybe a shape sorter is a good bet, or a ball track.
While it can be easy to buy things we think our children should be doing, it's best to meet them where they are. Try asking your child's therapist or pediatrician what skills are emerging next, or checking an app like the CDC Milestone Tracker App.
Will this toy grow with my child as they grow and learn?
A lot of toys, especially infant toys, are single action toys. You hit the button, the music plays. It's a great way to teach cause and effect, plus it's down right enjoyable. But children often move away from these kinds of toys quickly once they master the one skill the toy is designed for.
When you are considering a toy, think of all the things you can do with that toy. Blocks can be stacked, made into castles, color or picture labeled, or used in pretend play as food or vehicles. That Paw Patrol tower can practice concepts of up, down, wait, coloring matching, and motor skills like coordination and squatting.
The more you can do with a toy, the more likely it is to grow with your child.
Will this toy fit in my family's budget and lifestyle?
Raising children is one of the most expensive endeavors of a lifetime. Between diapers, childcare, clothing, and all the snacks (so many snacks), it can be challenging for families to manage their priorities with their financial pictures.
And toys can be expensive. A quick Amazon search for a ring stacker shows prices ranging from $4.99-$21.99. A huge range that can be a big difference to a family on a tight budget.
I love seeing ads for some of the newer toy companies out there. Beautifully crafted wooden toys, painted in rich but not overstimulating colors, all created with developmental trajectories and complexities in mind. They are beautiful and well designed. They are also expensive and driven by adults.
While sometimes it is true, you get what you pay for, I also don't advocate buying into expensive toy company marketing just because it feels like the choice you 'should' be making. Any clean and well maintained toy can be a huge developmental support for your child. Especially considering half of the time they like playing with just the box anyway.
No toy is worth adding unnecessary debt and financial stress. Remember, no toy is the magic secret to your child's growth and development. It's the experience and engagement happening around the toy - that's where the magic is.
Will this toy give my child true joy?
I once worked with a wonderful family who was incredibly thoughtful of what toys and experiences they were offering their children. We spent lots of time in the lead up to the holidays in discussion about toys we felt would match their child's developmental level. I remember seeing them after the holidays and gleefully asking what toys they had decided on. They pulled out a few amazing looking toys - great finds! And then their son walked over to me with a fire truck with bright flashing lights and sounds. He had the world's biggest smile on his face as he laid on the floor next to it and drove it back and forth, while the mom looked, unfortunately, sheepish.
My response? I LOVE FIRE TRUCCKKKKSSSSSS as I laid on the floor with him to admire the wheels of the truck.
In the midst of the holiday madness, when we are inundated with messages about the 'best' toys to 'help' our children, and feeling pressured to turn everything into an educational avenue, we often forget the most important part of play.
Play brings true and uninhibited joy. It allows children (and adults) to explore their worlds in ways which feel safe and accessible to them. If your child loves trucks, or toys that sing, or their favorite character, there is NOTHING wrong with that. Forcing children to play with toys WE deem acceptable might be fun too, but if you know nothing brings your child joy like one more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure, then my recommendation? Get that action figure and soak up their joy.
That's what play is really all about.
