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Backus staff offers advice for buying children toys this holiday season

With the holiday shopping seaons underway,” Backus Hospital staff members offer parents some tips to keep their wits about them when selecting gifts for children.

Shirley Sholes, Director of Childcare at the Mary Allen Ross Childcare Center at Backus, encourages parents to find toys that support creative play.

“Kids love anything they can pretend with, whether it’s clothes from Goodwill or costumes they create. Preschoolers love building toys, larger Legos, cardboard or magnetic blocks. Play food is also a big hit, with a pretend cash register and bags they can pretend to go shopping or cook a meal. It is in their realm of experience and they really enjoy it,” Mrs. Sholes said. “A gift of a book is also lovely or a gift certificate or library card so a child can pick out their own books. Children learn best through interaction, holding the book – reading it with a parent is so important.”

Jill White, head teacher at the childcare center, is a parent herself, with twin 2 ½-year-old girls. When thinking about safe toys, keep in mind not only the age appropriateness of a toy, such as whether the parts are too small, but also what the toy encourages. Mrs. White said she wouldn’t recommend any weapons, such as toy guns or knives.

Mrs. White said children of many different ages enjoy puzzles. For younger children, there are ones with large knobs and then smaller knobs or handles, as kids get older. There are also floor puzzles that entertain children.

They both offered some gift ideas for different age groups:

For toddlers:

• Play-Doh, children can manipulate it with cookie cutters and rolling pins.
• Push toys, such as carriages or strollers they can push toys around in.
• Veterinary kits or doctor kits they can use on dolls or plush toys.
• Water play, they can play at a sink with a pitcher or empty shampoo bottle and give a plastic doll a bath.
• Play structures, such as a tent or cardboard house.

For preschoolers:

• Large lacing beads.
• Duplo Legos or Lincoln Logs for older preschoolers.
• Puzzles with large knobs or handles.
• Soft bowling ball set for indoors.
• Art supplies, such as paper, markers, paints and paintbrushes.

For school-age children:

• Craft kits, such as putting together a bird feeder or birdhouse they can help put outdoors and watch.
• Science kits, to do experiments under supervision.
• Chapter books to read and be read to.
• Educational computer games.
• Cards for card games, such as Go Fish, Hearts or UNO cards. These could be given with a certificate for a family game night.

Mrs. Sholes recommended the following web sites for gift ideas and non-commercial toys:

• Constructive Playthings at www.cptoys.com
• ABC School Supply – www.abcschoolsupply.com
• Child Health Alert at www.childhealthalert.com offers information about recalls and health and development.

     When selecting a toy for your child, avoid the following:

• Toys with small removable parts. The small parts are hazardous and can pose a choking hazard to children younger than 3. Use a small parts tester (which can be purchased at a toy or baby specialty store) to measure the size of the toy or part.
• Toys with sharp points or edges. Children may unintentionally cut themselves or another person.
• Toys that produce loud noises which can permanently impair a child’s hearing.
• Propelled toy darts and other projectiles that can cause cuts or serious eye injuries.
• Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches that could wrap around a child's neck and unintentionally strangle him or her.
• Electrical toys. Avoid toys with heating element-batteries, electrical plugs-for children younger than 8.
• Toys painted with lead paint that can result in lead poisoning.
• Toy cap guns. Paper roll, strip or ring caps can be ignited by the slightest friction causing serious burns.

Source: Connecticut Safe Kids. For more information about toy safety or recommendations by age group, go to www.ctsafekids.org