$Unique_ID{PAR00224}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{1 Year to 2 1/2 Years:  Selecting Toys and Equipment}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Mendelson, Robert A
Mendelson, Lottie M
Meyerhoff, Michael K
Ames, Louise Bates}
$Subject{1 Year to 2 1/2 Years Toys Equipment toy safety toxic sharp hazardous
plaything playthings household balls ball telephone telephones game games
books puzzle puzzles physical muscle skills skill gym tricycle sandbox musical
instrument instruments coloring book crayon crayons blocks inflatable
inflatables doll dolls play sets gender cooperative peer TOY LIBRARY toddler
toddlers}
$Log{
Any toys that allow your toddler to practice physical skills are suitable*0060003.tif
Your toddler may enjoy making music, but can't manipulate most instruments*0060004.tif
Any toys allowing your toddler to practice large muscle skills are suitable*0060107.tif
Riding toys powered by feet and with a low center of gravity are suitable*0051501.tif
There is rarely a toddler who is not thoroughly enthralled by balls*0051801.tif
A toddler will enjoy simple toys, such as riding toys*0052501.tif
A toddler will enjoy simple toys, such as wading pools*0059501.tif}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


1 Year to 2 1/2 Years:  Selecting Toys and Equipment


     Are there any new considerations regarding toy safety at this point, and
are all the old ones still in effect?

     All the old ones certainly are still in effect.  Toward the end of this
period, your toddler may not be putting everything in her mouth all the time,
but small pieces and toxic paints are still a threat.  Of course, sharp edges
and protrusions will remain hazardous for quite some time.  And her older
brother's toys still may cause a lot of trouble for your toddler--both from
the items themselves and from her brother if he catches her using his stuff
without permission.  As for new considerations, keep in mind that your
toddler's strength, dexterity, and curiosity will all grow steadily during
this period, so durability becomes an even greater factor than before.
Therefore, you have to be careful about things like access to compartments of
battery-operated items.  In general, keeping your toddler's playthings solid
and simple is still a good idea.


     Do toddlers need more toys during this period?

     Ordinary household items still will go most of the way in meeting your
toddler's interests and challenging her abilities throughout this period.
However, as the months go by, it might be a good idea to start supplying her
with a few more store-bought toys for several reasons.  First, as your
toddler's skills become more complex, it may not always be easy to find a
suitable plaything lying around the house.  Second, as your toddler becomes
stronger, you may be less inclined to subject a lot of your household
possessions to her growing capacity to abuse them in the course of her play.
Finally, as your toddler goes through her rebellion phase and becomes very
possessive, it is a good idea for her to have certain things that are hers and
hers alone.  Fortunately, a small collection of solid, simple products will
suffice, so it is not necessary for you to make numerous purchases and spend a
lot of money.


     What is the favorite toy of toddlers?

     It is a rare toddler who is not thoroughly enthralled by balls throughout
this period.  Your toddler probably will derive infinite pleasure from
throwing, kicking, and otherwise exercising her physical skills with a ball
and then watching it bounce, roll, and otherwise react to her actions.  She
also will enjoy the fact that she can carry a ball around easily.  If the ball
is very large yet very light, like a beach ball, the thrill she'll get will be
tremendous.  However, perhaps the most appealing thing about a ball as far as
your toddler is concerned is that it allows her to effectively initiate social
interactions with you.  She will realize that if you roll or throw a ball to
someone, that person has a tendency to roll or throw it back.  So, for the
first time, instead of patiently waiting for you to start a game with her, she
now has something she can use to begin a game herself.  The mechanical aspects
of ball play are definitely alluring, but it is the potential for interacting
with you that makes ball play totally irresistible to your toddler.


     What other toys or games encourage play between toddler and parent?

     Toy telephones are great for this purpose.  Although your toddler will be
content to conduct pretend conversations all by herself, the chance to sit
down with you and carry on a two-way conversation will be a special thrill.
Later on, as her role-play and fantasy activities become more complex, she
will greatly enjoy having you participate in a pretend tea party or other such
event.  Toward the end of this period, you also may be able to engage in a few
very simple games with your toddler, such as hide-and-seek, tag, and
follow-the-leader.  At first, your toddler will be much better at being the
seeker rather than the hider, the "tagee" rather than the tagger, and the
follower rather than the leader, and it may be a while before she becomes
comfortable switching roles.  Nevertheless, she probably will be an eager and
enthusiastic participant, and these games will provide a lot of fun for
everyone involved.


     What kinds of books would be appropriate for my toddler?

     Your toddler's attitude toward books will change considerably over the
course of this period.  In the beginning, her primary interest still will be
in just turning the pages back and forth, so books with stiff cardboard pages
are most appropriate.  As her memory, attention span, and language skills
grow, your toddler will enjoy pointing-and-naming games with picture books.
By the end of this period, those capacities will have grown to the point where
story books will be appreciated.  Therefore, it will be necessary for you to
keep tabs on your toddler's ever-increasing abilities in order to select the
type of book that would be suitable at any given time.  As for which specific
books would be best within each category, that too is dependent upon your
toddler.  There are no books that can guarantee universal appeal.  If your
toddler likes boats, get books about boats; if she likes animals, get books
about animals; and so on.  You might even consider using family photographs
and personal experiences to make your own books, which undoubtedly will
capture the fancy of your toddler.


     Should I buy my toddler things like form boards and stacking rings so she
can learn her shapes and colors?

     Despite the apparent power of these items, they are entirely unnecessary.
There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that children who are exposed to
form boards, stacking rings, and other such toys learn their shapes and colors
any faster or any better than children who are not.  As long as your toddler
has access to a wide variety of typical household items, there will be ample
opportunities for her to learn these things.  On the other hand, as long as
these commercial items are durable and inexpensive, they may not be a bad
investment.  Toddlers do enjoy manipulating and carrying around the pieces as
well as attempting to take them apart and put them back together.  However,
keep in mind that there is no "right" way to use these toys.  Don't worry if
your toddler isn't using them in the same manner that the child on the box or
a child down the block is using them.  She will learn just as much, if not
more, by trying to put the square peg in the round hole, or by simply pushing
it along the floor with her nose, as she will by doing what she is "supposed"
to do with it.


     Is it too early to introduce my toddler to puzzles?

     At the beginning of this period, puzzles will probably be outside the
interests and beyond the abilities of your toddler.  However, as the months go
by, it is likely she will start to find these items fascinating and enjoyable.
Fortunately, manufacturers are now making a wide variety of one-, two-, and
three-piece puzzles, so try to find some of these to give your toddler the
best chance of success.  Also, since manipulating the pieces in precise ways
may be beyond your toddler's small muscle capacities for a while, look for
puzzles that have small knobs or handles attached to the pieces.  By the way,
as with form boards and stacking rings, don't worry if your toddler doesn't
use these toys in the manner for which they were designed right away.  She
will get quite a lot of enjoyment and learning from just fiddling around with
the pieces.


     What kinds of toys will enhance my toddler's large muscle skills?

     Anything that allows your toddler to attempt and practice her emerging
physical skills will be appropriate.  A sturdy indoor gym with ramps to climb
up and slide down, tunnels to crawl through, and other such features might be
a good investment.  Of course, you can probably create your own perfectly
adequate gym using large cardboard boxes, cushions, stools, and other
household items.  Likewise, balls will give your toddler an opportunity not
only to exercise the upper portions of her body as she throws them, but the
lower portions as well when she chases them.  Toward the end of this period,
simple riding toys may become appropriate as well.  As opposed to the standard
tricycle, which is likely to remain beyond your toddler's capacities at this
point, these toys should have a low center of gravity and seats that are not
too high so they can be climbed upon safely and easily.  They should also be
powered by feet thrusting against the floor rather than by actual pedaling.


     I'm considering buying an outdoor swing set for my toddler.  Will this be
a good investment?

     Your toddler certainly will enjoy a swing set, but it is probably not
necessary for you to purchase one at this point.  It still will be a while
before your child will be able to use a piece of equipment like this
unsupervised.  For the time being, it probably would be a good idea to use the
swing set at the local park or schoolyard during your regular outings.  If for
some reason you feel that having a set in your own yard is appropriate, make
sure that you purchase one that is sturdy and can be anchored firmly so there
is no danger of it tipping over.  The seat should have a back support for your
toddler, as well as some kind of harness that will hold her securely and
prevent her from falling or slipping out.  You should also double-check the
locking mechanism to be sure that your toddler won't be able to intentionally
or inadvertently open it by herself while in full swing.


     What else can I provide to keep my toddler entertained outdoors?

     Increasingly throughout this period, your toddler will enjoy playing in a
simple sandbox.  Armed with a few pails, shovels, and other suitable utensils,
she will be able to keep herself entertained for hours.  Before placing your
toddler in an outdoor sandbox, it is a good idea to see if any local cats have
used it as a litter box lately and remove the fecal matter.  A shallow wading
pool also will be a big hit, especially if it, too, is equipped with a variety
of bath toys, beach balls, etc.  Toward the end of this period, an opportunity
to run through the lawn sprinkler may be appreciated by your toddler.  If
possible, you might consider setting up enclosed areas where your toddler can
play with balls and use her riding toys.  You have to make sure there is no
chance your toddler will chase a ball or roll her riding toy into a hazardous
area.


     When can I expect my toddler to be ready to start riding a tricycle?

     The age at which the strength, coordination, and savvy that are required
to ride a tricycle all come together varies greatly among children.  Most do
not have the capacity to handle a tricycle by two years of age, but most do
have the capacity by three years of age.  Keep in mind that there is no reason
to rush your toddler in this regard; she will have a lot of fun for many
months using simpler riding toys.  When you do think she's ready to start
trying a standard tricycle, look for one that is sturdy, low to the ground,
and easy to pedal and steer.  Obtaining one that is brightly colored is a good
idea as well; your toddler probably will prefer it, and it will make it easier
for other people to see your toddler coming since she may not always watch
where she's going.  And remember that the mobility that a tricycle gives your
toddler allows her to have a lot of fun, but it also enables her to get into a
lot of trouble.  Therefore, unless you can somehow restrict her riding to an
enclosed, safe area, make sure that you are there to supervise her early
riding activities.


     My toddler seems very musically inclined.  Is she too young to have a
real instrument?

     She probably is for two major reasons.  First, although your toddler may
enjoy listening to music and even producing it to a certain extent, she
certainly does not yet have the ability to manipulate most instruments in
anything more than a rudimentary manner.  She also does not have the attention
span and patience to sit still for the intensive lessons that would be
required to improve her capacities significantly in that regard.  Second,
admonishing a toddler to "take care of her things" is simply unrealistic at
this point.  Although your toddler may do some appropriate things with an
instrument, it also is likely that she will subject it to a fair amount of
abuse.  Since a real instrument generally costs a fair amount of money, and
since you may want to have it available in good shape later on, providing one
for your toddler probably is not a wise move at this point.


     Will my toddler be interested in coloring books during this period?

     She certainly will, especially toward the end of this period.  However,
at first, your toddler probably will have a lot of trouble holding a crayon,
and she definitely will color outside the lines as much if not more than
inside.  Also, she may show an exclusive preference for one color and
virtually ignore all the others.  Therefore, rather than wasting coloring
books, you might consider starting your toddler off with just plain paper and
a few crayons.  Later on, as her small muscle skills improve and her interest
in stories increases, using coloring books will become more appropriate.  The
same is true with paints, clay, and other art supplies.  Keep them plain and
simple at first, allowing your toddler to get the feel of the materials and
utensils.  You can gradually introduce more structure to these activities, but
try not to push your toddler into any specific sort of procedure if she does
not show an inclination to pursue it.


     What types of toys will enhance the development of my toddler's small
muscle skills?

     Your toddler probably will enjoy manipulating a wide variety of simple
mechanical toys at this point.  Anything that contains levers, push buttons,
dials, hinges, etc. will get a lot of play time.  Keep in mind that the play
value of such items increases with the number of different things your toddler
can do with them, rather than with the number of different things they do all
by themselves.  Therefore, complex battery-operated toys may entertain your
toddler for a few minutes, but they will lose their fascination relatively
quickly after that.  Small hammering toys and peg boards also will be
appropriate for small muscle skill practice, as will large interlocking beads
that can be pulled apart and pushed back together easily.  In addition, your
toddler is likely to appreciate a set of small snap-together blocks that she
can simply manipulate two or three at a time and, especially toward the end of
this period, use to create some basic structures.


     Will my toddler enjoy building with large blocks as well as manipulating
small ones?

     Toward the end of this period, your toddler may very well begin to show
an interest in large-block projects.  Most likely, her early efforts will
center around other role-play and fantasy activities.  For instance, she may
use a few blocks to build a "house" for her dolls.  Since her strength and
dexterity still will be somewhat limited, it is a good idea to provide her
with blocks that are fairly lightweight at this point; that is, made from
cardboard, plastic, or some other such material as opposed to standard heavy
wood.  This will allow your toddler to construct things more easily.  And,
since she probably will enjoy knocking down her projects just as much as she
enjoyed creating them, there is less likelihood that she may harm herself--or
harm something or someone else in the house in her enthusiasm.


     My toddler really loves large, inflatable toys.  Is this unusual?

     Not at all.  Toddlers love to just carry toys around, and the bigger the
toy, the bigger the thrill for them.  Particularly during their "rebellion"
phase, the opportunity for them to latch onto something really large and keep
it in their possession as they go about the house enables them to put on a
display of personal power that is especially appealing to them at this point.
Consequently, these inflatable items are big favorites, as they are big
without being heavy and thus can be used to show off without straining a
toddler's still limited physical capacities.  A number of manufacturers are
now coming out with lines of these toys.  Most of them are very safe and
sturdy; however, it is always a good idea to double-check to make sure that
any inflatable toy won't burst easily and that the material can't be torn with
minimal effort.  Also, see to it that the air-intake nozzle can be plugged
securely and that is it snugly recessed so that you are not constantly
reinflating it.


     What will be the most suitable toys for my toddler's early role-play and
fantasy activities?

     In the beginning, your toddler will appreciate a wide, variety of plain,
simple items ranging from a toy telephone to a collection of hats out of your
closet.  Basic dolls (simple stuffed dolls as opposed to more sophisticated
dolls with lifelike features and movements) and stuffed animals as well as a
couple of noncomplex cars and trucks will be enjoyed.  In addition, any
"pretend" implement that allows your toddler to "do what you are doing"--toy
kitchen utensils, tools, garden equipment, and the like--will be a big thrill
for her.  Keep in mind that a very important part of your toddler's early
role-play and fantasy activities often will be her audience.  Consequently,
since her parents are her favorite people and they are the ones who have the
greatest emotional impact on her, it will mean a lot to your toddler if you
make an effort to be around to supply appropriate applause and even
enthusiastic participation on occasion.


     Should I provide more complex role-play and fantasy toys as my toddler
gets older?

     Toward the end of this period, as her small muscle skills allow her to
manipulate smaller items more easily and as her mental abilities enable her to
retain and restructure her growing experiences, your toddler probably will
begin to appreciate "play sets."  These can be doll houses or little kitchens,
farms, zoos, parking garages, fire or train stations, etc.  The important
thing to remember is that whenever your toddler engages in activity of this
sort, most of her raw materials are taken from her own head.  Therefore, it is
not necessary to supply her with elaborate sets containing many pieces and
rich details.  In fact, past a certain minimal point, the more that is already
in front of her, the less chance she will have to use her own imagination and
creative capacities.  Therefore make sure whatever sets you supply her with at
this point are relatively simple.


     Do girls and boys begin to show preferences for different toys at this
point?

     When left on their own, toddlers rarely show distinct preferences for
different toys according to gender at this point.  Girls will choose trucks
and hammering toys and boys will choose dolls and kitchen utensils just as
often as the reverse.  However, it typically is at around a toddler's second
birthday that her parents begin to display strong preferences about the kinds
of toys with which she plays.  Interestingly, while girls routinely are
applauded for playing with dolls and kitchen utensils, they usually are not
criticized severely when they play with trucks and hammering toys.  Boys, on
the other hand, often experience strong reactions from their parents when they
choose a toy that is not gender-appropriate in the traditional sense.
Therefore, depending upon how you have consciously or unconsciously influenced
your toddler's selection process, you may start to see some distinct
gender-related preferences toward the end of this period.  However, such
inclinations certainly are not inherent.


     Are there any items that are particularly appropriate for encouraging
play between toddlers?

     Truly cooperative and congenial peer play does not come overnight, so it
is a good idea to be conservative in this area at first.  Sand or water play,
finger painting, building with blocks, and role-play and fantasy activities
all lend themselves well to this purpose.  However, it is a good idea to make
sure that, whenever possible, there are "two of everything" in case the notion
of "sharing" or "taking turns" either fails to show up or falls apart after a
few minutes.  Climbing apparatus, such as a couple of large cardboard boxes
and a few cushions, or a collection of balls also encourage a lot of
interactive play while allowing each toddler to "do her own thing" from time
to time.  If possible, you might consider introducing a piece of
"sitting-and-spinning" equipment that requires toddlers to work together in
order to make it go around, but don't expect them to get the hang of it
immediately.


THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A TOY LIBRARY

     Choosing toys for toddlers isn't easy.  Because their interests and
abilities are still changing at a very rapid rate, an item that is appropriate
one day may very well lose its appeal the next; and an item that is totally
rejected one day may very well become a favorite within a week.  Furthermore,
as their activities become increasingly sophisticated, toddlers seem to become
increasingly picky about their playthings.  While almost all toddlers will
enjoy a certain type of toy, each individual toddler will display peculiar
preferences when it comes to shape, color, and other characteristics.
Unfortunately, those preferences can change dramatically within a short period
of time.  Consequently, a lot of parents end up spending a lot of money for
toys that spend a lot of time in the closet gathering dust.  In order to
avoid, or at least minimize this, it is suggested that you use a toy library.
Many public libraries, parents' groups, and community organizations now are
setting up collections of playthings from which parents can borrow a couple of
items for a couple of weeks at a time.  The process allows you to test the
play value of any toy as it relates to your particular child before you buy
it.  If your toddler seems to really enjoy something, and if she sticks with
it for more than a few days, then you can consider laying out the cash to get
her one of her own.  If your toddler shows little or no interest, you can
simply return the item to the toy library and perhaps give it another try in a
few weeks.  Either way, you've managed to greatly enhance your chances of
success in the hit-or-miss game of procuring playthings for your toddler.


WHERE HAVE ALL THE PIECES GONE?

     As your toddler moves around the house with greater ease, she is likely
to be taking her playthings--and parts of her playthings--around with her as
she goes.  Unfortunately, she may or may not bring these items back.  There is
even a good chance that she will "hide" some of the smaller pieces in
"interesting" places and then completely forget where those places and pieces
are.  Consequently, especially toward the end of this period, you may discover
that pieces of your toddler's playthings are starting to disappear at an
alarming rate--not to be seen again until some massive spring cleaning effort.
Of course, you can avoid this by keeping your toddler's play restricted to a
small specific area.  The best option, however, is to simply realize that this
is part of your toddler's play and it is bound to happen to a certain extent.
To make it easier on yourself, your toddler, and your pocketbook, it is a good
idea to avoid spending a lot of money on any particular item and to stay away
from small toys with small parts that are "essential" rather than "easily
interchangeable."  In addition, it's wise to make periodic sweeps of potential
hiding places around the house--such as under sofa cushions, behind the
refrigerator, inside dresser drawers--to see if you can find those pieces that
are among the missing.  And remember, admonishing your toddler to "take care
of her things" involves expectations that are inappropriate and unfair at this
point, and it simply will not work.