Rules by Helene Goldnadel to Choose the Perfect Playthings for Your Child

Imagine you are out shopping for your baby and you have no clue what to pick, and what not to pick, when you face the toy store aisles. Parents often respond to the situation in a straightforward manner, they buy the basics and also a few pieces of the educational and the high-tech that fascinates you.

Well, to start with, a toy for a child is a tool to aid intelligence and boost creativity. If you fail to get the right playthings for your baby, his/her intelligence and imagination may suffer a serious setback. It is important to put some thought into what toys you buy for your little one before you actually buy them. Helene Goldnadel gives some inside here:

Rule 1: Keep it simple. A toy that does many things at the push of a button limits your child's imagination. Your child may be delighted by a doll that sings, dances, talks and does many things. However, it limits the way your child uses it for play. It leads the play, which isn't the right idea. Your child needs to play the lead.

On the other hand, the basic toys, such as blocks, give your child numerous opportunities. When the baby is 6-8 months old, it helps to enhance motor skills as they grab, kick, lick and do many things with it. As your child grows, he/she uses blocks in a manner that helps him/her reach a specific goal, maybe build a tower.

Rule 2: Stay away from too much electronics. You can use the TV or an electronic toy to keep your little one occupied while you finish some chore. However, it is best not to use electronics to amuse children. The idle pastime tends to limit your child's imagination. It can also hamper play and make him/her inactive.

Keep your child away from the screen for the first two years. There are baby shows and educational programs, but it is best if your little one can learn the basics from some other source, maybe playtime with parents or grandparents. Even after two years, limit screen time and encourage him/her to explore the world around.

Rule 3: Rotate toys to keep things interesting. Confusing your child with too many toys at a time isn't the best idea. It makes it hard for your baby to focus on something in particular. Let him/her explore and enjoy a few playthings at a time. After he/she has played with them to their heart's content, you can bring out the new ones.

You don't need to throw away or replace the toys your baby once loved but got tired off. Keep them in the toy box. Introduce them after a few months; the enhancement of creativity and imagination in your little one would ensure that they make use of the same pieces in a completely new way.

Rule 4: Educational may not always be the best. If you are in the race of making your baby a language or mathematical genius, you are going way too fast in way too little time. Let go off your obsession to teach him/her the alphabets or the numbers. Keep away the flash cards and educational videos if your baby doesn't seem interested.

Instead, go with the basics. Use kitchen and doctor toy sets to boost the interest in pretend play. Use clothes and accessories to dress up as prince/princess or pirates. Use wooden easels for kids and big colorful crayons to create their own masterpieces. Use play dough to replicate the everyday objects.

Rule 5: Reinvent everyday objects. Your child learns best from imitation. If you are enthusiastic about new things, it inspires your baby to be an explorer. When you play with your little one, make sure you point out the exciting things. Help him/her understand and explore everything around.

Make use of everyday objects. Fill up a bottle (unbreakable) with seeds and let him make a lot of noise with the unique rattle. Ask her to shell a pod of peas and count out how many are there. Use a small piece of fabric to create an eye-patch for your little pirate. With a little imagination, even the simplest thing can be a perfect plaything.