Our top 5 tips to help you get the most out of your toys!

Pick products that will grow WITH your child.
I really understood what this meant after I watched how my son interacted with the same toy over a number of weeks, months and years. Originally, a ring stacking toy was a simple hand-eye coordination task. As my son mastered this, the toy then became a colour recognition activity (put on the BLUE ring, put on the YELLOW ring). Next, it was a counting game – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 rings! Was shouted often (and loudly!) After this it became a spatial awareness tool as he realised the rings were different sizes (which we emphasised with asking him to find the LITTLE one or which of the two is bigger). I never realised this simple toy (that I had in my childhood, and my grandparents had in theirs!) was so versatile.

Pick toys that are HIGH QUALITY
Toys that break, bend or crack will only cause your child frustration (and become expensive for you!). Wooden, high quality toys are a must in every nursery.

Be sure to check the safety warnings
If it says not suitable for under 3’s it says it for a reason. Always watch your child when they play with toys with small parts / moving pieces.

Keep them CLEAN
Be sure to keep your toys in tip top condition by wiping them down with warm soapy water or cleaning as per the instructions on the box (if it has one).

And finally... 

Play WITH your child
I can’t even count how many times I have been playing with my son and it teaches him (and me) something new. Incidental learning is amazing! Build a letter out of blocks and ask them to identify it, show them how to shake a jingle stick and dance to the music they make, build a tower and take turns knocking it down, the list is endless. Learning happens through play.   

Let us know your top tips for getting the most out of your toys!