Picking toys for kids: the pitfalls you might not know about

There's a saying: Only buy what's right, not what's expensive.

Most people think that the more expensive something is, the better it must be.

Although it's true that toys with a slightly higher price usually have somewhat better quality compared to cheaper ones, it doesn't mean that all expensive toys are better.

When choosing toys for kids, we should consider the child's age and personality.

Since I don't know how old your child is, I can give you some general advice.

Here are some rules to follow when picking toys:

1/ Choose toy types suitable for the child's age

If the child is very young, try to avoid beads, paints, crayons, and any toys that may pose safety risks. For example, for children aged 8 months to 1 year, this is a sensitive period for their hands and mouth. If parents buy small beads, paints, and similar toys, the child might put them in their mouth easily. Small beads can be swallowed, and paints or crayons can be ingested or get into their eyes, which is very unsafe for the child.

2/ Ensure the toy materials and safety meet standards

Many toys kids play with are made of plastic. Plastic comes in many types. In general, I don't recommend parents buying toys from street vendors. It's not that cheap toys are bad, but often these toys have no packaging, and sometimes there's no manufacturer information or production date. Without a qualified certificate and manufacturer, it's hard to know if these toys are safe for children.

Especially plastic toys without manufacturer info might be made from recycled plastics. These plastics can have seriously high lead content and pose huge health risks to children.

I've seen many kids who are hyperactive, picky eaters, or like to chew on fingers and strange objects, and a big part of it is due to long-term exposure to toys with excessive lead content.

3/ Don't buy toys for kids that are uncreative or boring

Many kids like toys that light up, move as soon as you switch them on, sing, or walk.

But personally, I don't recommend giving children these kinds of toys. Toys that just need batteries to move, light up, or sing are actually not good for brain development and growth.

Playing with these toys doesn't require any thinking, and kids can just relax. They only need to switch it on and watch the toy “sing,” “dance,” “move forward,” or “move backward.” They don't need to use their hands or brains at all. So why get these toys? Just to entertain the child?