The development of your child is something that you need to safe guard as a parent.
In addition to providing resources and an environment conducive for the development of your child, you need to ensure that you keep out bad toys for child development.
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Provide Toys Suited for Child Development
Kids need to play with toys that stimulate their senses, promote creativity, and develop motor skills.
Some toys are safe, while others pose risks to kids’ health and well-being.
Toys that don’t encourage full body movement, such as remote control cars and laser games, are particularly poor choices for children.
They don’t provide imaginative play, sensory experiences, or problem-solving opportunities.
Nerf Guns
Nerf guns are not safe for use by children. They can hurt people and damage property. If you see one being used as a toy, take it away immediately.
Nerf gun toys require the child to point and launch a ball or object, which isn’t necessarily the most effective way to engage the child in play.
Instead, tossing a beanbag or ball can encourage handwriting and reading development.
Poo-Dough
There are some toys that should never be purchased for a child, including those that look like poop and “Poo-Dough” by Skyrocket Toys.
These toys are not only gross, but can cause life-threatening allergic reactions for children who are gluten-intolerant.
Poo-Dough is also a choking hazard, requiring a physician’s intervention if a child ingests it.
The World Against Toys Causing Harm recently released its annual list of the worst toys available for young children.
This list features some fairly obvious toys, but some are a little more difficult to identify.
Some are obvious, but there are also a few that warrant a gentle rib. Some of these toys have even been banned from sale entirely.
Regardless of whether or not you agree with the organization’s decision, it is in your best interest and the interest of your child to keep off the toys that have been flagged as bad for child development.
Electronic Toys
The use of electronic toys for children is often advertised as educational, but this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, it may have the opposite effect.
Rather than encouraging kids to learn more about the world around them, electronic toys limit their language development.
A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that children who played with such toys produced less back-and-forth chatter with their parents and grandparents.
The continuous sounds that are produced by electronic toys can be harmful to children’s hearing.
Overexposure to these toys can also lead to the development of a culture of dependency on others. It’s no surprise that most children today are addicted to technology.
Research has shown that children who spend more than four hours a day on screens are more prone to develop vision problems, attention deficit disorder, and obesity.
Parents should be aware of these risks and consider whether their child’s toy collection is healthy for their child’s development.
A recent study found that children who played with electronic shape sorters had less spatial language than children who did not have access to such devices.
Parents who play with their children use more spatial language than those with electronic toys, which activates the orienting reflex, which compels the mind to focus on new, novel stimuli.
Furthermore, children bond with parents more than with their toys. Parents also use varied intonation and pitch when talking to their children.
Many parents have heard that electronic toys are bad for child development. It’s true that battery-operated electronic toys are convenient, and may put a smile on their child’s face.
They may take the place of tantrums, but electronic toys do not contribute to the mental development of children.
Marketing and advertising campaigns of these items have made them a popular item to buy for their children.
But do they really do anything to improve a child’s health?
Toy Crossbows
A new toy that is causing alarm is the toothpick crossbow. Available on the Internet, the toothpick crossbow is described by one parent as a “mini weapon of destruction.”
It can be used to shoot needles and nails, which are harmful to young children.
But what about the toys that don’t harm kids directly? Should we be avoiding them? Let’s take a closer look.
Synthetic Cotton-Based Soft Toys
The question is: Are synthetic cotton-based soft toys bad for child development? Generally, yes. Many toys made of these fabrics are loaded with chemicals.
Even those labeled organic can have chemicals added to them. If your child is exposed to synthetic cotton-based toys, they can be especially dangerous.
In fact, there is a high risk of exposure to carcinogens from these toys.
Children are in constant contact with their toys, and they often put them into their mouths.
Because they aren’t able to self-poison, they begin collecting these substances. Over time, they may develop serious health problems or even impair their fertility.
The chemicals in soft toys are suspected of impairing fertility. However, children won’t intentionally poison themselves by eating these toys.
Furthermore, some toys contain flame retardants, which are known to cause cancer. Cotton-based toys also use cotton grown with pesticides.
Polyester fill is made from petroleum that is treated with chemicals and breaks down into microplastics. While choosing a toy for your child, make sure it’s certified organic.
You’ll want to select a toy with organic materials, but it’s not impossible.
The key to choosing a toy made with natural materials is to choose simple, washable materials.
While many children love their toys, many parents choose to buy sustainable versions.
Sustainable toys don’t release greenhouse gases during manufacturing, they don’t pollute the environment, and don’t deplete resources at unsustainable rates.
They also help children learn traditional skills and channel money back into local communities.
And remember, play isn’t just about playing with toys. Play is also about developing a child’s mind, body, and spirit.
Toys With Potential For Blunt Force Impact Injuries
Every year, the World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) lists the worst toys to avoid.
This year’s list is particularly concerning, as three of the ten toys are choking hazards and two are riding toys.
Parents should always include appropriate safety gear along with their toys.
Some of the dangerous toys include choking hazards, such as the Calico Critters Nursery Friends, and those that pose blunt force and impact injuries to children.
Considering that 46% of toy purchases are done online, comparing prices and reading product reviews is critical.
Moreover, childhood injuries from toys are a common problem.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over a quarter million children were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries last year, with the vast majority of the injuries occurring in toddlers and young children.
Additionally, children are spending more time playing at home, which makes choosing safe toys more important than ever.
Another toy with risk of blunt force injuries is the W.A.T.C.H. play set, which includes several small toys and is recommended for children two and older.
A thin plastic tongue depressor, which measures four and 3/4 inches, can be potentially dangerous for children because it can result in a blunt force injury and entanglement.
Further, a magnetic fruit may cause a choking hazard for young children, especially those who are teething.
Other toy-related injuries include eye damage. These often occur as a result of an unintended use of the toy, such as swinging a toy or throwing it in anger.
Children are not always able to aim safely, and they may not understand the concept of safety when playing with a toy that contains a projectile.
This type of toy can cause serious injuries, including blindness.
Airsoft Guns
Airsoft guns are not real firearms, so they do not require any training or licensing.
They are also very inexpensive, making them an attractive toy for young children.
However, airsoft guns are dangerous because they can easily injure people and property.
Laser Pointers
A laser pointer is a device used to project a beam of light onto a surface. It is often used as a teaching aid by teachers and lecturers.
It is also commonly used by photographers and videographers to point out details in photographs and videos.
Water Guns
Laser pointers are dangerous toys for children. They can burn eyes and skin, and even cause blindness. They can also damage property and injure people.
Paintball Guns
Paintball guns are dangerous toys for kids. They can cause serious injury to anyone who gets hit with them. Kids should never play with these guns.
Final Thoughts
If you have read this far, you must have been overwhelmed by the number and variety of bad toys for kids that are out there.
These are things parents take for granted and for some of the bad toys, the hazards are not so obvious.
As a parent do your research about the best toys for child development before you buy any toy.
Buy toys that will development the different dimensions of your child (physical, emotional, social, math, language).
Stay away from toys that can harm your child either cognitively, morally or even physically.
