What to Consider When Buying a Toy for a Child

When parents enter a shop to buy a toy, they often focus on its color, appearance, price or what the child likes. Child-care and health experts say that choice should go further than entertainment.

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As the child grows, the type of play changes according to age. It is also important to consider gender because some types of toys are suited to a particular gender.

Toys form part of a child’s learning environment. Through play, children can develop thinking, communication and creative skills, learn to cooperate with others, and build abilities needed in everyday life. The Parent website says toys also contribute to physical and mental development and help children understand their surroundings.

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My child is three years old and can choose what he wants to play with. What I consider is whether it is consistent with our values and safe for him.

Parents interviewed in Dar es Salaam described different priorities. Saraphina Mongi, a mother of three from Sinza, said she considers a child’s age and gender, noting that the type of play changes as children grow. Antony Massawe, a father of one, said he gives his three-year-old a say in what to play with, while checking that the choice is safe and consistent with his values. Asha Abdallah said cost matters because families face other important child-rearing expenses. Amiri Juma said safety comes first and that he checks whether toys could harm or injure his child.

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I examine the toys my child plays with. Are they safe for him? Do they cause health problems or make him get hurt?

Irene Fugara, a child-care specialist with Bright Jamii Initiative, said toy selection deserves particular attention for children from birth to age eight, a key period for brain development. She said children need environments that let them learn through what they touch, see and hear. Some parents, she added, buy toys without considering how much they support important learning. Fugara also said toys with different colors can help children recognize and distinguish colors.

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Some parents simply buy toys without considering how much they help the child learn important things for development.