There are so many books and toys on the market at any one time. It can make the choosing experience extremely overwhelming. More often than not finances will dictate what you go for so it is important to make the right decision. 

• Wooden Toys are a great idea as they are simple and safe. This will allow your child’s personality to flourish. The wooden toy will provide a simple starting point but the most important element of the playing experience is the way your child’s imagination takes over. Wooden toys also keep your child closer to nature and studies show that this gives toys more playing value. Simple toys that have calm and earthy tones are linked to developing skills such as hand-eye coordination.
• Choose dolls of an animal nature during those early years. This is because until the age of about seven children relate more to animals than humans. Traditional dolls and barbies are made from harsh plastic and often depict inappropriate body dimensions and clothing which your child may grow to replicate and mimic during play and eventually in real life.
• Blocks of different shapes and sizes are a great way to teach your children patience and concentration. These are skills that will help later in life through their education and friendships. As children enjoy stacking, building and creating shapes it will help their maths skills as well as their perception of space. Wooden blocks will work better during the early years.
• Focus on books that do not sing or speak. These can impede your children’s communication and language skills. Many books and toys that have voices and sounds represent tones and voices that are distorted, high pitched or containing strong accents. Your child is likely to replicate these as they develop their language skills. It is better to read a book that gives the voice authority to the parent. You can practice and encourage a tone and pace that will help your children develop their own communication skills.
• Art is an excellent way for children to explore their creative side. Playing with paint, crafts or music can really highlight a passion your child may enjoy building upon. Allowing them to make a lot of noise with different instruments is a great way of awakening their emotions. It may also lead to a hobby later in life. Less is more when it comes to the colours of pencils or crayons. Too much choice can be overwhelming and they only need a couple of options to enjoy some doodling and creativity.
• Choose toys that help build skills for later in life. Offering your child the opportunity to play with a child-sized kitchen or sweeping brush will help normalise and instil these behaviours for later in life. It is a lot more effective than randomly trying to teach these skills to a teenager which can lead to frustration and conflict. m
• Fewer toys lead to better playing. When your child has fewer toys their quality of play and cognitive development is better. When there are fewer toys available your child will play with them in more varied ways and for a longer amount of time. Their expression, fine motor skills and imagination will be nurtured in a much stronger way. Less really is more.