When you are deciding which toys to buy your kids this holiday season, it helps to keep three things in mind. You want toys that have a long play value, toys that educational or enriching, and toys that are inexpensive. The trick is to find toys that have all three attributes. And let us add a fourth attribute: toys that are safe.
The good news is that this year, it may just be the best year to find the toys you want for you kids at the lowest prices. In fact, you may even want to stock up for gifts throughout the year.
Let us start with play value. Toys with a long play value will be the most worth your money. A hot toys that is discarded after a few months or even weeks carries little value. The famous observation that a child will play longer with the box that the toy came in than he will with the toy itself is sometimes true. This is because the box can be so many things to a child. It can be a dollhouse, a rocket ship, a car, a suitcase, etc. Take advice from the observation of the box model and choose toys that have great potential.
What are some of these types of toys? They are probably the same toys that you might have played with as a child, although perhaps in a different form. Some examples of these type of toys are Legos, Mega Bloks and other building toys, balls and sports equipment, trading cards, dolls and dollhouses, bikes and kid powered toys, just to name a few. Aim for toys that spark the imagination, toys that can be used in different ways, and toys that spark social interaction.
Where do video games come into play here, so to speak? Video games can have long play value, if you select them carefully. You want games that can engage, encourage that social interaction again, and are challenging without being frustrating. Read the reviews, since many games get boring after a few plays. Realize also that this type of toy is an investment, since you will need to support it with new games.
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