Safe and Developmentally Appropriate Toys for Young Children

Part 1

The technique of choosing toys for young children relies on the guidelines that inform parents of the safety measures and the cognitive development appropriateness for toys to young children. Toys are bought for young kids not only to improve coordination, mind development, and fun but also to improve the level of imagination for the toddlers. There exist numerous guidelines that caution parents on the type of toys that are relevant for their children at specific age groups. For instance, as observed by Brown et al. (2018), parents are encouraged to consider toys that have small parts for their youngsters. Toddlers have a tendency to put small objects in their mouths, and this could lead to choking incidences. The guideline of age appropriateness plays a fundamental role in determining the type of toys that children who fall in the category of birth to eight years should not be too modern or advance since they pose serious health challenges if not sanitized properly.

It is also advisable that parents check on the safety standards of the toys prior to making a decision to purchase the toys as a legit guideline. A parent could check on the safety standards by pinpointing the letters such as "ASTM" that depicts the safety standard of the toy from legit American organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (Brown et al., 2018). The level of noise generated by the toys selected plays a crucial role in determining the safety of children and their ability to listen. Noisy toys could lead to accidents related to the ear-drum injury that would adversely affect the ability of a toddler to listen, and this would also result in cognitive capability interference. The consideration of hobby kits such as the chemistry sets is highly discouraged for young children based on the high level of accidents that it can cause to the toddlers. An alternative guideline would be to choose a well-stuffed animal for reasons of reducing the risks associated with chocking (Healey & Mendelsohn, 2019). Toys with electrical heating specifications are highly discouraged to avoid instances of electrocution. The use of painted toys needs to be nontoxic since toddlers would spend a greater part of their fun time enjoying the artwork. 

Part 2

The three main toys that are appropriate for children in the category of 1-3 years include small stuffed fabric balls, soft and washable stuffed dolls that give a happy impression or a smiling face and rattles. A small stuffed fabric ball approximately 9 cm that goes at the cost of $23 is recommended based on its safety measures since it can be sanitized. The reason for choosing the stuffed ball is because it enhances the level of imagination and brain coordination based on the different colors captured in its design (Karadimitriou, 2019). Hence, the toy is both educational and developmentally appropriate for toddlers. The reason for choosing soft and washable stuffed dolls is because they are safe for the toddlers three years and below. The doll needs to be about 22 inches and 55cm at a price of $89 that is manufactured in the NovaLink manufacturing organization to suit the needs of a toddler who falls in the category of 1-3 years. As noted by Karadimitriou (2019), stuffed dolls do not pose issues of health hazards to the toddlers since it is washable. A rattle with a length that falls between 12cm-23cm, and goes at $19 apiece is considered ideal for the toddler of age three years and bellow. The reason for considering a rattle is based on the fact that it is shakable, and this improves the level of coordination and imagination in toddlers between 1-3 years by trying to explore the nature of noise that emanates from the toys and different colors that define the purpose of a rattle.

References

Brown, P. S., Sutterby, J. A., Thornton, C. D., Richards, M. N., Putnick, D. L., Suwalsky, J. T., & Bornstein, M. H. (2018). CPSC GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING AGE APPROPRIATENESS OF TOYS.

Healey, A., & Mendelsohn, A. (2019). Selecting appropriate toys for young children in the digital era.  Pediatrics ,  143 (1).

Karadimitriou, K. (2019). Selecting Toys for Preschoolers and Kindergartners.  Journal of Education and Human Development ,  8 (1), 146-149.