Best kinds of toys kids should play with, according to experts

Can you imagine your childhood spent without toys? Impossible right! Children, small or big love to play with all kinds of toys, be it indoor or outdoor. Toys can test mobility skills, trigger senses and help kids focus as well. With so many benefits, the only question remains - how to choose the right kind of toys for them.

The right kind of toys can help aid the development of important emotional and cognitive skills in children and at the same time, keep them entertained. Thus, the kind of toys you give your kids can have a huge impact in developing their personality and mental skills.

It's not the adults who are addicted to their phones. Younger kids are depending on modern gadgets-tablets and smartphones to keep busy, play and study, however, it is hurting their eyes. Doctors recommend kids having 1 hour of screen time each day, provided that there is adult supervision. That being said, it’s always fun and healthy to play with toys which could benefit little minds and keep their developing brain at its peak. Here are some examples which experts and doctors recommend gifting young kids:

When kids play with puzzles or building blocks, which require using their mental, cognitive and motor skills is a very good option. It also helps them sharpen their mathematical ability at a young age.

It’s also important that kids be allowed to think outside the box. And for doing that, the best bet would be to gift them a big empty box that would encourage them to push their creative and imaginative skills. Any kind of toy which encourages kids to use their imagination and create a scenario is good for developing social skills as well.

Since kids’ brains are still developing and they are at a ripe age to learn to use words and symbols, it is always a good idea for them to play with any kind of card or quiz games which is a good way to develop problem-solving skills.

Promoting physical activity helps track fitness in kids at a young age. Toys, such as foam blocks, mini trampolines promote physical activity within the indoor space. Outside home, indulging in any group sport or activity with kids their age also promotes togetherness and socio-emotional skills.

Many parents debate before getting their child an action figure, thinking it could promote violence. However, playing with action figures, for both girls and boys could fuel their imagination and give them a role model to seek inspiration from.

Not only are balls fun to play with, but it is also a very healthy habit to develop as well. They improve the hand-eye coordination, timing, help maintain weight, fitness. When kids play with a ball, they also learn important life lessons and values related to victory and losses.

Hand puppets have been used since a long while now. It is not just an activity which promotes family values and communication but also develops social skills. Also, since the puppets don't have a voice of their own, they encourage kids to use their cognitive and coordinating skills to play with the puppets.