All kids want to explore this new world. When they play and are challenged, they learn and grow by leaps and bounds. That is why children's educational toys, learning software, waiting room toys and kids' crafts offered by Anatex, Galt, Elenco, Toobeez, Maxim, Young Scientists and more encourage your children's natural curiosity and sense of discovery.

Kids and toys are inseparable like the heart and soul. Since the advent of human intellect, toys have always been the best friends to kids. It’s almost impossible to make a kid change his mind, when he sets his eyes on one particular toy. ‘You can take out a kid from a toy, but you can never take a toy out of a kid’. Meaning, that you may deny a kid of a toy, but the level of possession the kids build for their toys is absolutely unique in nature. However, toys aren’t just for fun. They can also be used as interactive learning tools for children. Like in play schools and day care centers, most of the education imparted is through the use of activity toys. It’s a proven fact that toys help a great deal especially in the mental development of the child. Like when playing with ‘Lego building blocks’, a child constructs an image or a structure that he had seen or remembers and tries to give it a factual shape through these blocks.

T O Y

A toy is an object used in play. Toys are usually associated with children and pets, but it is not unusual for adult humans and some non-domesticated animals to play with toys. Many items are manufactured to serve as toys, but goods, or (game-centric) services produced for other purposes can also be used as toys. A child may pick up a household item and 'fly' it around pretending that it is an airplane, or an animal might play with a pinecone by batting at it, biting it, chasing it, or by throwing it up in the air. Some toys are produced primarily as collector's items and are not intended to be played with.

The origin of toys is prehistoric; dolls representing infants, animals, and soldiers, as well as representations of tools used by adults are readily found at archaeological sites. The origin of the word "toy" is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in the 14th century.

Toys, and play in general, are important when it comes to growing up and learning about the world around us. The young use toys and play to discover their identity, help their bodies grow strong, learn cause and effect, explore relationships, and practice skills they will need as adults. Adults use toys and play to form and strengthen social bonds, teach, remember and reinforce lessons from their youth, discover their identity, exercise their minds and bodies, explore relationships, practice skills, and decorate their living spaces.

GENDER
Toys are more than simple amusement, they and the ways that they are used profoundly influence many aspects of life.

Certain toys, such as Barbie dolls and toy soldiers, are often perceived as being more acceptable for one gender than the other. It has been noted by researchers that, "Children as young as 18 months display sex-stereotyped toy choices".

Playing with toys stereotyped for the opposite gender sometimes results in negative consequences from parents or fellow children. In recent years[citation needed], mainly in western countries[citation needed], it has been looked down upon for males to play with toys that were originally stereotyped as being "for girls". However, it is generally not looked down upon for females to play with toys designed "for boys", an activity which has also become more common in recent years. wikipedia

Safety Tips When Choosing Toys

Children enjoy playtime. It relieves them from the stress of schoolwork. It gives them the chance to relax after doing household chores.

What’s more, playtime allows them to develop their physical, mental, and social capabilities. A child at play uses his imagination to the fullest while having fun. It allows him to interact with other playmates, learning the value and importance of friendship, teamwork, cooperation, sportsmanship, and fairness.

To augment the fun, a child usually plays with all sorts of kids toy. The toys vary; they may be as simple as a stick, a set of marbles, or a ball, or as complicated as a remote-controlled car or a walking, talking, and speaking doll.

Outwardly, toys seem to quite harmless. However studies show that some toys are actually dangerous for kids.

Before buying any kids toys, be sure to thoroughly check it for potential hazards. Here is a checklist of what you should look for in a toy to ensure your child’s safety while having fun.

1. Before buying one, be sure to check up-to-date information about it. Be wary of news about toy recalls; recalled toys obviously have something wrong with them. Check out warnings about small parts, breakage, or choking hazards. Remember, just because the toy looks good doesn’t mean it is safe.

2. Be sure the toy is lead free. Many toys 4 kids are coated with paint that contains lead, which can result to lead poisoning.

3. When shopping for toys, it is better to look for toys in toy stores rather than buying online. Yes, online shopping is convenient, but it doesn’t allow you to check on the item effectively. If you have to buy online, read as much as you can about the product before actually taking out your credit card.

4. Inspect the toy thoroughly. Handle it, roll it, smell it, shake it—anything to ensure that no parts are broken. Skip away on broken or damaged toys. Any broken or damaged baby toy in the house must be thrown away. Be sure the product is age-appropriate; do not give a one-year-old a toy that is designed for five-year-olds.

5. Select your toys with care, taking preference on toys that can make your kids wiser. These toys should be always be a priority. Such best kids toys include cloth puppets, dolls made with safe plastic, dollhouses, carpentry sets, and anything that encourages healthy habits or mental or physical activity.

6. If you are buying a bike, scooter, tricycle, or anything that a child can ride on, purchase safety equipment such as a helmet or elbow and knee pads along with it.

7. Do not skip on good books; they are also considered as kids and toys. Be on the lookout for specially designed books that can add fun while reading such as popup books or books with audio effects.

8. Make sure that the toy you buy is flame resistant or nonflammable. You can find this information on the label or instruction manual.

9. Parents should be the ones who would replace or recharge batteries for battery-operated toys. A mishap can cause burns and other injuries.

10. If you are buying a stuffed toy, make sure that the toy is not ripped. Also avoid stuffed toys that contain stuffing materials such as beans or pellets; the stuffing can potentially choke a child when such stuffing is ingested.
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