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Shop in UK News

Read all the latest news from the world of shopping in our new blog. You will find new products, discount codes and news from online retailers.

Choosing Girls` Toys

Buying the right kind of toy for any child will give them a lot more than some fun. Toys -- whether they are ranked as educational or not -- are one of the primary ways in which a child learns. Give them the right kind of toy, therefore, and they can develop their mental, social, emotional and physical skills. The beauty of this is that they won't even know that they are learning -- they'll simply think that they are having fun.

One of the problems that many people meet when choosing toys for a girl is that they get stuck in a stereotype -- they tend to buy traditional girls' toys rather than to look at the bigger picture. The truth is that a lot of toys nowadays are non-gender specific and, whilst a girl may still like to play with dolls, there's also no reason why she can't also play with a train set or have a football net in the garden!

At the end of the day not every toy will suit every child. It's important, therefore, to make sure that the toy given to any girl is something she will happily play with. If she doesn't like a toy or if it isn't right for her age/development then she simply won't play with it and will therefore see no benefit.

Popular Girls' Toys

There are various types of toys targeted specifically at girls as well as many that are not gender specific. For example, popular choices at the moment include:

Dolls and stuffed animals -- playing with these kinds of toys will help a girl's emotional, imaginative and social development.

Ride-ons, trikes, scooters and bikes -- starting kids early here does a lot to help their motor skills, balance and overall physical development.

Play people/sets -- many girls enjoy playing with play people and sets such as farms, dolls houses, kitchens, towns and vehicles. These kinds of toys help them develop their own brand of imaginative play which is good for their emotional development.

Books, puzzles and games -- there are all kinds of options here to suit children from just a few months old onwards. Books don't just help kids with their reading but can teach them all kinds of things such as colours, numbers, shapes and object identification. Games and puzzles will help them develop their mental reasoning skills and, if they play with other children/people, will also teach them about winning/losing and taking turns.

Dressing up clothes -- many girls really enjoy dressing up and making up their own stories, plays and games both on their own and with others.

Outdoor/sports toys -- girls will enjoy playing on slides, swings, trampolines and climbing frames just as much as the average boy and they'll help develop their physical skills into the bargain. Many girls nowadays also enjoy playing with sports sets -- either in the garden at home or in the park.

Creative toys -- kids can start playing with creative stuff from an early age. Toddlers can use chunky crayons, for example, or older kids can learn how to use water colour sets. Remember that creative play isn't just about painting and drawing. Options here include craft kits, jewellery making sets, play dough, model making and construction sets.

Video/electronic games -- girls can have a lot of fun with electronic games. Choices here range from PC games, console games, hand-held units, educational video teaching systems and interactive games such as Tamagotchis.

Knowing which toy to choose

There is little point picking up any toy on the shelf and hoping that the girl in question will like it. To be sure to make the right decision it's important to find out what she likes doing, what she is currently playing with and what she already owns. This isn't hard to do -- a quick chat with her parents will make all this clear very quickly. There may also be items that they don't want her to have at this stage so that's another important reason to check first before making a purchase.

Alternatively, try talking to the child herself (if she's old enough!) -- kids are more than happy to discuss what they like doing and to show off their toys. For younger kids try popping round to her home if possible -- this will give the chance to see the child playing and to talk to her parents at the same time.

Don't be scared to try out a new idea but do try and tap into what the child likes to do. A girl who loves football and who tells the world she hates 'girls stuff' like drawing and painting probably won't even give a colouring book a second look. But, buy a football colouring book and she may change her mind. The key thing to remember is that it's pointless trying to pre-judge what a child will like without knowing her likes/dislikes.

Age guidelines

The majority of toys will come with an age guideline label that tells the buyer the age of child that the toy is suitable for. So, for example, a toy marked as 5+ probably won't be safe or suitable for the average 3 year old. The age guidance given here isn't just about safety but is also a guide to developmental suitability. Do, bear in mind that some kids develop at different rates than others so they may be ahead or behind the recommended age guideline at any given time. The parents can, again, give help here.

Do make sure to check the safety of a toy before buying it. Look at the label and the chances are it will show a safety marking such as the British Standards Institute's Kite Mark, the Lion Mark or the CE rating. Toys without these kinds of ratings may not be safe for a child so avoid buying them.

Conclusion

Buy a girl a toy she likes and she'll learn something from it and have fun. If the toy doesn't excite her or if it is too old (or young) for her developmental needs then she simply won't play with it. So, ask the child and/or her parents for advice before buying. Giving a gift she likes will mean a lot more to her.