Pre-School Toys Buyers Guide

Pre-school toys entertain and educate your child. They help development by encouraging social skills, verbal skills, co-ordination, and awareness of colour, sound and textures. Some will also encourage a child to learn to count and understand the alphabet. Good toys will have years of use in them as the child can use their imagination to use them for many games. When choosing a toy think about the ways it will be used and whether it is, a) creative and b) safe.

Look for the safety labels.
Safety is an essential consideration when choosing a toy. You should see a Lion Mark, an age label and a CE Mark on the toy.
The Lion Mark (a triangle containing the picture of a lion) was developed by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and is a symbol of toy safety and quality. Any toy made by a company that is a BTHA member will bear the Lion Mark (about 95% of toys sold in the UK do). However, this does not mean that the remaining 5% are unsafe. If unsure check with the retailer.
Make sure you check the suitability of the toy for the age of your child. Pay particular attention to the minimum age recommendation.
The CE Mark is a supplier's statement that their toys meet the requirements of the European Toy Safety Directive and can be sold anywhere within the European Community. The CE Mark does not claim to be a mark of quality or consumer safety.

Size of parts
Do choose toys carefully to make sure that they are suitable for the age of your child. Toddlers need large, chunky toys that can be easily grasped in little hands. Young children frequently put toys in their mouths, especially when teething. If a piece of a toy is too small, then the child runs the risk of accidental choking. Toys marked age 3+ might contain parts small enough for a young child to choke on. This feature should be marked on the box, usually with the words 'choking hazard'. European Union rules on product safety include a choke hazard test for toys aimed at the under threes. These are continually updated.

A note on phthalates
Phthalates are a plasticizer, which is thought to be harmful to babies. Since 1999, the EU has banned the use of phthalates in soft PVC toys and teethers designed to be put into the mouth by babies under 3 years. Major manufacturers have replaced phthalates with other variations such as citrate based plasticizers.

Battery operated toys
These toys should have a lockable battery compartment. These are generally locked with a small screw to prevent children from getting at the batteries.

Very young children tend to like something that is easily grab-able and allows little fingers to hold on tight. You can get plain soft toys or those with added features such as:
- Musical bears which sing, talk or play music when their paw is touched or a string pulled. Suitable for any age, they enhance child development through interactivity.
- Cheeks that light up in the dark, or respond with a soft lullaby when a baby cries. Suitable for any age, they provide both comfort and entertainment.
- Toys with an integral rattle. These are often small, with a special grip and are particularly suitable for babies. They help the child develop hand/eye coordination.
- Interactive toys which incorporate a range of activities such as learning colours, shapes and sizes, listening to songs, learning to count. These usually need batteries and are operated by pressing the appropriate button or shape.
- Toys with clothing that can be taken off. These help your child practise skills like fastening buttons, zips or bows. These are generally designed for children over the age of three.

Puppets
Puppets are ideal for inventing games and telling stories. Children of all ages love them and they can provide hours of fun. Babies and toddlers enjoy being entertained by puppets and older children enjoy handling them. A wide range of soft toy puppets can be purchased, i.e., hand, finger, marionette, stick and reversible puppets. Most of the safety considerations for soft toys also apply here (see the safety and quality of the toy and how to choose a soft toy).

Collector soft toys
These are toys that are not really aimed at children. Although they can be played with, any alteration such as removing brand tags or evidence of use can decrease their value. They are collector's items, so they often have long fur, elaborate clothing or carry highly desirable tags. Popular collectors lines include Steiff, Hermann and Merrythought and Deans and collector's bears may be new or older, even dating back to the early twentieth century.
A recent development has been the growth of collectable beanie toys. These are made in limited ranges and need to be in prime condition to command high prices at resale. Collectors aim to collect examples from an entire range.
Prices for collector soft toys tend to be higher than other toys, reflecting their collectability and rarity. Prices for such bears range from £40 to a staggering £1,500.

When buying consider these things:
· Safety: Carry out your own checks for safety - pull the fur to see if it comes away in your hand. Test joints to make sure that they are firmly fixed on. Make sure seams are fully sewn up to ensure that the filling does not come out - this can be a danger if a young child tries to eat it.

- Check the eyes to make sure they are securely fixed on - and that there are no sharp edges for a baby's little fingers to touch.

- Check there are no attachments which could harm a child. Soft toys need to be sturdy - they will have to survive a lot of dragging around over the years, often by one arm or leg.

- Length of fur - Babies and toddlers need soft toys which have a very short fur - long pile can be dangerous. Babies can chew and choke on it, especially if it comes off in little bits.

- Ears & noses - Check that these can't be pulled off easily.

- Age - Make sure it is applicable to the age of the child.

- Washing the toy - Some toys are machine or hand washable, others can only be surface cleaned. There are no hard and fast rules as to which are washable - much depends on the mix of materials used. Check the washing instructions on the toy's label.

- The clothes it wears & the feel of the toy - what will appeal to your child?

- Which colours are a child's favourite? Pastel colours are often given to babies, but remember that brighter colours, black or white will stand out more to a baby's slowly developing eyesight.

As with any toy, safety is a key issue so do make sure that all infant toys are suitable from birth, and that you carry out your own safety checks (see the safety and quality of the toy and how to choose a soft toy).

Teethers
Most babies experience a lot of discomfort and pain when teeth begin to come through. This is usually from 3 months and lasts until about 2 ½ to 3 years when the final big teeth appear. During this period, babies and toddlers are likely to chew anything around them to alleviate the discomfort. Teethers are specially designed for this purpose. They come in two forms - a hard teething ring containing various plastic shapes which provide a hard surface on which to chew. The second type is a water filled teether which can be put in the fridge. This provides a cool, chewy surface and can calm the heat of teething. Try both types with your child to see which provides the most comfort.

Wrist Rattles
Normally made from fabric, wrist rattles are popular toys for young babies. They are fastened around the baby's wrist using a velcro fastener. When the baby moves his or her arm, the rattle makes a noise. Wrist rattles encourage movement and curiosity - the baby wants to know what is making this sound nearby. Wrist rattles come in all shapes and sizes, with cheery animals being the most common.

Mobiles
Mobiles hang over cots and are very popular with babies. Each mobile contains around four soft toys which can be moved around manually by a parent, or via a wind up mechanism. Most mobiles play a soothing lullaby, and some incorporate light effects. There are some mobiles that can be reactivated using a remote control. Babies enjoy watching them when lying in their cots. For safety a mobile should always be positioned outside a baby's reach.

Small cot activity centres
These are a combination of toys that the child can play with. Some can be fitted to, or hang above a cot, others can be used on prams, pushchairs and carrycots. They work by playing music, making noises or flashing lights when touched. Such toys should be securely fixed onto the sides of the cot, so that they cannot be pulled over.

Infant Activity Walkers
Activity walkers are designed to encourage children to walk, by giving them something to hold on to and push along. There are various types of activity walkers. The simplest kinds are the basic truck or trolley containing bricks that the child pushes along. You can also get animal push-alongs which are soft toys on wooden or metal frames with handles and wheels. More expensive versions are the electronic baby walkers which contain a removable activity centre which is battery operated. Typical activities include interactive toys that ask questions, flashing lights or songs when buttons are pushed, and facilities to teach shapes and animal names. They are suitable for toddlers from 6 months upwards.

Playnests
Playnests provide a safe environment for babies from birth to the crawling period. Made from fabric or plastic they comprise a padded base with a foam or inflatable circular tube. Integral activities such as materials for learning sound or texture, soft books or pull rings are included. There should be enough room within the nest for favourite toys, as well as for the baby to move around.

Playmats & electronic playmats
Playmats are usually suitable from birth, although some may be for ages 3 months upwards. Vividly coloured, the playmat is somewhere comfortable to place a baby on the floor. Cotton or canvas is usually the main material and various other materials are used to create contrast textures for the baby to touch. There are also small activities such as squeakers, mirrors and peek a boo flaps. Babies are encouraged to reach out, discover textures and activities. All should be machine washable. Electronic playmats are a sophisticated version of an ordinary playmat. Brightly coloured and containing a variety of activities, an electronic playmat incorporates some activities that are battery operated. This may range from a soft phone that plays tunes, to a step on section to make music. Some electronic playmats are suitable for children under 3, while others are for much older children. Do check the age recommendations.

Play gyms & electronic play gyms
Generally made from plastic, play gyms basically comprise an arch from which various simple activities such as a rattle, mirror or bear are suspended. The baby lies underneath and is encouraged to reach up for a particular toy thus developing co-ordination skills. Check the age recommendations of play gyms carefully. Some are suitable from birth, others from 6 months. They should be strong and secure so that a child should not be able to pull it over. Most play gyms are self-assembly and can be folded for storage. Electronic play gyms require batteries and help to develop co-ordination, and encourage responses to light and sound.

Activity tables & electronic activity tables
A wide range of activity tables is available. Generally, they are suitable for ages 1 ½ upwards. Some tables can start as a cot activity centre, before being transformed into a table by adding legs, and later altering it into a small desk. Typical activities include a drawing area, spinning balls, building blocks and squeakers. All activity tables are made from plastic. Electronic activity tables contain activities that are battery operated. Typical activities include sounds, pop up animals, ringing telephones and keypads with electronic sounds and songs. These tables are made from strong plastic and usually have detachable legs for storage. They are suitable for ages 18 months upwards.

Bath Toys
Novelty fabric bath mitts in animal shapes help to make bath time fun. Sponge faces and animals raise a smile, while sponge alphabet letters which stick to the side of the bath or the tiles keep children occupied. You can buy a variety of bath toys - from toys that simply float to toys that sing, paddle, squirt water and perform numerous other activities. Do check if there are any restrictions on age.

Stacking Toys & Shape Sorters
Stacking toys are popular with all young children. They teach co-ordination and develop an awareness of size. At their simplest, they are stacking beakers or cups that usually have a decorative pattern on the side. Other variations include stacking rings and stacking bricks. Stacking toys can be built into towers that even the youngest baby enjoys knocking down even before they can stack them up themselves. Some stacking toys have to be placed on holders, or can be linked together.

Sorting shapes is another popular activity. Shape sorters comprise a box with special shaped holes through which the shapes can be placed. The box is then emptied and the game begins again. Children enjoy trying to match shapes into holes. It teaches co-ordination and an awareness of shapes and colour. Numbers and letters are sometimes included, and some have sounds and lights that come on when successfully completed.

Figures
A wide range of plastic figures is available to match in with playsets or as standalone toys. Typical figures include animals, nursery characters, knights, and people doing various tasks, small carts and vehicles. These figures stimulate your child's creativity. Check before buying to ensure that they are suitable for your child. Some figures are suitable only for children aged 3+ due to the presence of small parts. These can be added to later with extra sets or toys.

Playsets
Playsets include a setting such as a farm or kitchen, plus some accessories such as cars, trains or animals. Most pre-school playsets are suitable for children aged 3+ as they contain moving or small parts. It is possible to obtain some that are suitable for ages 2+. These are mainly road/rail sets, toy kitchens and farms. Playsets are ideal for children as they encourage them to use their imagination, to talk and to create games. They stimulate co-ordination and develop social skills. Most playsets are large and require some measure of self-assembly. Some playsets may require batteries.

Moving Toys
All kinds of moving toys can be purchased, e.g., wind up or pull along animals, push along cars which operate by friction, or trains which move when the driver is pushed down. Such toys are most suitable for children aged 1 year upwards. Smaller toys or toys containing small parts are best for children aged 3+. Check that any wheels and moving parts are securely fastened on, and that the toy is suitable for the age of your child.

Remote Control Toys
Pre-school remote control toys are most suitable for children aged 2 ½ years upwards. Children need to be able to co-ordinate and issue commands in order to use the toys effectively. Most remote control toys suitable for this age group comprise vehicles of some kind. All require batteries and are usually button operated. The child presses a button to make the toy perform various functions such as go in circles, go forward or backward. There are also voice controlled remote operated toys, in which the toy responds to a child's command given through a microphone. Good if you have plenty of space for your child to play.

Train sets are made in wood, plastic and metal. Some brands and series have a large variety of trains, rolling stock, track and equipment so a child's collection can be built up over time. Bear in mind that there are strict EU safety rules on toy railway sets, which products made outside the EU may not comply with, so check carefully before buying.

Plastic train sets
Plastic is widely used for train sets, as it is light to pick up, washable and hard to break. Most contain a selection of track and some trains and carriages. Some also contain buildings or other accessories such as level crossings or signal points and sometimes guards. Most plastic train sets require the train to be pushed along but you can obtain train sets that operate on batteries or which have a driver that must be pushed down to move the train. The train sets may include features like stations, which cannot be purchased separately. It is possible to purchase plastic electric powered train sets but these are not suitable for under 3s as they are connected to the mains.

Depending on the type of train set you have chosen, a range of accessories can be purchased. These can be used to add extra facilities to the original set, e.g., a tunnel, a station building, a bridge or a crane. There is a vast array of track, rolling stock and other accessories too. Packs of track to match branded and unbranded train sets or trains can be purchased. Track is brightly coloured and fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. It can often be integrated with road and air or water sets. Most are almost unbreakable.

Wooden railway sets
Wood is a more traditional toy material and is widely used for train sets suitable for children aged from 2+. Some may need a special play board and/or play table. In general the range of wooden sets and accessories is much larger than the plastic, and wooden trains and sets can be played with until the teen years.

Wooden railway sets can contain anything from around 15 to over 100 pieces depending on the specific collection and whether it is a branded or unbranded version. Most unbranded wooden railway sets are compatible with a main brand but check this before buying - buying cheaper toys may not always pay off in the long run. Sets may include a variety of figures, track, rolling stock and features like bridges, tunnels, level crossings and track. Trains can be battery powered or clockwork as well as push along. Carriages are often joined by magnetic couplings. You'll have a choice of classic engines, rocking trains, cattle wagons, cement haulers, circus trains, breakdown trains and tipping trucks, to name a few. Some have working parts such as opening doors and sides. Wooden track fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. Check that it is easy enough for your child to put together.

Your child's train set can be enhanced further with a number of additions. Pieces of landscape like trees, or vehicles and buildings such as repair sheds, tractors or buses can be purchased individually or in sets. More unusual features include windmills, turntables and semaphores. You can also buy battery-operated accessories such as crossings, which can be activated by interactive approaching trains. A wide range of station platforms, bridges and tunnels can also be purchased. Some stations also have moving parts with engine sounds, working station lights and announcements that can be recorded and played back. You can either buy a complete layout or simply a starter set. Either way, the train set should provide years of role playing fun and be able to grow with your child.

Metal train sets
Metal is most suitable for older children or collectors pieces. It is not safe for toddlers and young children under three.

1. Look for the safety labels.
2. Check the age recommendations on the toy.
3. Watch out for unsafe toys with dangerous eyes.
4. If it looks unsafe leave it alone.
5. For toys that you have to assemble at home, always fix things securely as the maker recommends.
6. Plastic and wooden train sets are safer than metal for young children.
7. Check that you can you get matching accessories and additional rolling stock for train sets and playsets - this will prolong the life of the toys.
8. Avoid electric powered train sets.
9. Check that the train set is compatible with major brands. Consider how long lasting the toy will be in use.