Issues to be aware of when choosing small toys in kindergarten

Issues to be aware of when choosing small toys in kindergarten

1、 Security issues

a. Material Safety: Non toxic and Harmless: The materials used for small toys must ensure that they do not contain toxic or harmful substances. For example, plastic materials must comply with food grade plastic standards and avoid containing heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, as well as chemicals such as formaldehyde, to prevent children from ingesting or coming into contact with harmful ingredients due to biting or touching toys during play, which can harm their health. For example, some small puzzle toys made of soft rubber should undergo strict testing to ensure that they are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.

b. No sharp corners: The corners of the toy should be designed in a smooth shape to avoid sharp corners and prevent children from accidentally colliding or scratching while playing and getting injured. For example, small wooden building blocks need to be finely polished on the edges to feel smooth and rounded, without scratching the delicate skin of young children.

c. Easy detachment of small parts: For small toys, it is especially important to pay attention to the presence of small parts that are prone to detachment, such as small beads, batteries, decorations, etc., as young children may put them in their mouths, nostrils, or ears out of curiosity, causing serious dangers such as suffocation and blockage. For example, some plastic toy dolls with small accessories do not meet safety requirements if the accessories are not securely fixed.

d. Appropriate size: prevent accidental ingestion: The overall size of the toy and the size of each component should take into account the age characteristics of the child, and should not be too small. Try to avoid situations where it can be easily swallowed by the child. Generally speaking, any part of a toy with a diameter or length smaller than the diameter of a child's throat (usually around 3-4 centimeters) poses a risk of accidental ingestion, such as some small plastic doll toys that are not suitable for placement in kindergarten if they are too small in size.

e. Easy to operate: At the same time, the size of the toy should also be convenient for children to grasp, manipulate, and operate. If it is too large, it may make it difficult for children to play normally and affect the gaming experience. For example, small plastic puzzle toys should be designed in a size that allows young children to easily grasp them with their small hands and perform operations such as puzzle assembly.

2、 The issue of educational value

a. Suitable for the developmental stage of young children: Age adaptation: Small toys should be selected based on the cognitive, emotional, and motor skills development characteristics of children in different age groups. For example, young children in small classes are more suitable for choosing small toys with bright colors, simple shapes, and intuitive gameplay, such as large bead toys, to help them recognize colors and exercise fine hand movements; Older children can choose smaller toys that are more challenging, require certain thinking and strategies, such as more complex Rubik's Cube toys, to exercise their logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

b. Corresponding development goals: Toys should help achieve the educational and teaching goals of kindergartens, promote the development of children in multiple fields such as language expression, social interaction, scientific exploration, and artistic creation. For example, card toys with simple text or patterns can guide young children to recognize basic knowledge such as Chinese characters and numbers, and promote the development of language intelligence; And some cooperative small board games can help children learn to cooperate, share, and enhance their interpersonal intelligence through the game.

c. Cultivation of multiple intelligences: The selected small toys should be able to help children develop multiple intelligences, covering language intelligence, mathematical logic intelligence, spatial intelligence, physical movement intelligence, music intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, self-awareness intelligence, natural exploration intelligence, and other aspects. For example, small storybooks, language cards, and other toys can exercise children's language intelligence; Building blocks, puzzles, etc. help cultivate spatial intelligence and mathematical logic intelligence; Small percussion toys can enhance musical intelligence; Small toys in cooperative games are beneficial for developing interpersonal intelligence, and through diverse small toys, children can exercise and grow in all aspects of their abilities.

3、 Interesting question

a. Appearance attractiveness: The design of toys should meet the aesthetic preferences of young children. Small toys with bright colors, cute shapes, and vivid images are often more likely to attract children's attention and interest. For example, small puzzles with cartoon characters, uniquely shaped plush toys, colorful building blocks, etc., can instantly catch the attention of young children and stimulate their desire to play.

b. Novelty of gameplay: Small toys with innovative and interesting gameplay will make children more willing to participate. Like some transformable small toys, small construction toys with multiple combinations, or small exploration toys with mysterious elements, their unique gameplay can constantly bring freshness to children, making them full of expectations and willing to repeatedly try and explore during the play process, thus better realizing the educational value of toys.

4、 Durability and Cleanliness Issues

a. Durable and not easily damaged material: The material of small toys should have a certain degree of durability, be able to withstand frequent daily play and use by children, and be less prone to damage, discoloration, and loss of parts. For example, high-quality plastic toys, after reasonable processing techniques, can still remain intact after multiple falls and frictions, providing children with a continuous gaming experience.

b. Easy to clean and disinfect: Due to the repeated exposure of many children to toys in kindergartens, they are easily contaminated with various bacteria, so the small toys chosen should be easy to clean and disinfect. Plastic toys should have a smooth surface, without too many gaps or holes, and be easy to wipe with a damp cloth or soak in disinfectant for disinfection; Plush toys are best washable for regular cleaning, removing dust, stains, and hidden bacteria to maintain hygiene.

5、 Hygiene and environmental issues

a. Compliance with hygiene standards: Toys must comply with relevant hygiene regulations, without structures that are prone to dirt and difficult to clean, and their production process must also follow hygiene standards to ensure that they are clean and hygienic when sent to kindergarten, without posing health risks to young children. For example, some small toys with fillers should have clean, odorless, and moldy fillings.

b. Environmental sustainability: Priority should be given to small toys made from environmentally friendly materials, recyclable or sourced sustainably, reflecting the concept of environmental protection and reducing the impact on the environment. For example, choosing toys made from renewable plastics or natural wood (processed legally and environmentally friendly) not only meets the needs of young children's play, but also conforms to the trend of environmental protection.

In short, when choosing small toys, kindergartens should consider multiple perspectives comprehensively to ensure that the selected toys are both safe and interesting, and can play a positive and effective role in the growth and education process of young children.