How many toys does my child actually need?

Bright eyes, great joy, happy smile. Most parents know the reaction when the child has just gotten a new toy and the children's room is filling up. But how many toys does a child actually need ? The answer is: less than you think.

Overstimulation

Drawers and boxes are overflowing with toys. The child just clears things out and hardly plays with anything anymore. The child is overstimulated, unfocused and has lost track of his own toys. These can all be possible causes of too many toys in the children's room. How can I help the child? Help is provided by cleaning out and rearranging the room together with the child. So that the child doesn't feel sad afterwards when he notices that toys are missing from the room, he should be involved in clearing out. Make sure that you put away things that your child no longer plays with, that they no longer show interest in, that are not age-appropriate or that are broken. You can put these toys together in a large box, which is then stored in the basement. The child knows his toys are not gone. They are only kept in the basement and can be brought back into the room at any time or exchanged for another toy.

Less is more

The fewer toys children have, the more their imagination and creativity can develop. Because there are so many toys, children are often constantly occupied and there is hardly any time left to get bored. That's exactly what's so important. Boredom gives children new ideas; they have independent experiences that they can draw on later in life. Children don't have to be entertained all day long. Watch your children when they are bored without immediately offering them anything. The greatest games and works are often created in such situations.

It's always very fascinating how long children can keep busy with the simplest everyday objects. Wooden spoons, cotton swabs, egg cartons, clothespins, sponges or Tupperware containers are often much more interesting for small children than conventional, store-bought toys. Let your children play with these things, it promotes their eye-hand coordination, supports their ability to concentrate and is even very good for the development of their fine motor skills. But there are also toys that can perform exactly this function.

The “right” toy

An incredibly large selection of toys can overwhelm even us adults. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing toys for your child:

1. Toys should be stable and robust: Toys that don't last long are usually very disappointing for children.
2. Age-appropriate toys: Make sure you choose toys that are appropriate for the child's age. Children should neither be under- nor over-challenged.
3. Avoid merchandise toys: Toys based on certain children's series or films always appeal to children at first. Since these toys or the toy figures often leave little room for your own game ideas or creativity, they quickly become boring and are no longer played with after a few days.
4. The toy should be combinable with other toys: you could e.g. B. Combine wooden building blocks and small cars and use the building blocks to build parking spaces for cars. Or you could build enclosures for the play animals out of a wooden rainbow.
5. The toy should be made of high-quality material: So that children can enjoy and have fun with their toys for a long time, you should pay attention to the quality.
6. Is there enough space for the toys? You should always think carefully about whether there is enough space for the toy or whether it would just get in the way for all family members.
7. Focus on toys that promote development: Based on your observations, you can support the child's language or motor skills, among other things. If your child needs support in a certain area, choose toys in that direction.
8. Additional play material: Once you start buying Duplo, Playmobil, wooden building blocks, trains, etc., you could always expand on these toys.
9. Pay attention to the child's current interests: Children are usually very clear about what interests them at the moment. If the child likes to move a lot, you could give him joy with a balance board or if the child likes to dance or listen to music, a rattle or xylophone could be interesting.

In addition to the topic of toys, the way your little ones play is also relevant.

Playing outdoors

It is important to let children play outside in the fresh air as this is particularly good for child development. Children usually have a strong urge to move and are much more productive when they are allowed to move around a lot. By playing and experimenting with natural materials such as stones, sticks, leaves or snail shells, children discover their environment in a completely different way. Try watching your children go for a walk or in the forest. You will quickly notice that they have an urge to explore and are very curious.

Toys are simply part of healthy development. But too much of it is not good for our children as it can limit their natural urge to explore. That's why we should try to find a middle ground. We should offer children toys and give them enough space for their creativity and imagination.