Preschool Toy Evaluation

Evaluating Young Children's Toys at Target

I went to Targets toy section to observe the different types of toys available for young children. The first toy I found was a Fisher-Price Classic Infant Trio Gift Set. This toy includes many different options of play. The suggested age range for this toy is 18 months and up. This toy set includes the Rock-a-Stack, which consists of many rings to stack up like a tower. It includes Baby's First Blocks, which is a box with different shaped holes and different shaped blocks that can be used to build something or problem solve by placing the blocks into the correct hole. There is also a Classic Xylophone, which features a string and wheels to be carried around while the child makes music. This toy set offers a ton of options of play and also different options of development for the child. Each toy fosters finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination, so the young child is learning while they play. I was able to connect this toy with 3 different standards, 1 that is a math based standard, and 2 that are social-emotional based standards. The three different toys that are included within this toy set will help the child control and regulate their impulses and stress by having the opportunity to build and rebuild also through trial and error. The child will also be able to demonstrate how to reflect and make responsible decisions. With these toys, the child will also be able to practice their understanding of objects and how they relate to each other even if viewed as different. The only downside of this toy would be that if the entire set is given to a child, they might feel overwhelmed about the different options since the 3 toys included in this set are very different from each other. Possibly could be seen as a sensory overload. However, there are many benefits of giving these toys to a child. These toys will help children develop their fine motor skills, academic thinking, and help regulate their emotions and decisions. The three standards that these toys represent are listed below.

1. Standard SEL4: The child will demonstrate impulse control and stress management. (self management) 

2. Standard SEL12: The child will demonstrate the ability to reflect on and evaluate the results of his or her actions and decisions (responsible decision making) 

3. PK.MD.B.3 Sort, categorize, and classify objects by more than one attribute.

Another toy I was observing was the Chuckle & Roar Matching + Wooden Sensory Kids Game. This toy is a memory game. It can be played alone or with more people. All the pieces are a mix if wood and soft fuzzy cloths. This toy provides an opportunity for the child to develop their awareness of different senses in regard to touch. The suggested age range for this toy is 3-6 years due to it being a more hands on game. This matching game will also provide the child with the opportunity to experience competitive play. It is a great toy to develop focus and attention skills, and a great way to develop their memory. I would recommend parents to buy this toy to be served as a way to help guide the child's cognitive and fine motor skills. If the child is not used to trial and error games/toys then maybe this toy will be a little more challenging and can cause frustration since it is a closed type game. However, even if it may cause a little frustration, it is a extremely beneficial toy for the child's development. This toy will be able to help the child maintain focus and be able to persist in the completion of the puzzle. Since the child will be going through the process of trial and error with this toy, it will give them the opportunity to ask for help in completing the puzzle which develops their social skills. The three state standards that represent this toy are listed below.

1. Standard APL3: The child will be able to maintain focus and attention, and persist in efforts to complete a task.

2. Standard SEL10: The child will demonstrate the ability to seek help and offer help.

3. Standard APL8: The child will be able to retain and recall information.

The final toy I observed at my trip to Target was the B. Toys Educational Baby Blocks - Elemenosqueeze. This toy is suggested for children 6 months and up. It is a collection of colorful building blocks that include the alphabet and different textured images on the side of the blocks. This is a toy that helps you children recognize different textures, the written letters of the alphabet, and even expanding their creativity to build different masterpieces. I would definitely recommend this toy to parents because there are a million things you can do with building blocks. Especially these that are soft shaped and are worry free material so that the young child can chew on it with no harm at all. The different texture and alphabet letters on the size will help the child develop their early language skills and cognitive skills. These blocks are considered open ended toys which gives the child the 100% freedom to build anything they can imagine. These toys are extremely beneficial for the child's development. The child will develop their curiosity and creativity. The child will also be able to demonstrate the regulation of their impulse control and stress management by problem solving when the tower falls. The three standards that represent this toy are listed below.  

1. Standard APL2: The child will demonstrate eagerness and curiosity as a learner.

2. Standard APL1: The child will demonstrate initiative, self-direction, and independence.

3. Standard SEL4: The child will demonstrate impulse control and stress management.