Pre-school and educational toys are all about learning and teaching children the skills required for later life. Young children learn very quickly, so it is important that their play time incorporates learning experiences that will stimulate and develop all their senses. But, how do you go about choosing the right pre-school and educational toys?

Types of toys
Pre school and educational toys can broadly be grouped into several different categories that are designed specifically to develop different skills:

Physical skills. It is very important to start teaching children at a very young age how to participate in and enjoy physical activity. There are many toys which will help children develop a sense of health and physical fitness. For example, any push or pull-along toy, toys that a child can sit on and push with their feet or pedal, walkers, bouncers, hop scotch mats, mini-trampolines, ball games, activity mats, paddling pools, slides, swings, climbing frames, roller skates, scooters, tricycles, bicycles and go-karts are all good examples of activity toys.

Communication and language skills. These skills are essential to allow a child to interact with others. Any toy that encourages reading, writing, speaking and listening will be a good choice to develop language and communication skills. All children of any age will enjoy books and a range of different sorts of books are available for different ages and stages of development such as cloth books or plastic picture books for the bath for very young children, alphabet books to teach children letters, talking books and story books. Children also love to listen to someone reading to them so it can be a good idea to buy a book for a parent to read at bed time or else a book that has been recorded onto a tape or CD. There are also many interactive toys that will speak to a child in response to a child's actions or that will ask the child questions. Walkie talkies and toy phones will also help develop language and communication.

Creative skills. Children need to be taught how to be creative. Play is a great way to encourage these skills. For example, dressing-up outfits will allow a child to imagine his or herself in different situations as different people. Also, dolls houses, play houses, toy farms, forts and garages will help develop creative thinking and role play. Other appropriate toys include painting and drawing sets as well as any sort of craft kit or musical instrument.

Mathematical or numeracy skills. These skills have a big impact on everyday life so it is very important to begin developing them as soon as possible. Toys which involve counting and using numbers will help develop numeracy skills. For example, cash registers, books that focus on numbers, magnetic number games, abacuses, peg boards, toy computers and calculators.

Emotional and social skills.These skills are important to allow children to develop an understanding and awareness of everything and everybody around them and how to interact with others. To develop these skills children should be encouraged to play with toys that require them to observe, ask questions and form conclusions about different situations. Appropriate toys would include some of the role play toys mentioned above, for example, dressing up sets will encourage a child to put his or herself in different situations and learn how people may react in different situations. A toy shop would allow a child to learn how to act as either a shopkeeper or a customer and to develop the social skills required for the different roles.

Safety
Safety is extremely important when it comes to toys so make sure that all toys you buy display the required safety marks. These include the 'Kite mark' which means that the British Standards Institution has tested the toy and confirmed that it conforms to the relevant British Standard. Other safety marks to look out for include the 'CE' mark which is required by law to appear on all toys placed on the European market since 1990 to show that they conform to all European standards. Do not be tempted to buy any toy that does not display a safety mark.

Always check ANY toy carefully by hand for any signs of damage that could be a potential danger to the child. If buying second hand, remember that older toys were not made to today's stringent safety standards and may contain hazardous substances such as lead paint; small pieces which may be a choking hazard for very young children; and sharp components.

Price
Toys can vary in price from very little to very expensive depending on the type of toy that you are buying. However, it is probably best to try to spend as much as you can afford to ensure that you get a good-quality, safe toy manufactured to a high standard that won't break the first time that the child plays with it. Be wary of cheaper versions of very popular toys as they may be manufactured to lower standards or made of poorer materials and may not meet the necessary safety standards.

Buying toys second hand
Toys can often be purchased at reduced prices by buying second hand and, while this can be a great way to buy more toys for your money, you do need to be careful. If you are buying second hand toys make sure that the toy is either new, unused or else in very good condition. Try to see the toy yourself or else see a photo of it before you buy it. If possible, try to buy a toy that comes in its original packaging so that you can read the instructions and check what age group the toy is suitable for.
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27 August 2010
Pink bright stars melody bouncer..
Hi i have the above bouncer for sale. was £40 new, selling for £25. my daughter prefers to be rolling around on the floor so im not getting any use from the bouncer. excellent condition. .
£25
LE2
20 August 2010
Baby walker..
Chicco sit in baby walker with activity tray excellent condition £15.
£15
ST19
14 August 2010
VTECH MY FIRST STEPS BABY WALKER..
As new in excfellant condition, it was a spare at grandparents, will accept £10. selby. 07960 068558.
£10
YO8
CHICCO ACTIVITY CENTRE 18 MONTHS - 3 YEARS..
your baby can use it on the floor, then you can put the legs on to encourage to baby to stand up and play with it, it sings songs, alphabet, english & french. it has lots of moving toys on it and flashing lights. excellant condtion hardly used. will accept offers around &po. .
£15
YO8
04 July 2010
Dora the Explorer play set - lots included..
For sale is an excellent condtion dora the explorer play set including the following: complete dora the explorer play set - includes: 3 wheeled buggy travel cot dora doll baby rocker velvet type back pack carry sling. great condition.
£20
WR4
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