We all know how important play is for a child. Making sure your child is equipped with a toy that provides the right play value is equally important.

You often hear parents saying their children play only for a short time with a toy that they have just bought. Often the cause of this is that the toy lacks play value. It may have had the most amazing packaging and shiny box but once out of the carton -  if it has no play value the child will very quickly become bored and disinterested. The toy has to grab the attention and  hold the senses of the child. If it does not do this – then the toy is not worth whatever the price that was paid for it.

When standing in a toy shop looking at the packed aisles of shiny boxes it is hard to try and identify which toy is going to be the most appropriate for your child. Safety regulators advise that manufacturers have to say on the packaging for what age the toy is recommended for.     This is obviously helpful in narrowing down your choices for a suitable toy. Staff in toy shops are also becoming better trained on advising you of a good choice for your child, so don’t be afraid to ask them. That is what they are there for. 

Getting the right toy for the child at the right age helps maximizes the play value and may even make it the child’s favourite toy.

Naturally as children grow, then their interests desires and abilities change. An example of this is shown by very young children whom often when teething want to put everything in their mouths.  When children start learning to sit-up then ‘Sit and Play toys’ become useful.  Gradually, as the child starts learning to crawl and getting mobile then again  his preferences for what toy to play with will also change.  When he starts to crawl he likes toys which can move or roll over the floor. As the toy starts rolling on the floor the child will naturally try and follow the toy. 

Play value is often defined as ‘the amount of entertainment one can derive from a playing object’. How long a child wants to play with a particular toy depends largely on the ‘play value’ associated with it.

As the time passes, the child starts to learn how to stand up and maintain balance. The first stage of mobility will be crawling but once the child can stand then comes the magical “first baby steps’.  The child’s needs have changed again and therefore it is important for parents to ensure that the toys the child now plays with will help their changing needs and natural development. Now is the time to explore the child’s natural desire for increased mobility. Now is the time for a ride-on toy.

 We know already that the better the play value of a toy then the more likely the child will spend time playing with the toy and it becoming a favourite.

We can now focus on the specific needs of a child who has just learnt to walk.  At this stage he needs a toy which supports his indoor mobility.  Such a toy will help develop these important mobility skills. Now is the time to look for ride-on and walker toys that encourage the child’s indoor mobility. 

We have already talked about what gives a toy ‘good play value’ and how we recognise such a toy. Let us try and summarise this with the following three points to consider:

• Age Bracket: Choosing the toy for the appropriate age range of child ensures they can derive the maximum amount of fun and learning from the toy.
• Design of the toy: Parents need to understand the usability of the design of the Ride-on Toy they buy for their child.
• Feedback: It is always very helpful to research the feedback and reviews from other parents. It is more important to take note of this feedback above any manufacturers claim.

High Play Value Toys will not only become your child’s friend but will also contribute significantly to their growth and natural development. Indeed the whole ethos of a good toy is to entertain, to instruct and to accompany.