It’s not even Halloween and already retailers are getting a jump on the holiday shopping season. Each day our mailbox has been full of catalogs while weekly circulars and online sites list deals for the season’s hot toys. It’s sometimes hard to resist the deals in favor of choosing a toy for it’s longevity, open-ended play possibilities, and quality but The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) has some fabulous resources to help consumers wade through an endless array of gift options during the holiday season and beyond.
ASTRA’s website not only features helpful tips on what to look for when buying toys but they have great guides based on age to ensure that you’re always shopping for age appropriate items for your child or another loved one. The comprehensive guides provide a snapshot of the age as well as developmental milestones. Take a look!
- Toys for Birth to Six Months
- Toys for Six to Twelve Months
- Toys for Toddlers
- Toys for Two-year-olds
- Toys for Three-year-olds
- Toys for Four-year-olds
- Toys for Five-year-olds
- Toys for Six- to Eight-year-olds
- Toys for Grandchildren, Nieces, and Nephews
- Toys that Keep Kids Engaged
- Toys for Kids with Disabilities
Since ASTRA encourages families to think of developmental level and personal interests of the child when making toy choices, they are providing an ASTRA Best Toys for Kids 2012 prize pack featuring some of their top picks as a giveaway.
One (1) reader will win the following collection of toys (valued at over $150 courtesy) of ASTRA!
Playmobil Future Planet Playset – age 7-12, retail value $129
Rubik’s The Void Puzzle – age 8 +, retail value $14.99
Puppets on a Stick – age 4+, retail value $9.99
To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please note that items are subject to change and may not be those that are linked to or pictured in this post. For complete contest details, visit my Official Sweepstakes Rules page.
I am an ASTRA Ambassador and receive compensation for my involvement in the program but was not paid to host this giveaway. All opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links contained in this post. Logo courtesy of ASTRA.
I learned the 5 characteristics to look for in a good toy
In that section, I read how to help one’s child’s reading
skills by “Engage in �eye tracking� play right from birth.”
Many thanks, Cindi
I learned to look for toys that let the child “tell the story”—toys that leave room for the child to use his imagination in how he plays with the toy
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Never realized that all of those times we would be making up funny words or yelling at the top of our lungs for fun was considered play…I think I had a narrow definition.
Thank you for this!
Learned that it is best to offer an array of toys and activities that encourage your child to use and explore all developmental domains: physical; cognitive; sensory; speech and language; social and emotional
I learned that kids can ‘play’ their way into learning to read earlier!
I learned that it’s important for kids to be able to play in a variety of ways such as pretend play and physical play
I learned that toys can help with the emotion development
That play is healthy for growth and development
I learned that there is value in play.
Play helps kids to learn and grow.
I learned that just the simple act of playing is fundamental and healthy for kiddos development! 🙂
When choosing a toy you should determine if the toy fosters creativity.
I learned that with Constructive Play kids engage in Build & Play activities
I learned it’s important to choose toys that focus on the play, not the toy to keep kids engaged.
callawishes(at)hotmail(dot)com
There are lots of important developmental benefits from play
Play is important for growing and developing.
I loved this one! It really makes you think…so many times we focus on what all the toy can do instead!
Focus on the features of the play a toy encourages, rather than on the features of the toy. Think about what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do.
I learned you should look for toys that let the child “tell the story” and use their imagination. And that you should choose toys based on interests, not advertising!
coriwestphal at msn dot com