Engaging Parents

Let's be honest...it can be a bit overwhelming to choose toys for your child, especially when you are trying to find ones that will best support your child's developmental level and engagement. Often as parents we defer to what our children are attracted to—and end up with a house full of noise-making, electronic toys that captivate their attention but seem to demand very little actual imagination or engagement in return. My son (age 2) is a prime example of choosing toys that entertain him, rather than challenge him. When we meander through the toy section at a store, he is drawn to the toys that have buttons and make noise. I'm sure the store managers tense up when they see us coming, because pretty soon the entire aisle is a cacophony of songs and lights and noise. Initially, I was delighted by his delight and I allowed some of these toys into our home. I soon saw that these toys were not worth the cash, because children should be learning, engaging, and growing thr