The Good
The Shape Sorter
The shape sorter is an excellent toy for children approximately one year of age. It stimulates physical development through basic coordinative techniques, and stimulates cognitive development by forcing the child to apply a trial-and-error approach.
Durability: 4 - Made out of basic wood or plastic, it's physically durable. The only problem lies in losing pieces.
Safety: 4 - Little to no choking hazard, hard for a child to injure themselves or others with this toy.
Attractiveness: 4 - Colorful and pleasant, this will appease children and parents alike.
Stimulation: 5 - This receives a 5 because it stimulates multiple categories of development.
Overall: 4.5 - In totality, this toy is durable, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and stimulates in a positive manner.
Durability: 4 - Made out of basic wood or plastic, it's physically durable. The only problem lies in losing pieces.
Safety: 4 - Little to no choking hazard, hard for a child to injure themselves or others with this toy.
Attractiveness: 4 - Colorful and pleasant, this will appease children and parents alike.
Stimulation: 5 - This receives a 5 because it stimulates multiple categories of development.
Overall: 4.5 - In totality, this toy is durable, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and stimulates in a positive manner.
The Push Toy
The push toy serves as an excellent way to transition your child from crawling to walking. Once they begin walking, it will still continue to strengthen their walking abilities. Since the child has support, it's a much safer way to walk distances longer than they may have previously walked.
Durability: 3 - Generally made of plastic, these toys are somewhat liable to break or lose pieces.
Safety: 4 - Provides support when walking, much in the way that walkers assist the elderly.
Attractiveness: 4 - Colorful, and if they have the rattler, it's extremely attractive to young children.
Stimulation: 3.5 - Strongly stimulates physical development, but nothing else.
Overall: 4 - A simple, productive toy that is safe for the child and greatly aids in strengthening your child's ability to proficiently walk.
Durability: 3 - Generally made of plastic, these toys are somewhat liable to break or lose pieces.
Safety: 4 - Provides support when walking, much in the way that walkers assist the elderly.
Attractiveness: 4 - Colorful, and if they have the rattler, it's extremely attractive to young children.
Stimulation: 3.5 - Strongly stimulates physical development, but nothing else.
Overall: 4 - A simple, productive toy that is safe for the child and greatly aids in strengthening your child's ability to proficiently walk.
The Bad
Fischer-Price Little People Animal Farm Sound Set
While this toy set is aesthetically pleasing and cute, it offers little stimulation and presents a very great choking hazard. The minimal amount of stimulation it offers does not outweigh the risk of losing pieces, annoying sounds, or risk of choking.
Durability: 3 - The set itself will likely hold up rather well, but the little pieces will easily be lost.
Safety: 1 - High potential for a child to choke on one of the smaller pieces.
Attractiveness: 4 - Aesthetically pleasing and cute.
Stimulation: 2 - Minimal stimulation with physical coordination by organizing pieces.
Overall: 2 - This toy set is not worth it. The Orwellian theme may corrupt your toddler.
Durability: 3 - The set itself will likely hold up rather well, but the little pieces will easily be lost.
Safety: 1 - High potential for a child to choke on one of the smaller pieces.
Attractiveness: 4 - Aesthetically pleasing and cute.
Stimulation: 2 - Minimal stimulation with physical coordination by organizing pieces.
Overall: 2 - This toy set is not worth it. The Orwellian theme may corrupt your toddler.
Play-Doh
Like the Animal Farm set, the risks of Play-Doh do not outweigh the minimal amount of stimulation that it offers. It is slightly better than the Animal Farm set in the regard that it offers a chance for your child to be creative, but the choking hazard and messiness makes Play-Doh a bad toy for your child.
Durability: 2 - The dough can be easily lost, mixed into other substances, or dried up.
Safety: 1 - High potential for choking. The smell and color of Play-Doh may cause your child to put it in their mouth.
Attractiveness: 2 - While nice to look at, it presents a high opportunity for messes.
Stimulation: 2 - Minimal physical stimulation.
Overall: 2 - Similar to the Animal Farm set, the minimal benefits simply do not outweigh the annoyances and risks that this particular toy presents.
Durability: 2 - The dough can be easily lost, mixed into other substances, or dried up.
Safety: 1 - High potential for choking. The smell and color of Play-Doh may cause your child to put it in their mouth.
Attractiveness: 2 - While nice to look at, it presents a high opportunity for messes.
Stimulation: 2 - Minimal physical stimulation.
Overall: 2 - Similar to the Animal Farm set, the minimal benefits simply do not outweigh the annoyances and risks that this particular toy presents.
