With the holidays fast approaching and wish-lists being completed daily, one toy expert says you can never go wrong by keeping things simple.
, author of "The Blackberry Diaries" pointed to educational toys going further with babies and younger children than the bells and whistles of high-tech gadgetry.
"You want to get them something they can really sort of just look at," said Buckworth. "They're more interested in a visual sort of toy."
Items like the baby Whoozit by Manhattan Toy and Baby Einstein colour blocks for babies and toddlers can provide hours of stimulation based on their simplicity and ability to stimulate visually.
Buckworth would not write off gadgets entirely, however. She pointed to toys from game company Leapfrog like Text and Learn, that's able to get kids comfortable with using technology, and makes them feel more grown-up after seeing their older siblings and parents using personal devices like BlackBerries and iPods.
"This is their way to learn through technology and technology is a part of their lives," Buckworth added.
She also pointed towards board games for older children being a way to stimulate and engage them while providing an opportunity for parents to spend time together and get to know what's going on in their lives.
While there will always be hot ticket items kids ask for -- such as this year's Zhu Zhu Pets, a battery-powered hamster-type creature -- Buckworth warned not to get sucked in by high-demand toys with lots of advertising presence.
"If they're asking for something just because they saw it on a television ad, chances are, you don't want to go there," she said.
There are a wealth of options available, but Buckworth's golden rule remains to make sure whatever toys parents buy have the kind of staying power needed to entertain kids over the years.
"Make sure you're not buying something with a million different bits and pieces that they're going to lose and the toy is unplayable afterwards," she said.
Here's a list of Buckworth's top picks for this holiday season:
Newborns:
- Baby Whoozit by Manhattan Toy
- Baby Groove by Discovery Toys
- Cuddly Kid Mirror from Alex Toys
Babies:
- Baby Einsten Colour Blocks
- Measure Up Cups from Discovery Toys
- Gorilla Blocks by Gorilla Blocks
- Try Angle by Discovery Toys
- Sunny Sounds by Discovery Toys
Toddlers:
- Rock a Stack, a Fisher Price classic
- Giant Pegboard from Discovery Toys
- Puzzles - Doug & Melissa
- Magic Storytime Theatre from Spot Lite
- Tag Junior from LeapFrog
- Natural Wood Blocks from Toys R Us
Pre-School:
- FridgePhonics from LeapFrog
- Learn To Write, Alex Toys
- Leapster from LeapFrog
- Text & Learn from LeapFrog
- Scribble & Write from LeapFrog
- Learn To Dress Monkey, Alex Toys
In addition to considering what will keep your child entertained for hours on end, there are some precautions you should take when choosing toys for your children.
Safety Tips:
- Watch for age labels, warnings, safety messages and assembly instructions.
- Make sure toys are sturdy and well-made.
- Try to find toys that have contact information for the manufacturer or importer.
- Buy age appropriate toys. Toys for older children may contain small parts or present other hazards that make them unsafe for younger children.
- Ensure that parts cannot be removed from toys that could become choking hazards.
- Be especially cautious with toys that have small parts or long cords that could get wrapped around a child's neck.
- Remove all packaging quickly as plastic bags, ties, etc. could be hazardous.
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