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Show Parenthood Guidebook Choosing Toys By NANCY MOORE THURMOND THUR-MOND A parent never quite solves the problem of choosing the right toy for the right child at the right age. Choosing the wrong toy is as exasperating as buying a dress that just does not hang right or a pair of shoes that are too tight. IF YOU select a sturdy, safe, interesting toy for your child, you still do not know if he will take a liking to it. The most important thing, of course, is for it to be just plain fun. The key to teaching a child to be imaginative with his toys is to be imaginative yourself. By being involved and participating partici-pating in your child's play, you can stimulate his sense of fantasy fan-tasy and exploration. Reach a happy medium, however, for you want the child to learn through his toys how to do things for himself. The more a toy lets a child participate the Mtter it is. A CHILD can play with only one toy at a time. The more he has, the more clutter there will ' be, and the more frustrated he will become when he cannot find missing parts. If your child is blessed with a large assortment of toys, put one third of them away every month. By rotating them, you will let him rediscover his old favorites, and he will not become be-come bogged down in a sea of toys ten fathoms deep. He will learn order. Help your child sort through his toys once a week and keep them in good working condition. Teach him how to care for them. |