happymums

  To some extent, all children's toys are educational. Whether it through pretends play, encouraging turn-taking and sharing, or developing empathy, children are always learning through play, even when they're not working on academic subjects like math or reading. But we all feel better about allowing a slew of toys into the house if they have an obvious educational purpose. However, there is no value in a toy that children will not play with, thus toys must also be enjoyable. The Good Housekeeping Institute Little Lab analyses toys all year to find those that strike the ideal balance. Parents consider the quality of construction, convenience of use, and amount of frustration. For children, they ensure that the toys are enjoyable (the most crucial factor) and that children return to and engage with them for extended periods of time. They're largely for small children, although there are a few options for older children to consider for the future (or for older siblings). If ...