Purchasing resources for Toys and Games

"The more complex the mind, the greater the need for play," said Captain Kirk in the Star Trek episode "Shore Leave." Gillian McNamee of the Chicago’s Erikson Institute has described an ability to play as a vital sign of a child’s emotional health and well-being.

Young minds needing play get it from toys and games; the toys business offers many options for enthusiasts of board games, toys, hobbies and novelties.

While technological advances have increased the popularity of electronic toys and video games, and television pushes toys tied into children’s cartoon shows, there remains a strong market for simpler toys that run on imagination instead of batteries.

Start them right with plush toys

Everyone remembers a favorite stuffed animal companion, be it a bear, rabbit or other plush toy. Specialty manufacturers cater to the market of retail and wholesale plush toys with teddy bears and other fuzzy animal buddies.

Choose toys and games appropriate to the child

Children's interests become more sophisticated as they age. Young children prefer simple toys, while older children prefer toys and games that challenge their minds and tie in with their other interests.

Get personal with gifts for children

While they often "play pretend," children also have a strong sense of their own identity and like to create "their" space through what they play and how they play, as well as branding it with personalized items.

Choose toys and games that educate and entertain

Children learn in different ways. Educational toys and games teach new information and reinforce lessons already taught.

Shop online for unique toys and games and advice on what to buy

The Internet has leveled and expanded the market for retailers and wholesalers of toys and games, with an explosion of choice that has led consumers to turn elsewhere on the Web to learn where and what to buy as children's gifts.

• Choose a mixture of toys and games and other gifts for children that allow for open-ended play as well as structured play. Open-ended play fosters creativity, as well as language, thinking and social skills. Often, when a child says, "I'm bored," he or she may not have enough unstructured play time.