1. Selecting Toys, Equipment, and Educational Materials
Chapter 10
Selecting Toys, Equipment, and Educational Materials

2. Selection Criteria
Consideration when selecting toys and equipment.

3. Program Goals
Classroom toys and equipment should reflect program goals.
If a program goal is to have the children develop language skills, then language materials should be placed in the classroom.
Books
Pictures
CDs
Alphabet cards
Puppets

4. Budget To stay within the budget, follow these guidelines:
First purchase the basics.
Tables
Chairs
Shelving units

5. Balance
Before buying equipment, review each item to decide if it adds balance to the items already available.
Can the item be used with other toys?
Will it help children reach goals that are not met sufficiently with current toys?
Will it promote interaction with peers?
Will it balance toys for all areas of development?

6. Space Keep in mind the space and storage needed for any new items.
Large pieces of equipment

7. Maintenance All toys and equipment require maintenance.
The care required varies with the type of toy or equipment and the amount of use.
Plastic items require less upkeep than metal or wooden ones.

8. Durability Children’s toys need to be durable.
Children bang, drop, and stand on them.
When angry, children may even throw toys.
Materials that are durable:
wood
cloth

9. Quantity
In most classrooms, it is common to find two or more children playing with the same toys.
To promote cooperation, supply an ample amount of toys.
Studies show that children who have been exposed to a wide variety of toys are more imaginative and creative.

10. Child Involvement Choose toys that will actively involve children.
Avoid spectator toys (toys that require little action on the child’s part).
Battery-powered cars
Talking dolls

11. Brainstorm
Provide examples of toys that actively involve children.

12. Developmentally Appropriate Toys
Children's physical age and developmental age are often quite different.
Physical age (also known as chronological age): age determined by a birth date
Developmental age: a child’s skills and growth level compared to typical skills for that physical age group

13. Violence and Toys Toys that promote aggressive behavior: superheroes
monsters
guns
war games

14. Nonsexist Toys and Materials
It is important to set up an environment that is free of gender bias.
The teacher’s attitude about toys will affect what children learn about sex roles.
It is necessary to make a conscious effort to suggest a variety of toys to all children.

15. Multicultural Toys and Materials
Multicultural toys: toys that represent a variety of cultural or ethnic groups
Multicultural toys and materials encourage children to
explore the world’s diversity
learn to appreciate others
develop a sense of identity

16. Selecting Safe Toys To promote safety, choose toys carefully.
Discard items that contain any of the following safety hazards:
breakable piece
sharp edge or points
small parts
toxic materials
toys with long cords
toys with small beadlike objects inside

17. Proper Developmental Design
Proper developmental design features include
equipment designed closer to the ground
railings on ramps
low platforms with few access points
railings on decks over three feet high
covers or canopies over sand tables

18. Protective Surfacing Unitary surfacing materials
Rubber mats
Blend of rubber-like materials
Loose fill impact absorbing materials
Wood chips
Mulch
Tile systems
Sand

19. Equipment Maintenance
Well-maintained playgrounds provide greater production and less risk.
Loose screws and bolts
Sharp edges
Broken or missing parts
Open pipes
Tripping hazards

20. Safety General hazards to avoid include
exposed pinch-crush parts on seesaws or gliders
head entrapment openings
open-end S-rings on swing sets
hard swing seats
exposed screws or sharp edges
hot metal playground equipment

21. Appeal
If the equipment does not appeal to children, they will not use it.
Children prefer to have a variety of equipment, they enjoy being able to
push
pull
balance
swing
slide

22. Maintenance Choose equipment that is durable.
For durability and safety, many of the playgrounds are constructed from
plastic
metal
wood

23. Buying Consumable Supplies
Consumable supplies: materials that cannot be used more than once
Clay
Paper
Paint
Paste
Glue