Grannynet play and learning

How to find the best toys and guidance on-line

By Sarah Rodrigues

Keep your grandchildren entertained and you're halfway there . and by 'there' we mean that state of harmony that is usually only achieved by meditation. You know the cycle - boredom leads to tetchiness, which in turn leads to meltdowns, which leads to you not enjoying the time you spend looking after your grandchildren as much as you could do.

Mum will have more than enough items to think about packing and organising before she drops your grandchild off at your house though - so, other than a few favourites and comfort toys, she'll probably really appreciate it if you have a good supply of toys and games at home. But let's face it - the days of children being happy to wrap a stick in a rag and pretending it's a baby ended around the same time as our knuckles stopped scraping the ground. The problem is, there are so many choices out there these days - and few of them inexpensive - that how are you to know what to buy?

In recent years there's been a bit of a backlash against plastic toys - partly for environmental reasons, as well as for aesthetic ones. Mums are turning away from garish, mass-manufactured toys that feature tinny music and flashing lights in favour of more traditional wooden items - which can be nice for grandmothers, as they carry with them a sense of familiarity.

Having said that, it doesn't hurt to have a mixture of options available at your home, as long as mum has no objections: some mothers just object to having certain types of toys in their own home, while others object on principle, so make sure you know what her stance is. Once her position on this is clear, try and choose toys that combine education with entertainment. It's always nice to feel that your grandchild is getting something worthwhile out of their playtime, other than the obvious fun!

  1. The Early Learning Centre website - elc.co.uk - is one of the most comprehensive places you can buy toys from - a £4.95 per order delivery fee will save you the hassle having to leave comfort of your own home and brave the crowds. It's a fantastically user-friendly site which lists toys by category (Sport & Activity, Making Music, Action & Adventure and so on) as well as by age. Each toy listing is also accompanied by a series of icons that detail how the toy benefits the child - for instance, by helping to develop coordination, social skills or imagination. And, just to keep things impartial, there are also customer reviews and ratings on many of the items. Check out the learning through play section, which offers loads of great ideas for parents and minders alike on how to make sure that the child gets the most from playtime - elc.co.uk/play

  2. If the environment is a big factor in your choices, check out Myriad - myriadonline.co.uk - which features a range of natural toys, as well as art and craft materials. The emphasis is on nurturing the child as well as the world she is growing up in - think wooden toys, plant dye-based paints and meaningful play and ethical practices. You can browse categories ranging from games and puzzles to dolls and soft toys, with everything from music to outdoor play in between.

    3. Other sites that have a focus on environmental concerns include:

  3. Little Green Earthlets at earthlets.co.uk
  4. Lula Sapphire at lulasapphire.com - not only does it have a range of fabulous toys for a range of ages, but it's a carbon neutral company, too.
  5. And then, of course, there's Toys R Us. You can search by brand or category, and there are different sections devoted to babies and learning, as well as to larger, pricier items like bikes, computers and gadgets for older kids.
  6. Where larger items are concerned, particularly, budget may be a consideration, so don't forget that eBay.co.uk can be an ideal place to shop for toys and games.
  7. You might also want to consider signing up to your local freecycle group. This online community works to reduce landfill by giving away household items that would otherwise end up at the tip - members post details of what they're getting rid of, allowing other members to contact them saying "yes please!" Since children 'grow out' of things so quickly, there tends to be a large number of children's items up for grabs. Bear in mind that freecycle generally works on a first come, first served basis, so you need to be quick - beyond that, all you need is an email address.

However you source your cache of toys, it's always good to pack up the toy box and just rely on each other for entertainment from time to time, too. So batteries, bells and whistles and aside, don't discount those old favourites, like I Spy, Charades, Hide and Seek, word association games and the like. They're not only fun and creative - they're also free. .

  1. DO go for traditional & environmentally friendly materials such as wood
  2. DO research which toys are appropriate for your grandchild's age
  3. DO discuss purchases with your grandchild's mother first when possible
  4. DO try to combine education with entertainment
  5. DO look at toy reviews online before making a purchase
  6. DON'T be scared to try second hand toys as the internet makes this a really viable option
  7. DON'T discount the old favourites that don't cost a thing such as I Spy and Hide and Seek!!