Overall, was there any toy that stood out so strongly that you felt it was truly the ideal toy because of its developmental appropriateness? Explain.

I remember being completely enraptured by pretend vacuum cleaners. I think the play vacuum cleaner is the perfect toy for 1-3 year olds, because it simulates doing chores and contributing to the household, making chores fun at a young age (which means less aversion to them when they have to do real chores). The vacuum also assists with walking and gross motor skills, which are invaluable.

What advice would you give to toy manufacturers that would help them better meet the play needs of all children and assist parents in making wise toy selections?

Don’t get so elaborate. Kids are losing out on using their imaginations, because there is nothing left to imagine with high tech, jam packed toys. There is something to be said for simple, yet engaging toys that let kids be creative on their own, which encourages initiative and a love for learning.

Image you are a young parent, you have little money to purchase toys, but you are determined to fill your pre-school aged child’s toy chest with developmentally appropriate toys using items found around the house. Name the items you will place in the toy chest, and include an explanation of why each is developmentally appropriate for your child.

I would put blocks in the toy chest, first of all. There is so much opportunity to be creative and for cross-skill development with something as simple as blocks. I have always loved tactile toys, like sandboxes and bean shakers and slime. Exposure to different textures allows for critical thinking skill development, making hypotheses and inferences (and not to mention fine motor skills!).