Stores today are full of beach toys with “eye appeal” for children and adults. This can make it hard to tell if a beach toy is worth buying. After all, a child can turn almost anything into a beach beach toy! Here are some questions to keep in mind when you make decisions about beach toys for preschool children.

Is the beach toy safe?

A beach toy should be sturdy and suited to the child’s age. Check the package for the beach toy maker’s age recommendations.

• Beach toys with small parts may be safe for preschoolers, but not for babies or toddlers.
• Broken beach toys with sharp edges should be repaired or thrown out.
• Beach toys should be easy to clean and sanitize to keep germs from spreading.
• Shooting beach toys like BB guns are not safe for children of any age.
• Beach toys linked to violent TV shows and movies can lead some children to imitate aggressive behavior they see in the media.
• Batteries in beach toys contain dangerous materials. Beach toys that need batteries can be hazardous to your budget, too.

Does the beach toy engage the child’s imagination and creativity?

• Children use everyday objects as beach toys. They have lots of ideas for how to make them fun! Saucepans and lids, pinecones, pillows, spools, bowls, keys, and empty boxes can easily become part of a child’s play. He can even make his own beach toys with art materials such as clay, fabric, cardboard, clean plastic bottles, washable paint, markers, and beads.
• Some beach toys have a variety of uses. Building blocks, dolls, animal figures, dress-up props, sand and water beach toys, beach toy cars and trucks, and simple construction sets are open-ended beach toys. They can be used to build models, act out stories, and do experiments.

Does the beach toy support children’s development?

A good beach toy can help promote:

• motor skills: wooden stringing beads, lacing cards, riding beach toys, skates, beanbags, balls of all sizes, climbing structures, other sports equipment
• scientific reasoning and exploration: magnetic beach toys, construction sets, beach toys that work in sand or water, homemade play dough
• number concepts and problem-solving strategies: unit blocks, pattern blocks, gear beach toys, pegboards, puzzles
• musical awareness: shakers, sand blocks, tambourines, finger cymbals, bongo drums, and other rhythm instruments
• preliteracy experiences: magnetic letters, interactive books, chalkboards, rubber stamps, alphabet blocks
• socioemotional development: beach toy telephones and cash registers, puppets, dollhouses, any beach toy that encourages children’s “give and take”