Eric Duma, XI A
Most children have at least once loved a toy so much that they begged their parents to buy it. However, the parents bought them a less desirable toy instead. Being puerile, they would cry in discontent and long for the other beautiful toy. Therefore, the question of whether or not children should be able to choose their toys is highly relevant, although it goes unnoticed most of the time.
Toys are an efficient manner in which children can develop their creativity and imagination. After all, studies show that our childhood toys contribute to our emotional, social, and motor skills. Consequently, some might be inclined towards letting their children choose their toys, as they will enhance the process of learning.
It is also safe to assume that letting children make their own choices from a young age will prepare them for the future, give them increased self-confidence and focus. They will be more confident in their abilities whenever they have to make a hard choice in their everyday life. For instance, someone who was bereft of any choice as a child might find it hard to plan their social outings and resort to others making plans. Independence from a young age makes independent adults.
However, let us keep in mind that, in our consumption-driven society, children’s toys companies only want to make a profit. Some resort to making toys of lower quality and ads that make it the children’s purpose in life getting that toy by whatever means, tears, screams and whining. Thus, some parents choose their children’s toys to ensure that they are actually learning something. Young ones might be sad when you don’t buy their favourite unicorn doll that eats cupcakes and excretes rainbow slime, but they will appreciate it when they are older. Hopefully...
In addition, parents are more capable of choosing toys that ensure the children’s safety. There have been countless cases when parents have carelessly bought children the toys they wanted, only for their offspring to choke on small plastic things they had craved for. Recent data shows that the top choking hazards for children are buttons, batteries, hair, and detachable pieces such as legos, all objects that toys are composed of. at least one child dies due to choking on toys every five days in America, which further proves the point. Chemicals used for manufacturing toys should also be verified. And a E.U. safety approval for any toy is compulsory.
To conclude with, letting children choose their toys differs from case to case. It all comes down to how well parents know their children and how much they trust them. When we think about it, this decision has serious ramifications, hence it should be treated as such. The Moise’s Insight team, however, would not let their children choose their own toys.