What parent doesn’t want their child to get ahead in reading, learning new words, or math? At the same time, toy manufacturers take advantage of this desire and convince them that their toy is the one to accelerate a child’s skills or boost intelligence. Yet, with evidence showing the ineffectiveness of Baby Einstein, some are questioning the claims of baby toys with similar intentions.

Countless toys for babies and toddlers are geared toward learning new words, reading, math skills, and problem solving, but how many of them truly work? Researchers question the claims made by each manufacturer, but at the same time, nonbiased studies cannot be performed on every toy on the market. Additionally, proving that the particular toy increased or advanced a child’s skills is difficult.

How and if a toy works notwithstanding, marketing for educational baby toys is unregulated. As a result, manufacturers can make practically any claims – even improbable ones like Your Baby Can Read’s. About the lack of regulation, Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, explained:

“Nobody checks the ads and says, ‘No, you can’t say that.’ That would be prior restraint. Unless it’s doing someone harm or grossly misleading, you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the people making the claim.”

If a parent wants to help their child learn new skills but doesn’t want to fall into the toy manufacturers’ traps, what can he or she do? The Early Years Institute President Dana Friedman recommends choosing simple toys and limiting computer and television screen time:

“Generally speaking, the simpler the toy, the more complex the play. The more complex the toy, the more simple the play. You want to find toys where children have options for what they do with it. If it’s a toy that can only be used in one way, don’t get it.”

When it comes to kids, what are educational toys? Flashcards, for example, are useless to a two-year-old and Baby Einstein videos might not increase language skills as they claim. What, then, helps a young child enhance his or her skills? At this point in their lives, common objects can be educational, especially for babies, when applied correctly. Many “educational” toys for infants, for example, rely on a black, white, and red color scheme for visual stimulation, while varied textures on toys and noises enhance aural and tactile skills. Keep such objects as toys, crib books, or mobiles around the baby and, over time, allow the child to explore these features through a playmat.

Babies, however, begin to use gross motor skills, particularly with touching and musical toys, and, by their toddler years, need something more challenging to this area – but not something too advances the child becomes frustrated. Popular “educational” toys for this age group include creative play sets, soft building blocks in uniform shapes, and push-pull toys. Creative play may be a doll with clothing a child needs to take on or off or a simple tea set. The black, white, and red color scheme, additionally, gives way to bold and primary shades.

Once children become older – pre-kindergarten age – they need toys that challenge their motor skills even more and start to develop “soft” skills, such as sharing and socializing. The ideal toy for fine motor skills and coordination is often a set of wooden blocks with varied pieces, some rounded and others angular. Children can build towers or lines and see how these varied pieces can fit together. Additionally, the creative play toys become more complex and adult-mirroring, such as a kitchen or tools sets, and through these children start to socialize with others and learn to share.