Keep little ones in your ministry safe and engaged! Follow these recommendations when buying toys for your church nursery.

Outfitting our preschool and nursery ministries with the best of these new toys enables us to make our rooms places where children love to be. And when little ones love to come to church, children’s ministers can effectively lay the first foundation in showing the love of Jesus to children.

Nursery Toy Evaluation

Evaluate toys for your church nursey based on the following guidelines:

1. Is the toy clearly marked for intended ages? (in this case, for nursery kids)
2. Are all parts of the toy too large to fit in a toilet paper roll (to avoid choking)?
3. Does the toy encourage cooperative play and sharing?
4. Are there on sharp or rough edges?
5. Does the toy encourage role-playing or imaginative play?
6. Are any strings or cords on the toy shorter than 7 inches (to avoid strangling)?
7. Does the toy help develop hand-eye coordination?
8. Are any batteries accessible only with a screwdriver?
9. Does the toy encourage interaction with caregivers?
10. Is the toy educational?

Benefits of Types of Nursery Toys

Plush Toys

When selecting plush toys and dolls for the nursery, look for soft “friends” for comfort, cuddling, and imaginative play. Puppets make terrific additions to the nursery as they encourage interaction between caregivers and children as well as among children.

Building Blocks and Educational Toys

These great toys not only keep children busy, but they also challenge their growing and developing bodies and minds.

Large Toys

Large toys, such as ride-on toys, recreational toys, and home-living sets, are great additions to nurseries and preschools. Children can climb and play on these to use their large muscle groups. These add fun and provide opportunities for children to learn new skills.

Lynda Freeman

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