A children's tea set is a classic toy that has been enjoyed by generations of young children. A child can spend many countless hours pretending to enjoy tea with friends or stuffed toys and dolls. As a classic toy, there are many options and varieties available in stores today. Consider these tips before buying one.
- Determine what material you want the tea set to be. These are those made of plastic, but also tin and porcelain and ceramic. If your child wants to be able to use warm liquids with the tea set, go for porcelain. Don't be afraid to let young children use breakables. It will teach them to be careful
- Check for any recalls. Most tea sets are recalled because the manufacturers used lead paint. Check the website of the manufacturer to check for any product recall updates.
- Determine how much you are willing to spend. Tea sets are sold at a wide range of prices so there's one that can easily fit any budget. Note though that cheaper sets won't have as many accessories (such as pretend cookies and milk) and may not be of such high quality compared to more expensive sets.
- Choose alternative vendors. Garage sales, flea markets, ebay and Amazon are great places to find vintage tea sets. Who says your child needs a brand new tea set to enjoy? Older toys offer nostalgia and are made sturdier and are sometimes of better quality than cheap massed produced plastic ones. You can tell your child it's an antique tea set and it can add a new layer of imaginative play, since she can pretend she time traveled to the Victorian era. Reusing or recycling old toys is good for the environment and easy on your wallet as well.
- Check the accessories. A basic tea set service should be good for at least four people. It should come with at least one teapot, four cups, four saucers and perhaps a sugar or milk bowl. More complicated sets may have a service good for up to eight or twelve individuals and have pretend plastic food such as cookies, cakes and other sweets. It may also come with teaspoons. Some sugar bowls may have their own covers, or have intricate painted designs. The more accessories, the more expensive it may get. If your child already has existing food play toys, you may opt for a simpler set.
- Consider tea sets for little boys as well. Pretend and imaginative play isn't limited to little girls. If you will get a tea set for a young boy, avoid floral designs. Opt for bold solid colors such as white or blue.
- Think about the storage. Some sets come with it's own backpack wherein you can store the toys after play. Some just come in a box. Make sure the set is stored as a set so you don't lose pieces.
Check out the toy section of the store and you're sure to find a tea set your little one will love. Make sure to teach your child to pack it away properly and give the cups a good rinse especially if she will use real liquids. Get her started on her tea time play and watch her enjoy hours on end!
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