Your child will spend a lot of time playing. That's why you'll want to find quality toys that bring a lot of fun and help your child learn as they develop.
To meet that need, the Fisher - Price Play Toy Testing Department was established. This place has a team of experts, engineers and designers with many expertise along with children - true experts in toys. This has caused each Fisher - Price toy to meet certain standards.
Here are 11 surprising things about the Fisher Toy Test Lab - Price Play. They will make you look at children's toys from a completely different perspective.
1. All Fisher Price toys are tested by children
Children love to play, which makes them experts when it comes to toys. This is also the reason why Fisher - Price Toy Testing Laboratory ensures that every toy is tested by children before it is released to the market.
They recruited child researchers from birth to eight years old to play test different prototype toys. About 450 toys are tested by these small researchers every year.
2. Even parents can participate in playing with their children
It's not just the kids who have fun. Even parents can join their babies, supporting the little angels in testing toys right at the Fisher - Price Toy Testing Laboratory or at home.
Thanks to comments from parents, you'll know that the toy can a) help children play comfortably for longer than 5 minutes and b) have a volume control button to increase or decrease the sound.
3. Some toys are going back to the drawing board...literally
You may realize that your child has a very short attention span. That's why designing a toy that can make them excited is an important mission.
While many of Fisher-Price 's prototype toys passed laboratory tests, some did not. Because if they don't really help children enjoy, they will be put back on the blueprint for Fisher - Price designers and engineers to adjust.
4. Many children's toys have been tested
Have you ever wondered why some toys keep your child excited to play with day after day while others are completely ignored?
Fisher - Price Lab has been in operation for 60 years. During that time, more than 137,000 infants and preschool-aged children participated in toy testing. Each toy will be fine-tuned to create the most fun play experience possible. Whether it's turning knobs, flashing lights or vivid simulated sounds.
5. Even the youngest tester can have his own opinion
Many of the testers are newborn babies, so you might think it would be difficult to get their opinions. This thinking is not for the team of experts at Play Lab.
They use advanced technology to "read" children's facial expressions to see whether they like the toy they experience or not.
Experts also use special eye-tracking devices for older children to be able to see toys from the child's perspective. What genius!
6. There are some very smart child experts
You may not realize it when your baby is fascinated by rattling toys attached to the crib or books with simulated images, but this can be explained from a scientific perspective.
A team of child development experts continually examines how babies, toddlers (and older children) best learn. They then share their research with designers and engineers at the Fisher-Price toy lab to come up with ideas for developing even better new toys.
From learning languages through developing children's imaginations and even activities that encourage them to fall asleep, each toy offers more than just play.
7. Part of the child's personality will be included in the toys
Being a toy designer is a pretty cool job. But unless you're actually a kid, you'll never be sure which toys work and which don't.
That's why kid testers will have the final say: From the music on interactive storybooks to the feel of interacting with a teddy bear's fur. If the kids love it, that will be the deciding factor!
8. They've created the 'Smart Stage' to help you find the perfect toy
Your little one is learning every day. And the toys you choose can give your baby a huge boost, from language development to fine motor skills. But how do you know which toy will provide which incentives?
“Play Lab's Smart Stage” takes the guesswork out of buying new toys and instead helps you know what age they are appropriate for and what abilities they will help develop.
Is your baby in the crawling stage? Fisher-Price Linkimals' Sea Turtle Sit-to-Crawl will encourage children to move more actively. Do you want to help your baby grasp counting skills? Linkimals Light Up & Learn will be a great support ticket in this.
9. Parents' needs are also a priority
The main purpose of the Fisher - Price Play Lab is to ensure the perfect toy for each age and stage. But experts also want to help you - their parents.
By making sure the toy is adorable enough or has the right amount of flashing lights, they will know that this will keep the child interested and engaged in the toy. That also means not only can you see your little angels playing and learning, you can also have some rest time for yourself.
10. Fisher - Price Toy Testing Laboratory ensures that each toy will contain many values
The toy market has grown over the years. And Play Lab wants to keep things on track by ensuring every toy has plenty of value to go with it.
No more outdated ideas about dolls being for girls or cars being for boys. Fisher - Price's child development experts ensure there's no stereotyping, meaning every child can play as freely as they want.
11. Fisher - Price believes that every toy should be great
You only experience youth once. That's why Fisher - Price Play Toy Testing wants to make the most of play time and ensure all their toys are perfect.
No one thought that toy manufacturing was such a serious business...
