<P> The selection of toys and games has long been a concern to parents and educators . Many fail to sufficiently engage children . Stevanne Auerbach emphasizes that products should last as long as possible and have many different and long lasting uses . Good examples of toys with high play value are blocks, construction toys and yo - yos . The toy should have clear instructions so the parent and child are guided to its best use by the designer and manufacturer . In playwork terms it is the child who determines the play value of an object rather than adults or instruction manuals </P> <P> Toys tend to have high play value when they may be used, engaged and employed in manifold ways . A good example is Lego bricks which may be assembled and connected in myriad ways to make cars, trucks, planes, trains, etc . Another good example is polymer clay which may be used for sculpting hand - shaped items, such as beads, jewelry, and charms . </P> <P> Children need to be in charge of their own play activity . According to PBS' The Whole Child Web site when adults plan the play activity and structure the outcome of playtime it is far less effective than if children have the freedom to form their own ideas, practice skills and use playthings at their own speed . Cardboard box toys are an example of playthings which allow children to use their own imaginations . </P> <P> Playability is a word that when applied to games has a similar meaning to play value . Those games with strong playability appeal to more than one age or stage of development . For example, Monopoly and Risk are two games that appeal to a wide range of ages, though generally not to very young children . Similarly, toys that appeal to more than one age or stage tend to have higher play value . </P>

Value of play and selection of play materials