If you have any of practice or business in which you have children coming in and out, you have to have a waiting room that is family friendly. As you know, children that do not have anything to do or anything to play with are going to find something to do, which is not always a good thing. It is a great idea to not only have some waiting room toys, you want to get new ones every once in a while, and also know how to keep them clean so germs and illness are not spread from child to child.
You can use just about anything for waiting room toys, but there are some that are better than others. You want to find things that are going to be engrossing to the child who picks up or finds the toy. Puzzle types are great, as they keep the child busy and also may teach them a little something. If you have younger children coming in, there are toys that help with manual dexterity and motor skills, which are always great toys for children under the age of three, though older children will like them too.
Waiting room toys should always be safe. Finding things at home that your children have outgrown is great, but make sure they are still safe with no sharp edges or broken parts on them. You can also take donations if you don't have a budget for getting the right toys for your waiting room. Simple toys can also be the best, think about old Matchbox cars and trucks, dolls that are in good shape, and blocks or other building materials that won't be too easily lost. Don't forget to get some books for all age groups.
Toys that are in any waiting room should be cleaned often, especially in doctors offices and other areas where sick children may be. This is extremely important during cold and flu season. Most waiting room toys can be cleaned with a solution of water and bleach. Some can just be dipped and dried, and others have to be scrubbed a bit. The bleach will kill the germs on contact in most cases. If you have a lot of sick children coming in and out at a particular time, you may want to do this every night. It can be a drag, but it is essential to stop the spread of flu. Antibacterial wipes are a good idea too.
There are a few things that do not make good waiting room toys. Stuffed animals are cute, but they are very hard to keep clean. If children with the flu are handling them, the next child that picks them up is going to get sick. Some toys with a lot of pieces, like puzzles, that must have all parts to work correctly, are not going to last very long. Also skip things that are going to be easily broken or that have long strings that could be twisted around a child by accident. You don't have to have a lot, just make sure the ones you get are safe and fun.