Children learn about the world through toys. Different toys serve different educational and developmental purposes, and understanding this variety and your child’s needs will help you select the most appropriate toys for your child.
Here are some important needs of children that can be met with the right kind of toys:
o Creative Development: Lewis Carroll’s Alice captured the essence of childhood with her eager line, “Let’s pretend…” See how many things your child can do with an empty cardboard box. Other examples: clay, paint, dolls, crayons, playdough.
o Intellectual development: Just by pulling a simple cart, your child is learning about the relationship between strength and speed. Other examples are books, miniature ovens, bicycles, and science kits.
o Physical development: Through toys and games, children develop their strength, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and muscle control. The toys for this are balls, bikes, blocks, shovels, and all outdoor games.
o Sensory development: Children learn about textures, smells, colors and sounds through toys. Toys for this are musical instruments, clay, blocks, puzzles.
o Social development: Through toys, children learn about others and about friendship. They learn how to get along with others and the mechanics of personal relationships. What happens when your child builds a sand castle together with a friend? What happens when your child refuses to share a toy? Board games, dolls, and puzzles are some of the toys that can help your child’s social development.
o Personality development: Games and toys build confidence and self-esteem in children and help them get to know themselves through their likes and dislikes. Solving a puzzle, building a house with blocks, riding a bike – all of these exercises help your child feel a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.
The best toys for your child are those that provide an enriching learning experience in a fun way and are helpful in developing your child’s basic skills. It is important that you think deeply before purchasing a toy for your child and assess what learning experience your child will have while playing with that toy.
using toys
Over time, your child will learn to take responsibility for their choices, actions, and belongings. Here are some guidelines that you can use to help your child be responsible without compromising her safety:
o Talk to your child about proper care and storage of toys. Set up a storage place and don’t let toys sit on the floor or outside the house.
o If there is more than one child, separate their toys to ensure that younger children cannot play with toys appropriate for older children. Explain this and related safety hazards to older children.
o Participate in your child’s play and set good examples of safe play. After playtime, show them how to put toys away safely and allow your child to slowly assume responsibility for the toys.
o Teach your child to recognize dangerous toys and safety hazards. Check their toys (especially electric ones) regularly for damage, and encourage them to tell you if a toy breaks or seems unsafe.
Appropriate and permitted toys for children
In this chapter, we will discuss the abilities and needs of children at different ages and accordingly choose safe and appropriate toys for each age group.
or 3 to 4 years
During this time, children use their imaginations to imitate adult activity and actively engage in physical play. Your awareness of safety hazards and self-defense also increases.
Appropriate toys: puppets, farm and community games such as tea sets, climbing structures, miniature ovens, toy phones, simple board games, tricycles, boxes, dolls and stuffed animals, water toys, puzzles, balls, instruments simple musicals, etc.
or 4 to 6 years
At this age, children learn about social skills and cooperation by participating in preschool group games. His physical coordination develops and the basis of printing and writing is also ugly at this time.
Appropriate toys: Transport vehicles of all kinds such as
bicycles with helmets and training wheels toys, mailboxes, sleds, creative materials, painting supplies, books and records, templates, puzzles, balls, action figures, costumes, cleaning supplies,
dollhouses, character toys, simple construction toys, etc.
or 6 to 9 years
Children learn about getting along with others and about the adult world of sports, games, and racing. At this stage, children develop their intellectual and social interests and make strong friendships, likes and dislikes.
Appropriate toys: board games, marbles, cats, puppets, doll equipment and accessories, craft kits, construction toys, complex puzzles, jump ropes, art supplies of all kinds, roller and ice skates, etc.
or 9 to 12 years
Tweens actively participate in team play and learn to handle detailed art and science projects. They learn to prioritize their interests and give more time to select hobbies. They also begin to operate video games and computers.
Appropriate toys: roller blades, skateboards, science kits, kids’ crafts, tested and approved electric toys, electric trains (UL approved), construction sets, science kits, craft kits, costumes, larger bikes, accessory boxes , puppets, fashion and professional dolls, doll houses and furniture, musical instruments, books of specific interest, workbench with real tools, etc.
It is important to remember that children are different and have individual characteristics and interests. Only you can learn about your child’s specific interests and abilities at different stages of their development by monitoring and participating in their play.