| | | | | learn and develop those skills. |
| Toys of this category help children learn through | | | | |
| activities that challenge their hand-eye coordination | | | | Marilyn Segal, Ph.D., dean emeritus and director of the |
| and improve both their gross and fine motor skills. | | | | professional development program at Mailman Segal |
| Children that learn best through physical play are | | | | Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova South |
| often athletic and enjoy sports, so the optimal toys | | | | Eastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, says |
| for this developmental benefit of play focus on | | | | that playing is how kids learn about the world. It is |
| manipulating objects, building, dancing, and role-playing | | | | through playing that their social, emotional, intellectual, |
| or other forms of make believe that involve motion, | | | | and problem-solving skills are enhanced. |
| action, and the working of big and small muscles. | | | | |
| These kids are on the move, and they need toys | | | | Dr. Linda Lindsay, professor of sociology at Maryville |
| that will keep up with them! | | | | University, believes it is nurture that triumphs nature. |
| | | | | When children are very young, she says, they are |
| All children are natural learners; constantly absorbing | | | | given stuffed animals. As they get older, girls |
| new experiences in their everyday lives. Therefore | | | | continue to receive stuffed toys, but boys begin to |
| the toys they play with play an integral part in this | | | | be teased or chided, especially if he plays with the |
| learning process. | | | | toy in front of others. |
| | | | | |
| All children develop at different rates, while some | | | | For children to get the most out of toys they must |
| may be walking at 10 months others are still toddling | | | | be safe and the right toy for the child’s age and |
| and falling at 15 months. Some children have strong | | | | ability. Some toys such as bicycles and skateboards |
| abilities in one field while others are adept at another | | | | are not easy to manage and children need some help |
| field. Therefore developmental guidelines should be | | | | before they can use them safely. Other toys may |
| used as a general rule of thumb. | | | | not be safe because they are for older children, or |
| | | | | because they are not well made. Here are some |
| You can build all kinds of educational toys with | | | | ideas about what to look for. |
| everyday household items. Remember for younger | | | | |
| children, the toys need to be safe. Use the same | | | | It is normal for young children to explore, touch and |
| guidelines you would for buying toys off the shelf. If | | | | move whatever they see. You cannot teach a young |
| your child is under 3, be careful of small parts. | | | | child to play safely. Child safety depends on you. Put |
| Don’t use plastic bags in toys designed for this | | | | away things that they should not touch. Watch what |
| age. For all children, be aware of sharp objects. | | | | they do. Stop them if what they do is unsafe. |
| | | | | |
| Quality education and teaching is very important to | | | | High-tech toys, which entertain with |
| the mental health and growth of children. The brain | | | | microchip-powered songs, sounds, flashing lights and |
| of a child is very much like a sponge that can absorb | | | | vibrations, can stimulate toddlers, but researchers say |
| enormous quantities of information. The more it | | | | there’s no credible supporting evidence showing |
| absorbs, the more the brain expands as they grow. | | | | that they enhance cognitive development or |
| It is because of this, that day care toys are so | | | | creativity or have any long term effects. |
| important at an early age for purposes of teaching. | | | | |
| | | | | Children will get far more meaningful stimulation from |
| Children often learn to identify items, colours and | | | | the sounds of the people, animals, and objects |
| people on their own. However, a formal introduction | | | | around them, notes Jane M. Healy, Ph.D., an |
| i.e.: “This is a chair. This is the colour blue. | | | | educational psychologist in Vail, CO, and author of |
| Etc”, will always help them identify objects and | | | | Your Child’s Growing Mind: Brain Development |
| the uses for which they exist. The children will grasp | | | | and Learning from Birth to Adolescence. So play with |
| fundamental skills faster. | | | | your baby often. You are your baby’s favourite |
| | | | | toy and best learning tool. Babies crave one-on-one |
| Some people think that baby products are frivolous | | | | social interaction and need the security it provides. |
| objects created by man to occupy a child’s | | | | There’s also a role for quiet time, when the brain |
| attention while mom or dad has something else to | | | | consolidates what it has learned. “If there’s |
| do. This is a misconception. Playing does help a child | | | | nothing that’s entertaining, it gives the brain time |
| develop crucial skills; toys are the tools for them to | | | | and space to learn to manage itself,” Healy says. |