| To begin with, here are the ground rules for | | | | component to every child’s playroom. Life would |
| grown-ups. First, don’t overload your kids with | | | | be much easier if we could just accept the fact that |
| toys. Too many at once will simply overwhelm them. | | | | kids have always, and will always, spend most their |
| Second don’t take away old favourites – | | | | time playing with toys. In the last few years, parents |
| even if doggy, teddy, or dolly has been loved to bits. | | | | started getting more and more interested in choosing |
| And third: suggested age ranges aren’t set in | | | | all sorts of educational toys for their children. |
| stone. Be patient if a child can’t yet cope with | | | | Playing with educational toys is one of the means |
| some particular game. She’ll soon get the knack. | | | | that help children to establish contact with the world |
| As a natural, on-going part of our work as parents, | | | | they live in, especially during the infancy stage. During |
| teachers, early childhood specialists and others | | | | the infancy stage, toys serve as educational materials |
| involved with children at home or elsewhere we | | | | to stimulate the child’s sense of sight, hearing, |
| observe children at play. This includes selecting the | | | | and touch. A rule of buying educational toys is to |
| right products to enhance play and learning. | | | | keep in touch with the child’s interests. |
| We can depend on the durability and versatility of | | | | Once your kid has graduated infancy, the learning |
| such items as blocks, construction toys, games, | | | | process becomes a little more complex. A year ago, |
| puppets, and transportation toys. They stimulate the | | | | they were learning how to eat solid food by chewing |
| imagination, engage the player, have value and hold | | | | on a pillow. They were learning what would eventually |
| up over time. | | | | allow them to read by staring at the mobile above |
| “There. Did you see that?” a worried mother | | | | their crib going around and around. Now it's time to |
| asked her friend after observing her gifted daughter | | | | start thinking about reading, mathematics, basic |
| stand up and walk away from two other little girls | | | | building and organizational skills, further social |
| who were playing a card game. | | | | development... the list goes on. |
| What some parents conclude after watching their | | | | The wrong way to go about teaching these skills, |
| gifted children at play can be very far from the | | | | and certainly you know one or two parents like this, |
| reality of the situation. Some parents, like the one | | | | is to treat the educative process too much like... well, |
| from above, believe that their child isn’t being | | | | academics. You don't want to turn learning into |
| social when she doesn’t play with the other | | | | something boring, with worksheets and assignments |
| children. In fact, the issue might not be with the | | | | and so on. Learning should be fun, and if you teach |
| playmates; rather, it might be the choice of games, | | | | that at a young age, it will remain with your child |
| because gifted children learn and grow from play. Of | | | | through their whole life. |
| course there are important social issues for gifted | | | | But how does a parent know how much is too much |
| children that parents need to consider; however, | | | | to give? The dilemma is persistent though perilous |
| since the gifted child can process at a higher level, he | | | | when parenting pre-teen and teenage daughters |
| or she might gravitate to older children or to other | | | | when stuff and idols have their most tenacious grip. |
| children who have the same interests and abilities | | | | What could be more innocent, more harmless than |
| rather than to the boys and girls of the same age. | | | | toys? If we were the toymakers, our products |
| Children are little sponges when it comes to learning, | | | | would no doubt reflect our love for children, our love |
| and they are perfectly capable of doing that without | | | | for God, and our desire for holiness and purity. |
| toys that are described specifically as educational | | | | Unfortunately, the shelves of most toy stores are |
| toys. Children’s toys are supposed to be fun, | | | | filled with toys made by those who are definitely of |
| and most educational toys that children love will | | | | another mindset entirely. |
| combine learning with having a great time. | | | | Do children need toys? I would answer yes. Less |
| The old classic children’s toys like Lego or | | | | affluent children have, for centuries, created their |
| Playdoh are great for stimulating child development | | | | own: a piece of wood wrapped in a scrap of cloth |
| and creative tendencies. Young children can start with | | | | became a doll; other bits of wood became animals, |
| the basic sets that don't come with any complicated | | | | houses, tools, or weapons. Children seem to need to |
| extras and work their way up. | | | | play almost as much as they need food, shelter, and |
| Children’s educational toys are an essential | | | | love. Toys are the necessary props. |