Good Toys - Bad Toys
How your child can develop by having good toys
Play is one of the major ways that a young child learns. Through play, children discover and practice the physical, mental, social and language skills they will need to be independent beings.
By actively interacting with their environment and acquiring more and more skills and concepts in a step-by-step process, children literally 'grow' their own intelligence. Parents can best help their children develop by aiding, not hindering, this natural progression of development.
Parents should never underestimate the importance of the early years. The first five years of a child's life are the formative years. During this time a young child is like a sponge for information, given the right input. Approximately 85% of the child's brain connections are being made in the formative years. Stimulation to these brain connections is crucial to a child's learning as it provides the thinking foundation for all later intellectual development.
A child's playthings are people, toys, and everyday objects both in home and nature. With a little understanding, or guidance, of child development, a parent can help children learn by providing them with certain toys and play activities that will provide the opportunities to gain understanding of specific learning concepts.
It makes sense, both economically and developmentally, to buy the right toy at the right time. A safe, durable multi-purpose toy bought at the beginning of a development stage is much higher in play value than a single-function toy that may be played with for a limited time and then ignored, which is often the case of licensed or fad products.
As your child gets older and may be influenced by TV, they would possibly have their own ideas of what they want, or possibly peer group communication has suggested what they might need.
We've heard it all before "I want... I want... I want." Sure they do, but stop and think for a while. Half the things they want have been designed by a television show. Little thought of developmental benefits for the children or long term life of the product has gone into these products. Sure kids have to have them ... they 'need' them. Their peer group acceptance may not be the same if they don't, but they don't need every single one on their list.
When Birthday or Christmas day comes around they are just as happy with one or two of the 'A' list presents and some others that they may not know. It's more than likely that these secondary presents will be the ones to outshine the 'A' list in the long run for usage and creativity.
One of the most common errors made by parents is buying a toy which appeals to the parent and not to the child. The next one is buying a toy that is either too young or too old for the child.
In conclusion, it is not the toy, but the way the child interacts with it that decides if the toy is a success. Parents can now select toys that will meet the unique development needs of their children. Be guided buy trained staff in a quality toy store and don't be influenced by packaging, brands or licensed products.
At Clockwork Learning Centers we only use the highest quality toys and equipment for your children.
For Parents
