Toys contribute to child development

It is through play that young children learn about the world in which they live. The goal of a good toy should be to open the doors to that knowledge and leave a space for them to develop the imagination and the creativity , without limiting them.

Therefore, when buying a toy it is important to analyze the alternatives offered before buying it and not because it is fashionable or because we ourselves would like to have had one like this in our childhood. The tastes and interests of the child according to their age will also be decisive at the time of choosing.

0-12 months

The ideal are simple, basic toys, preferably soft and with nice textures so they do not get hurt and can touch and hold them, for example: mobiles and large cloth cubes, rattles or other toy that emits a sound .

It is never too early to start reading to the baby. After 3 or 4 months choose books with large drawings, bright colors. Pointing out the most common objects, name them out loud.

12-24 months

In this stage they begin to discover the relationship cause effect . Give them toys that allow them to push, pull, fill, empty, stack and climb, for example: wooden cubes, stackable toys or stuffed animals.

2-3 years

For this age, toys that involve textures, shapes, size and color are recommended. Drawing, painting, creating shapes with colored plasticine and assembling puzzles will stimulate your creativity and imagination. Surely you will enjoy a chalkboard and colored chalk to draw and erase as many times as you want.

3-5 years

In this stage the game acquires a definite purpose; Children usually imitate aspects of their daily lives. Obséquiales materials so that they can play imaginary situations, also enjoy the crafts and art materials.

Simple board games in which you have to follow rules help you get into the concept that the real world is full of them; he will have to learn to wait his turn with what he can understand the concept of his own and others' rights that must be respected. Winning or losing the game can teach you to face the disappointment and try to win another time.

Of course the aspect of security is fundamental in the choice of a toy. It is recommended to avoid:

  • That toys are heavy (especially those of babies) because they can be hit with them.
  • Toys too small for their age or with pieces that could be swallowed.
  • Toys with laces or long strings, because they could entangle them around your neck.

Analyze some aspects before deciding.

Toys with a single purpose

There are many toys that offer only one way to play with them. On the other hand, didactic toys such as cubes, art materials or those that imitate real life tools, serve as a mechanism of adaptation.

By playing with them, children can exercise their reactions to the concerns of everyday life. Although the child does not exercise control in his life at this time, he can control the game: decide what time the dolls sleep, what clothes they should wear, if the truck should go up or down the ramp; this is a mechanism of imitation of real situations.

Toys that have a definite purpose do not allow this to happen: a button is pressed and the toy emits a sound, squeezes another and the sound changes.This type of toys bores children quickly because they realize that they do not do more than that. The ideal would be to give the child an instrument to make his own music.

When children control their own game, setting the parameters, solving problems and creating their own rules, they are increasing self-confidence and a sense of personal efficiency .

Even if they take classes and practice highly regulated sports since childhood, that ability to solve is limited. The exercise It is very beneficial, but sometimes it is not so fun.

Electronic or computerized toys

One of the most important tasks in a child's development is learning the cause-effect relationship; by doing something you get an immediate result. For example, if she smiles, her mom will too; if you shake your rattle a sound is heard; if you kick the mobile that is on its cradle it will move.

The electronic toys they sabotage this learning because the child thinks that the toy is the one that does things, and this prevents him from understanding how he can make things happen. These are expensive and it is sad for parents to realize that children have very little enthusiasm for them. This includes video games, computers and even television because the time that children spend in front of a screen takes time to perform creative games, in addition to encouraging a dependence on the screen to have fun. The younger they come in contact with them, the greater their addiction .

Several studies have shown that constant contact with computerized toys or high technology, affect the way children's minds develop, reducing their periods of attention and increasing their need for instant gratification.

Violent toys

Nowadays toys proliferate that are related to the violence and the grotesque . By giving them toys with violent themes, children can come to accept the violence as something normal in your life. The younger they are exposed to this type of toy, in addition to the programs with a high content of violence that they watch on television, the easier it is for them to assimilate the message that the violence It is the key to power.

When giving a toy to our children, we are implicitly telling them that after analyzing it carefully we have considered it appropriate for them. You do?

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Video Medicine: Child Care & Development : Infant Development Toys (April 2024).