photo by:
Leonid Mamchenkov 
It is said that “play is the work of children,” and this is one old adage that holds true — play is the way that young children learn. Adults can help children learn and grow by providing appropriate tools to encourage creative, productive, imaginative play. The tools can be as simple as old clothes to play dress-up with, discarded paper towel rolls, pots and pans, an old briefcase or purse, or a simple toy with many uses.
When choosing commercially available toys, keep the following in mind:
- Select a variety of toys, so that your child can develop different skills:
- Puzzles to piece together
- Blocks for building
- Puppets for pretending.
- Invest in toys that will last and be appealing for many years.
- Wooden blocks, for example, can be a simple tower for a two-year old and become an elaborate castle for a six-year-old. They last forever and can be passed on to younger family members.
- Can the toy be used in many different ways? Can it be played with again and again?
- A sturdy pegboard can be used to sort by color, count, stack, and create a pretend forest. Who provides the power and the imagination to operate the toy? A battery? An adult? The answer should always be the child.
- Will your child be successful in using the toy? If a puzzle or game is too advanced for your child, he/ she will get easily frustrated and lose interest. On the other hand, if the toy is too simple for your child’s developmental stage, your child will get easily bored.
- Is the toy safe for your child’s age? Certain toys are not rated as being safe for children under age three. Things to watch for include: small parts that can come off and are choking hazards, sharp parts, pinching hazards, splinters, and rough edges. Although balloons are particularly appealing to children, they are serious choking hazards and should not be provided to children under the age of eight without adult supervision. Be aware that even a toy’s packaging might be dangerous to a very young child.
- Remember that a toy should help your child do one or more of the following:
- Explore
- Try new ideas
- Use language — their own language, not the toy’s
- Solve problems
- Learn how to cooperate
- Satisfy his/her curiosity
- Learn about people, nature, or the way things work
- Develop either large or smallmuscle control
- Develop mathematical skills
- Build her/his self esteem
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Reprinted with the permission of the Parent-Child Home Program, Inc.
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