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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 are 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 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. Kids have to have them sure ... 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 that 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.
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