Learning Toys Offer Five Key Benefits In Child Development
Learning toys offer a lot more than just fun for kids
. Play time for kids is like work time for adults. While most adults, don't think of kids play time as being productive, it actually offers kids many opportunities to learn and grow physically, mentally and socially.
So if play time is actually like work time, then learning toys are like work tools. The right toys help kids get the most out of their play time. That certainly changes the way we normally think of toys, and places greater importance on the role of parents in selecting the right toys for their kids.
There are several key considerations for selecting the right toy for your child:
1.Your child should like the toy and be interested in it. This one should be easy to find out.
2.The toy should be well suited to your child's physical ability.
3.The toy should be well suited to your child's mental and social abilities.
4.The toy should be well constructed, durable and safe.
Other factors to consider when selecting a toy is knowing the types of benefits that different toys provide. Learning toys can be grouped into several categories based on the benefits they offer kids.
1.Active learning toys help kids develop gross motor skills. Gross motor skills are developed by using large muscle groups. These skills are essential for healthy development of balancing, walking, rolling and running. Activities that develop gross motor skills also help develop physical strength from cardio vascular development These include push and pull toys, ride on toys, outdoor toys, gym equipment and sporting equipment.
2.Manipulative learning toys help develop fine motor skills, which is the coordination of small muscle movements such as the fingers and hands. These skills are essential for healthy development of hand-writing, drawing. These include construction toys, puzzles, pattern making toys, manipulative toys, sand box toys, water learning toys, lacing and stringing toys and doll dressing.
3.Make-believe toys help kids develop their imagination. In the world of make-believe, kids can role-play different situations which allows them to begin to practice and experiment with the results of their actions. Through their imagination, kids develop real world skills without the risks or responsibilities of the real world. The realm of imagination provides kids with a safe place to express real-world emotions, both positive and negative, without the real-world consequences. Imaginative play even helps kids define their own identities as they take on the roles of their parents. As they take on their imaginary roles, kids feel greater significance, which builds their self-esteem. Imaginative play allows kids to experience a greater sense of control over their own lives, again without the risks of the real world. Imaginative play allows kids to exercise creative thinking.
4.Creative Toys: Creative play is encouraged by musical toys and arts and crafts materials, which help kids create their own masterpieces to show the world, or at least mom and dad, what they are capable of doing. Creativity can also be stimulated by exposing kids to creative expressions from the real world in the form of dramatic plays, music, musical themed movies, art museums and even videos (just not too much).
5.Learning Toys: This category is far broader than most of us think and can include many types of toys, even ones not normally associated with learning. Traditionally this category includes electronic toys, which are like mini-computers loaded with educational value. Other learning toys include board games, strategy games like chess, puzzles, and software games.
Understanding these five key benefits for different types of learning toys can help parents make informed decisions in selecting toys for their children.
by: Kanooga
Melissa And Doug Alphabet Blocks Help Kids Develop Skills 5 Educational Benefits Of Kids Stuffed Animals Toys Attractive Bead Crafts For Children The Truth About Child Abuse Reporting Gaming For The Child And Adult Educational Toys To Help Your Children Learn About The World This Xmas Keep Your Children Happy With Outdoor Play Equipment Autism Hand Flapping - The Signs and Symptoms to Watch For to See If You Child May Be Autistic Cars Childhood autism Rating Scale - 3 Lies Told by Some Special Education Personnel About Autism and How You Can Fight Back! Pdd Children - Symptoms of Asperger's and Rett's Syndromes Social Skills Aspergers - How to Help You Aspergers Child Make a Friend Pdd Child - 5 Easy Techniques For Parents Succeeding With Pervasive Developmental Delays (PDD) Kids Bags Can Help Them Stay Organized