The mother in you always laments the fact that your toddler does not play with his/her toys. The coolest parenting advice that most mothers would give you is that choose simple toys that spark the baby’s imagination and promote cognitive development. The right toys can impact the personality of the child. Try choosing the right toys in child development parlance. The 20 toy rule is effective as it reduces clutter and increases creativity,
In this article:
Parenting Tips to Buy Effective toys
The use of toys begins in infancy. The child is exposed to brightly coloured toys that catch his/her eye, rattles fascinate them and toys that make music enthral them. These toys can help stimulate the child’s vision and coordination. They can spark and stimulate the interest of the infant.
As the toddler has more range of movement the choice of toys changes. The variety becomes a little wider. Blocks are a good choice, as they help build hand and eye coordination, enhance motor skills and also can be used to fuel creativity. Shape sorters are also good toys for young children.
Older children in the pre-school years have a buffet of toy choices available in the market. Curb your instincts to go overboard with toys as your child will ultimately play with only a few select toys. Give a head start to your children by introducing the 3R’s to them in the form of toys. There are many toys that stimulate learning and spur the imagination. Puzzles, board games that encourage spelling and counting and even high-end electronic gadgets that promote learning are available today. The toys should be able to mimic and reinforce what the child learns in school.
Why are toys and play time important in child development?
The biggest advantage of buying good toys is that the child gets a learning opportunity that involves fun. Most parents get involved at playtime. This encourages the formation of bonds that last a lifetime. Unstructured playtime is the best gift you can give your children. When your child determines how they want to play and with which game, you help build their decision-making prowess.
If learning is fun, your child retains much more than when learning is dreary. Make play times fun. Choose toys that are multi-purpose. For example if the game is about animal habitats, add an element of looking for the place on a globe. Use spelling games to teach new words. There are ample opportunities in every toy to improve concentration and memory.
Play teaches the child to build interpersonal skills. Buy toys that can be played with other children. This enhances interaction between children and ultimately creates friendships and bonds that last long. There is a lot of laughter and fun when you play with children or encourage them to play with friends. Children develop smart communication skills while playing as the games demand it.
The child develops confidence as the toys can give the child a sense of self confidence when they achieve a goal during play. Playtime can be used to foster relationships, build confidence and community connection. This is a strong addition to the suitable personality traits that you want to develop in your child.
The fast pace life today has made playtime very competitive and structured. This is not desirable as the child cannot be free. Limit the screen time and buy them toys that attract them. It is a parent’s job to see that your child can find the best value in the toys you buy. Buy fewer but more meaningful toys for them and see them blossom!
