Many well meaning parents will buy gifts this season for their
kids and teens that may be on one of the hot toy lists but lack
true play value. Many toys that are hyped by media and word of
mouth do not provide the type of play activity that can lead to
healthy growth and development.
New research shows that appropriate play stimulates brain
development. Play should be active, child directed and tap
imagination, which develops creativity and problem solving
ability. Many of today's toys are passive and direct play
through an onboard computer. This is like giving kids junk
food instead of nutritional meals.
Toys with real play value keep on giving by way of new adventures
and discoveries in each play session along with the development
of creativity and problem solving skills to last a lifetime.
Good Toys Are: appealing and interesting to the child - proper
for the child's physical capacities - appropriate for the child's
mental and social development - well-constructed, durable, and
safe for the age of the child.
If play is the work of the child, toys are the tools. Through
toys, children learn about their world, themselves, and others.
Toys teach children to - figure out how things work - pick up
new ideas - build muscle control and strength - use their
imagination - solve problems - learn to cooperate with others.
Dolls, puppets, character play sets, cars and trucks are great
for fantasy play. Art supplies, PlayDoh, blocks, Tinkertoys,
Erector Sets, Legos encourage creativity. Don't forget outdoor
toys like bikes, skates and sports equipment to encourage active
play. Puzzles, board games, card games tap knowledge and
strategy.
With pediatricians recommending a limit of 2 hours of screen
time per day for kids, the number of video games and videos
under the tree should be limited. Also, parents should review
content no matter what the rating. Good choices now reduce
potential for violence later on.
Parents of young children should use extra caution and buy toys
that are safe. Review toy safety guidelines. Read labels. Toys
appropriate for older children should be kept away from younger
siblings. Parents should teach and enforce safety rules for new
activities such as riding a bike or skateboard. Have the right
safety gear. Supervise new hobby activities that use sharp
tools, chemicals or electricity.
During the holidays, parents often spend time playing with their
kids and the new toys. Parents are encouraged to continue to
play often with their kids during the rest of the year. They
will find it not only is great for their kids but is a great
stress reducer for the parent as well. It is important to let
the child direct the play. Join them in their world. It is a
time for parents to learn about their child not to teach kids
the "right" way to play.
By following these simple suggestions, parents will be giving
their kids the gift of valuable play that will keep on giving
throughout the year and throughout life.
Child Development Institute has just launched
http://www.toys4growth.com where parents can browse through
toys, books, videos and music selected for their child's age
that are fun and promote physical, cognitive and social
development. Items can be purchased through their affiliation
with Amazon.com. The site also has information on play, growth
and development and toy safety as well as guides on video
content.
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