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Posts Tagged ‘Toys’

The Impact of Toys in Child Development

September 13th, 2009

Parents often seek assistance in selecting the right toys at the most ideal stage of their child’s development. Many toys are designed for particular ages based on safety concerns; however, many others are designed to specifically encourage the development of certain abilities in a child.

In this article we will explore the fundamental skills developed by infants at varying ages, and the types of toys that can encourage children to reach their potential.

The Baby’s 1st Year

In the first year of a baby’s life, they begin exploring and experimenting with their most important senses:

Sound & Smell – In the first instance babies begin to match voices with certain faces and facial expressions, mainly from being held, fed and nurtured. Likewise, certain smells can be recognised and associations are gradually made. As they begin to establish these social attachments they become more receptive to different sounds and smells. Toys with sound and music that react to a child’s action are especially good at this stage, and simply letting your baby smell something and then see it can encourage development in this area.

Touch & Sight – As babies begin to take a little control of their hands; touching and feeling things become an important part of an infant’s development. Similarly, as sight becomes clearer, babies become more receptive to visual aids. Toys for this age are designed to enhance and encourage these traits. Toys should be for seeing, hearing and touching – this encourages the child to respond to the sights and sounds they see and hear. Picture books with sound, teddy bears with different textures and pulley toys that respond to a child’s movement are especially beneficial after 6 months old. Toys in bright, monochromic colours can also help to stimulate eyesight in the first year of a child’s life.

Ages 1 to 2

This stage is an important time for developing independence and important social skills that will never be lost. Between the ages of 1 and 2 it is surprising how rapidly a child develops from a tentative toddler saying only 1 or 2 words, to a confident child able to easily run and speak around 50 individual words.

From the age of 1, infants begin taking an interest in the effects of their manipulation, and it is very fun to sit back and watch children at this age. They particularly enjoy throwing toys and building things, so building blocks Duplo, and stickle bricks are fantastic toys at this age for encouraging hand and eye coordination, as well as a sense of balance.

From around 18 months, infants are able to walk very well and can run to an extent. When objects are in the way – running can prove difficult. However, with their newfound freedom, children love to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger, so toys that encourage active play at this age are well received. Balls, Sit n’ Rides , Activity Stations, toys that speak or make noises and toys of characters they see on TV are advantageous additions to a toy box at this age – they will encourage children to play actively, and it will also help them sleep well at bed time (an added bonus!).

Language progression is also crucial at this age. Children will begin responding when spoken to and chattering away when playing. This makes it important for adults to talk to children in conversations, read stories and sing nursery rhymes whenever possible.

Ages 2 Years +

As a child turns two years old their abilities in counting and speaking becomes clearer, and bodily strength in running and climbing becomes more refined.

At the turn of two years old, toys that have movement and sound and allow the child to throw and drop are ideal, as they will help to refine their physical strengths. Toys that allow the children to push themselves along, such as sit ‘n’ ride toys that allow children to steer are very desirable.

As they approach 3 years old, outdoor toys such as climbing frames and garden swings are great. Children at this age have good spatial awareness, and refined bodily strength. They can move large toys easily, kick balls forcefully and they also have the ability to use pedals on a bike.

An infant’s imagination will develop greatly at this age as well, which is why dressing up and a fascination with make believe is noticeable. Doll sets, action figures, train sets and such toys are favourable at this age and help children express themselves and explore their independence. Children will also start to play with others and learn social skills through play. Cooperation and taking turns are examples of skills that will become extremely important both at a young age and throughout life.

Showing off new skills to family is also a very common trait for children around 3 years and upwards. Toys that mimic adult tasks, such as vacuum cleaners, cookers, shop tills and lawn mowers are especially good for engaging with a child.

While we have focussed on the initial, most advancing years of a child’s life in this article, toys have been proven to encourage creativity, self-confidence and academic skills throughout every stage of childhood.

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Remote Controlled Toys: Loved by Kids and Adults

August 15th, 2009

There are not many children in this world who do not like toys. If the toy is a flying helicopter all the more better. Remote controlled toys are one of the favorites among children. A kid is fine with any model of a RC toy. A Walkera Dragonfly or an Align Helicopter can make perfect gifts for children especially during Christmas. Sometimes the desire for RC toys is not limited to kids. Adults are equally passionate about them and take it up as a hobby to collect as many toys as they can. There are exhibitions held for RC toys where people display various models of helicopters, dragonfly and RC planes. People modify the engines of the various models to make them fly higher and faster. To ensure that customers are always well supplied with parts for their remote controlled toys, online stores have a ready stock of spare parts. Whether it is for your Esky helicopter or a Cole Trex 450 Helicopter spares are never in short supply. The spare parts also help to modify existing RC toys to give them a better look or simply change the entire mechanism.

Customizable RC toys are also available which can be ordered from online retailers. Before buying the RC toy it is important to know the type of surface it is going to be driven on. This will help to buy the right kind of RC toy suited for the given surface. There is no end to the list of toys that are available. Some of the most common ones are the Walkers Dragonfly Helicopter, Align Helicopter, Skyartec Helicopter and many more. The interesting part of buying a RC toy from an online shop is the price. Online shops offer great discounts especially during the festive season. Children can play long hours with their toys and adults generally take these toys to exhibitions. The best part of a remote controlled toy is the modifications that are possible. A more powerful engine can be fitted to a F1 car or a helicopter. It is also possible to change the tires to give the car a better look. Similarly there are many other modifications that can actually be done to a RC toy. These are very similar to the modifications that can be done to a real car or a helicopter.

In recent years Remote Controlled toys have become more popular. This is because of various toy manufacturers who have brought out specialized models of RC toys. Moreover, online stores have made the toys accessible to everyone across the globe. So now nothing can stop you from displaying the latest RC toy in your showcase. It is perfect fun for the long holidays when your children can spend hours playing with their toys. So, if you are still wondering whether you want to gift a RC toy to your kids, the answer is Yes. You can also take it up as a hobby and start collecting more models. I am sure you will be appreciated as a connoisseur.

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Kids Toys That Play Well

May 8th, 2009

During playtime, children develop learning strategies, critical thinking skills and a foundation for life-long competencies and interests. Watching your kids at play clearly reveals that learning is a developmental process. At six months or six years, childrens days are well spent, hard at work – at play.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to search for the most educational and developmentally appropriate toys for your children, in a wide range of categories. The job may be easier by looking at toys from several perspectives. From the vantage point of your children, they need to match their interests and ages. From your end, factors to consider are your values, principles – and the family budget.

When making a purchase, consider if the toy has star potentials. Take into account consistency of play value and whether the toy offers an extension of your childs creative and imaginative bent. A good toy encourages a child to experiment and explore without limit!

When looking for appropriate kids toys, it helps to keep the following things in mind:

? It is important to remember that boys and girls do differ in toy preferences and yet they can enjoy many of the same products. Playthings need to fit developing mental skills. They should foster awareness, appreciation and involvement in creative processes.

? Toys can help children better understand their neighbors. They can help understand and respect similarities and differences in todays world.

? A toy is quality and staying power is determined by its ability to withstand active use. Remember to choose toys with broad appeal and are not only worth the investment, but your child plays with them again and again.

? A company that guarantees a products safety establishes important consumer credibility. Labeling needs to be easily understood and should include age grading and valuable information. Kids toys should be technically well produced.

? There are toys that can help children understand new concept or develop new skills. Your Child is understanding of wildlife, science or the environment can be enriched. Toys which encourage and support physical activity and development contribute to a childs health and growth. Consider if the toy is innovative and original. If the toy does something familiar, but in a different way, or whether it offers something never seen before, then it is interesting.

With the variety of choices that kids have today, they have more exposure to really learn a lot and grow. You as a parent should keep your children invested in worthwhile toys. There is a lot to be gained by participating in play, imagination – and talk.

Opportunities during which your children can lead, cooperate and feel successful now become powerful vehicles for socialization. The play abilities children have formed will become the social and emotional underpinnings of school readiness, as well as contribute to behavior management and self-control. Kids toys must not only enhance a childs play experiences, but be fun, too! It is a tall order, but these tangible, yet elusive qualities are essential in all childrens playthings.

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