Choosing Toys: A Quick Guide
Choosing Toys: A Quick Guide
As our world becomes more and more digital it’s important to remember that high-tech is not always best. When it comes to toys for your child, low-tech toys provide ways to be creative, allow your child to be imaginative, and promote and encourage the development of both motor and language skills.
Look around your kitchen and home- there are all sorts of fun objects to play with! Measuring cups (for placing objects in/out), pots and pans (hide and find objects; stirring, pretend play music making), laundry baskets (climbing in/out; pushing; hiding in/under; placing objects in/on top/under; pretend play), empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls (for stacking, crafts; in/out), small kitchen tongs (fine motor and visual motor development to place objects in, grasping various sized objects, sorting), empty food containers (oatmeal container- putting in/out; rolling it back and forth, taking lid on/off; cut out a slot on the top to work on putting in); use shaving bottle lids for stacking and building towers; sorting different colored lids)- the list could go on.
When considering what toy to get your child for their birthday or any holiday think about what experience the toy is bringing to your child. High-tech toys tend to do most of the “heavy-lifting” of the play while your child becomes more of an observer or audience member. This experience limits your child’s possibility for growth and development.
Choosing open-ended, low-tech toys such as, blocks, play food and utensils, toy animals, baby dolls and clothes, side-walk chalk, balls, etc. allow your child to direct the play, use their imagination, and provide the language and/or sound effects to go along with the play. Other toys such as, bikes, wagons, scooters, jump ropes, etc. encourage children to participate in play-based movement and get outdoors. These motor skills of running, jumping, climbing, etc. are also important to their overall development.
Comment to tell us what low-tech toys your child loves!
