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The Importance of Toys for Child Development: Is It Really Necessary?
Some people say that toys are an absolute necessity. Other people question if it's really necessary.
Let's examine together the importance of toys and its developmental effect on children.
Which is Better for Growth & Development?
Is child development better with toys? Or without toys?
Playtime is very much a necessity for all children, as it improves appropriate child development. Most of the time, people think that play is a waste of time, that it is better if kids spent their time studying or reading.
However, playtime teaches kids many things that books cannot. Interacting with toys and getting creative during playtime can enhance and develop social and cognitive development in very naturalistic ways. Without toys, there are components that can be taught, but toys really do enhance and facilitate even more effective learning.
However, it is important to take into consideration that each child is truly unique. Some may be late bloomers, some may begin their intellectual growth earlier than others. Similarly, one toy may be unnecessary for one child, while the same toy may be incredibly significant and contribute a lot to their early childhood development. What are some ways we can make sure they are getting the best out of these toys?
DOES NATURALISTIC PLAY ENCOURAGE CHILDREN?
If someone asks, "are toys necessary for child development?" Make sure to ask them, "in what context, and for whom?"
One effective component for developing healthy learning habits and learning in general is naturalistic play. Naturalistic learning is effective especially for children with learning disabilities, like those with autism, or those who are simply unmotivated to learn.
Yes, play matters. Toys matter. But everything truly depends on the child themselves. Everyone is capable of learning. If they cannot get it, we are probably teaching them incorrectly. Let's figure out the right ways to teach them in the best ways we can... and we will do so by tailoring the experience to fit their needs. Every child is unique!
Discover who your child really is. Everyone has a different preference. Maybe there are several aversive toys you think they dislike, but maybe it was just one small element of it. For example, maybe you think your kid doesn't enjoy your dinosaurs or robot toys, but it turns out... they just don't enjoy toys with large roaring or electronic noises. Figure out what makes your child tick, and what makes them completely uninterested. Discovering the function (attention, escape, automatic/sensory, access) to their interests can be incredibly helpful to take the most advantage of your environment.
Behavioral Science: Using Toys to Encourage Development
Now that we know toys are a naturalistic way to teach life/basic skills, let's see what behavior psychology has to say about motivating children with toys.
With preferred toys, children are motivated to learn target behaviors and skills that they otherwise could not without the toys. This results in more efficient development in target areas.
Behavior technicians understand the importance reinforcers, particularly, the amount, the size, and its effectiveness. For example, the smaller the size of the reinforcer, the less easily the learner will be satiated and therefore, still strongly motivated to earn their reinforcer. However, it must be big enough to still motivate the learner.
Motivation matters. The higher the motivation, the higher the likelihood that they will repeat that same action/target behavior to earn that reinforcer. With more motivation and consistent follow-through with delivery and response, the more you will see more learning, development, and improvement.
FYI (IF YOU'RE INTERESTED...)
The small-sized reinforcers also provide convenience in addition to the high rate of opportunity and instruction.
Interest in toys can be measured through preference assessment tests, but keep in mind that preferences can change and be satiated within minutes or even seconds! This is why it is so convenient to use a variety of toys as well. If you are trying to control your learning environment outdoors, your materials and control of the environment are limited. Depending on the target behavior, time, and other factors, it may actually prove to be most effective. Again-- it always depends on the learner and what THEY need, not what YOU believe they need.
Losing control of your setting (i.e. running away during hide-and-seek, safety hazards, goofing off) can be incredibly frustrating. Playing and naturalistically learning indoors at a table will give you adequate control over the environment while making it as fun and interesting as possible.
IN GENERAL...
There are pros and cons to having toys, but in general, play is a necessity. Play without toys may be more effective depending on the learners' preferences, but also more time-consuming. Play with toys can easily lose the learners' interests so you would have to make sure you know all their reinforcers and consult a behavioral consultant for the delivery rate of reinforcement. There will be a lot of trial and error, but it's worth it-- when the process of learning is fun, they'll remember it more and do it more often!
“In the play therapy experience, toys are like the child's words, and play is the child's language.”
Does POPFUN have early learning toys for kids?
The short answer is: Yes we do! We have a large selection of early learning toys for babies, kids, toddlers, elementary school kids, etc. We hope PopFun holds your child's hand while they grow up!
Most of our toys encourage children to become more imaginative, and explore ideas, perspectives, and emotions. It's our mission to help kids get curious early on in life. Afterall, toys can enhance their developmental experience in ways that other types of toy-less play cannot. If you want to jumpstart exploring their career path early on, we recommend PopFun STEM toys.
STEM toys (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are incredibly helpful and some of our toy sets even target multiple skills at once!
These STEM toys help children development in multiple areas: fine motor skills, problem-solving skills using creativity, social collaboration, and logic. Your kids won’t even realize that they’re learning! It is so natural that it also inevitably involves social growth and cognitive development. Increased hands-on ability, hand-eye coordination, and more can result from an ample amount of versatile toys designed specifically for your child’s benefit to get a head start on their learning.
MORE STEM & DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS
Above is the our bestselling Kids Pop Up Tent & Camping Set.
It comes with 18 different pieces for your child's pretend play needs. When you see how engaged and focused they are on narrating their stories, you will understand the importance of toys and pretend play. The more they play, the more you will see your children grow! Enhance their world and jumpstart their early learning today.
👇 Click the Link Below to See More Details 👇
CHECK IT OUT
Here are some super cool STEM toys that support your child development...
Help your child brush up on their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and more!
🐵 Mini Animals Building Bricks
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