IMPACT OF TOYS IN THE LIFE OF KIDS

The holistic development of a Child is often paramount on the to-do list of parents.

 However, toys have become the most nearest option for most parents to achieve this goal. 

Knowing what a kid is thinking at a particular point in time is one nut every parent would like to crack.

At first glance, it’s quite engaging and amusing, to see little children actively react to objects in their immediate surroundings.

For most parents, the conclusions drawn are mostly positive and this interesting engagement by the child is basically ascribed to reasoning.

Typically, toys come in different forms and sizes representing the abstract forms of nature, culture and things that are in the real world.

Today, toys have transitioned the era of just being playing tools into advanced learning aides that impact on the knowledge in children. 

Research by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC, in the United States that about 90 percent of pre-school children’s play are with toys. 

According to the survey, some toys have a powerful influence on children’s thinking, interaction with peers, and creative expression.

It is also estimated that toys that serve as learning aides also play a critical role in the character formation of kids as well as help parents identify the core interests.

it is established that toys in the life of children helps to improve their cognitive skills to understand the environment around them.

At a very tender age, children begin to make meaning out of learning aides or the toys available to them.

For instance, toys that come in the form of dolls, and domestic farm animals like dogs and birds help kids to develop the sense of touch, recognition, companionship and care.  

Most child development skills are also acquired during infancy between the ages of 1 and 7 years.

But how and when can parents be aware of the impact of a particular toy in the life of a child, whether positive or negative? Let’s find out more from the experts”

Psychologist at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Diana Odum explains the necessity of toys in the life of kids.

She however acknowledged the influence of toys in the character formation in child development.

At the fountain of youth international school, kids ranging from three to four years of age were observed playing with a variety of toys. 

Most kids in the classroom had a different toy or learning aide in a form of a puzzle and were trying to make meaning from them.

Clinical psychologist at the Accra Regional Hospital, Jeffrey who deals on the dysfunctional sides of toys, advised parents to be cautious in the selection of toys for infants.

On the playground, some kids were also found using relatively open-ended toys that represented some sporting disciplines. 

A teacher mentioned, some kids who do not have ‘fine motor skills’ to write or hold things firmly are given knob-related toys to fix in order to strengthen their gripping skills and wrists.

On the other hand, one cannot rule out the fact that the children’s interests vary greatly and that could inform the kids decision to be attracted to a particular toy.