Why are toys important for young children?
Here are some tips on play and toys, plus ways to help support children’s well-being anytime. Regardless of circumstances, children often need comfort and reassurance. Play can provide them with both and more.
A teddy bear, puppet or soft doll can provide reassurance when child is especially concerned and struggling to understand something. These playthings and others offer tangible emotional comfort, and can be a friend to share a secret as needed.
Play is essential to babies, toddlers, preschool and school-age children. Children need plenty of opportunities to play with a variety of good toys and materials and use their imagination. Adults also need time for play, to reduce stress and increase energy.
We need to respect and understand more about the world of play and its great value for all babies and children (and adults as well). Toys are an important part of every child’s life. It is a wonderful feeling to give the right toy. Choosing the right toy from among the many possibilities can be very rewarding to both adult and child.
What’s the role of fun or joy in selecting toys? Should parent always be thinking of “education”?
Being a fully-developed person requires a good combination of thinking, common sense and experiences.We must also experience a full range of emotions to be fully human. It wouldn’t be good to be lopsided to one degree or another. It’s better if we can solve problems, make good choices based on character and values and feel glad and proud about finding solutions.
Certainly, children need to solve problems,express their feelings and spend time each day in playful activities. If we are only rational and don’t allow ourselves to express feelings, we drastically reduce and diminish the full human experience of joy and discovery. The world of toys provides learning and fun, surprises and skills, emotional growth,experiences of all kinds and much more.
Enjoy smart play and smart toys for a lifetime. Toys, puzzles and games are good for children — and seniors. Playtime is, after all, good for a lifetime.
Turn off the TV, and Turn On playtime! Increase more joy, more fun, more memorable and meaningful family time. When the power goes off, new connections can be made. Children can rediscover their own inner creativity and power. Everyone can have laughter, fun and share more good times together. Let’s play!
To learn more
- Read Dr. Toy’s Smart Play Smart Toys: How to Raise a Child with a High P.Q. (Play Quotient)
- Visit website Dr. Toy’s Guide – http://drtoy.com/
- Download new App Dr. Toy’s Best Gift Guidehttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dr-toys-best-gift-guide/id486720439?mt=8
- Read other articles on play and toys by Dr. Toy on The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stevanne-auerbach-phd/
- Follow Stevanne Auerbach on Twitter www.twitter.com/drtoy
© 2013 Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, Dr. Toy, San Francisco, CA