FPJ OPED – Toys Vital for Encouraging Self-expression
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Toys Vital for Encouraging Self-expression
by Janet C. Geddes
As the holiday season approaches and we plan to buy toys for our and other children, lets think carefully about which types of toys to buy and which to avoid.
Play is essential to childrens healthy development and learning. Children use play to actively construct knowledge, meet social/emotional needs, and acquire life skills.
Toys, the tools of childrens play, influence that play. Toys of value enhance childrens natural ability to engage in imaginative, meaningful play by allowing them to try out their own ideas and solve their own problems. However, many toys rob children of opportunities to use their own imagination, creativity, and problem solving skills.
Choosing Toys of Value
Toys have enhanced play value when they . . .
* Can be used in many ways
* Allow children to be in charge of the play
* Appeal to children at more than one age or level of development
* Are not linked to video games, TV, or movies
* Can be used with other toys for new and more complex play
* Will stand the test of time and continue to be part of play as children develop new interests and skills
* Promote respectful, non-stereotyped, non-violent interactions among children
* Help children develop skills important for further learning and a sense of mastery
Choose toys that promote . . .
Creative arts. Encourages self-expression and the use of symbols, a vital skill for problem solving and literacy. Develops fine motor skills. Examples: poster and finger paints, assortment of blank paper of all sizes and colors, crayons and markers, scissors, glue, recycled materials, stamps, clay, weaving kits.
Dramatic play. Helps children work out their own ideas about their experiences. Provides a powerful way of learning new skills and a sense of mastery. Blocks are a classic toy that children never outgrow. Adding props encourages, inspires, and extends children’s play. Props have the ability to help children recreate real life experiences as well as invent imaginary ones.
Manipulative play with small play objects. Develops small muscle control and eye-hand coordination. Teaches about relationships between objects, essential for understanding math and science. Examples: construction sets and toys with interlocking pieces, puzzles, pegboards, miniature models, blocks.
Physical play. Promotes healthy body awareness and coordination. Provides opportunities for social interaction. Examples: bikes, scooters and other wheeled toys, climbing structures.
Game playing. Teaches about taking turns, planning strategy, sequencing, rules, and cooperation. Examples: board games like checkers and chess, card games, jacks.
Toys and Toy Trends to Avoid
Toys have limited play value when they . . .
* Encourage everyone to play the same way as determined by the toy designer
* Appeal primarily to a single age or level of development
* Will probably sit on a shelf after the first fun half hour
* Will channel children into imitating scripts they see on TV or in movies
* Do special high-tech actions for the child instead of encouraging the childs exploration and mastery
* Lure children into watching the TV program or other media linked to the toy
* Promote violence and stereotypes, which can lead to disrespectful and aggressive behavior
* Introduce academic concepts to children too early, keeping them from the kind of play that truly prepares them for later learning
Shoe Box Gifts for hours of creative play
Usually, giving gifts to children means buying manufactured toys. Here is an alternative gift idea that can be easily put together. Shoe box gifts are collections of small, familiar items that are organized around a play theme and presented in an appealing way. They also show that expensive toys in fancy packages arent necessarily the best. The process of putting together such an easy, yet imaginative and age-appropriate gift for a special child in your life can be very satisfying for you, too.
Making Shoe Box Gifts
Decorate an empty shoe or appropriate-sized box and lid (gift wrap, stickers, etc.).
Choose a theme and put a clear label on the box which includes both a simple word and picture of the theme.
Most of the suggested items are found at hardware stores, pharmacies, stationery stores, art/crafts stores, supermarkets.
Use small containers, ziplock bags, or build dividers with small pieces of cardboard to make compartments for the various items in the shoe box. Young children appreciate organizationbeing able to return everything to its place.
Most of these suggestions are appropriate and safe for children to use independently; however, objects in some kits may require adult supervision and/or aid (e.g., food coloring).
Shoe Box Gift Theme Ideas
VERANDAH GARDEN
plastic-lined shoe box
potting soil
seed packets
small watering can
icecream sticks
garden tools
gardening gloves
NATURE EXPLORER
nature guides with pictures of birds, trees, animals
small sketch book and coloured pencils
binoculars
plastic magnifying glass
camera (toy or real)
vest or small backpack with pockets
small ziplock bags
bag of bird seed
RESCUE/FIRST AID
flashlight
bandaids
fabric strips/ bandages
arm sling
eye patch
gauze
stethoscope
surgical mask
STORY BOX
favorite childrens book
cassette recording of adult narrating story
cassette player
headphones
story characters (small plastic figures, puppets, stuffed animal)
blank journal for creating original stories
What Parents Can Do
Many best selling toys promote violence, focus on sexy behavior and appearance, and encourage buying more and more. It has made choosing toys and creating a healthy play environment harder for adults. We need to build communication and share values with children in a meaningful way. Adults need to work together with schools and the community to create healthy play options for children.
parents with children
Provide interesting activities, materials, trips to encourage positive interests, hobbies
Define your values about violent toys and share them with your children
Take action write a letter to a toy company or store
Plan toy purchases together and limit impulse buying
Provide uninterrupted daily play time and organize play materials so they are easily accessible
Work together to make thoughtful decisions about the role of media in the home
parents with teachers
Discuss the importance of play and how toys and media affect it
Suggest ways to promote healthy play and limit childrens involvement with TV, movies, videos, DVDs, computers, video games
Work together to develop school policies that promote healthy play (e.g., ample free play)
Start a home lending book and toy library to provide positive play options
parents with other parents
Support each others efforts to avoid buying toys of violence or items with logos related to movies, TV shows, restaurants, etc.
Share resources for activities, good toys and books, ideas for birthday gifts, events, and outings with other families
Share strategies and ideas for alternatives to TV, especially at difficult times of the day
If you are interested:
* To donate your old toys, books and clothes to other children
* To raise public awareness about the negative effects of violent and stereotyped toys and media on children, families, schools, and society
* To provide children with toys and activities that promote healthy play and non-violent behavior at home and school
* To create a broad-based effort to eliminate marketing to children and to reduce the sale of toys of violence
* To support parents and teachers efforts to deal with issues regarding media, toys, and play
write to info@karmayog.org
(Janet C. Geddes is an environment and development consultant, working on a range of rural and urban issues in India, based in Mumbai.)
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