The world is too large a place for a child to explore all it has to offer; however, the different types of toys available and an active imagination can transform a living room into any scenario your child desires. Play is an essential part of a child's development since it benefits his physical and mental growth while also impacting his future performances.
Play
There are no rules in a child's play world, so unlike the real world where adults call the shots, your child is in charge of the scenarios created. According to "What to Expect the Toddler Years," playing builds self-esteem since it allows children to be successful at what they're doing and allows them to choose activities they know they're good at. Even if your child does fail while playing, they can keep trying without feeling embarrassed. It also stimulates creativity, imagination and socialization.
Imagination
According to "What to Expect the Toddler Years," promoting the use of your child's imagination at a young age will ensure he always has something to do in order to stay busy. There are plenty of toys and household items that can be used to spark imagination. Children's kitchen setups, tool benches, hospital gear, stuffed animals and dolls are only a small number of the toy options available to encourage your child's imagination. There are also art supplies, such as crayons, markers and paper. If your child is bored at a place with no toys, household items can be transformed, such as a broom being turned into a magic pony ride, or grass, dirt and debris being stirred together for a witches' stew.
Motor Skills
Play helps develop gross and fine motor skills. According to "The Developing Person", fine motor skills involve using the fingers, such as drawing a picture, typing on a toy computer or building with blocks. Gross motor skills involve large movements with the body. Running, jump roping, climbing and riding a bike all require gross motor skills. Both gross and motor skills involve the intellectual learning of new skills. For example, a child learning to ride a bike begins with a tricycle and moves up to training wheels until he can successfully ride a bike unassisted. In addition, a child's drawings become more and more detailed as he grows older.
Gender
According to "Gendered Lives," young children often play in sex-segregated groups. In addition, girls and boys tend to play different types of games. This is why boys tend to gravitate towards cars, footballs and rough housing while girls play with dolls and makeup and pretend to be nurturing characters such as mothers or nurses. According to "What to Expect the Toddler Years," some parents show concern if their child chooses toys and roles of the opposite sex. However, toys and play preferences do not determine sexual orientation, so it should not be discouraged since it limits your child's ability to explore.
Considerations
Since children experience the world through play, it's a good time to teach social skills. Children often socialize with stuffed animals and dolls, so encouraging your child to say "please" and "thank you" even to an inanimate object will help build manners. Toys that require children to take turns will also help teach children to share. For example, a wagon is a great toy since children have to take turns letting one ride in the wagon while the other pulls the wagon.
References
- "The Developing Person: Through the Life Span"; Kathleen Stassen Berger.; 2008
- "Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender and Culture"; Julia T. Wood; 2007
- "What to Expect the Toddler Years"; Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg & Sandee Hathaway; 2008
