Toy Selecting Essay

339 Words2 Pages
Child development is defined as the biological and psychological changes that occur in human beings from birth to the end of adolescence, as the individual progresses from dependence to increasing autonomy. Play is an important aspect in a child's development. For children, play is synonymous to work in adults, toys are their tools. Toys do not only serve as entertainment but more importantly, they aid in child development. Children learn reasoning, concentration, motor, social and language skills from their first attempt to grab a rattle or mobile during infancy to their mastery of the intricacies of a computer game in their teens. Toys can develop curiosity and teach the child to make wise decisions. It is important for parents to choose toys that are developmentally appropriate for their children's age to build on the skills that the child already has and also to provide a few challenges. For example, push and pull toys are suitable for toddlers because it is at this stage that they start learning how to walk on their own. Parents need to choose toys that stimulate many senses in order to give the child the opportunity to make things happen. Parents need to select toys that foster creativity. Age recommendations on toys are very useful because they offer guidelines on the following areas: safety of the toy, ability of the child to play with the toy, ability of a child to understand how to use a toy, and the needs and interests at various levels of child development. These recommendations must be considered by parents in order to make the most out of the toys that they give their children. It is not just for short term use for the child, most importantly parents need to consider the toys' long term effects on the child's development especially on the cognitive and behavioral aspect. Most toys available and accessible to children and adolescents at present have a
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