The Benefits Of Educational Toys Last A Lifetime
Jean Piaget was a 20th century educational theorist and researcher who has had a significant impact on the way we understand children. He once said that “play is the work of childhood.” He developed the idea that children pass through four distinct stages as they grow from infants into adults. We will discuss these stages and the overall benefits of educational toys in this article.
Sensorimotor: Newborn To 24 Months
The sensorimotor stage occurs from birth through the age of two years. The child progresses from the simple reflexes of a newborn, such as rooting and sucking, to the ability to think symbolically and object permanence. Toys offered during this time should be appropriate to the substage that the child is in.
Newborn babies through about four months old need simple toys, such as teething rings and other toys that are safe for the baby to put in his or her mouth. At about four months old, babies are starting to notice that things exist outside of themselves. Rattles and toys that they can shake and which give the same reproducible results each time are excellent for children of this age. By the time a child is about two years old, he or she has learned that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. At this point, stacking, pulling and other toys that allow the child to experiment with the toy to achieve different results are good choices. All of the educational toys given during the sensorimotor period should be safe for the child to explore with his or her senses.
The Preoperational Stage
The age of magical thinking and imagination. Children in this stage cannot yet think logically, but they have wonderful imaginations and enjoy role play, dress up and other educational toys that stimulate creativity and introduce basic academic concepts, such as number sense, reading and social skills, such as turn-taking.
Concrete Operational
From ages seven years through 12 years old, children pass through the concrete operational stage. They can use simple logic, but their thinking is still very concrete. Toys that foster imagination, work to develop critical thinking skills, such as puzzles, chess or other games, as well as toys that enhance academic skills are good choices for this age group.
Formal Operational
Throughout the teen years and into adulthood, the child’s ability to think abstractly develops. Less time is spent on playing with toys and more time is devoted to specific hobbies and interests, as well as socializing and friends. Hobbies and other interests should be encouraged by providing the child with experiential activities and opportunities to include his or her friends, when possible.
Educational Toys Have Lifelong Benefits
Toys are not just something to keep children occupied. Social skills, sharing, negotiation, academic skills and motor skills, both short-term and long-term are all practiced by playing with educational toys. Research has shown that the benefits of educational toys can raise IQ scores by as much as 50 points. These benefits significantly impact the child’s intelligence well into their 20s. All parents and caregivers should play with educational toys with their children to give them the best and brightest possible life.
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