Durban - The gift of a new toy is hugely exciting to children. Unpacking it, looking at it, pondering its possibilities, trying it out, and then playing with it, can thrill them to dizzy heights.
No wonder the toy business has become an industry worth billions of rand. Parents constantly hear that their kids should be having this video game or that PlayStation because the other kids at school have them.
Yet some of the best toys are inexpensive – and even free! A paper towel tube can be either a tunnel for cars or a sword. A big empty box can give children hours of imaginative play just by them pretending that it is a car, plane or boat.
Other attractive and interesting purchases that can be made cheaply include magnifying glasses, magnets, bubble-making liquids, pull-apart cars and trucks, and puzzles.
I generally recommend toys which are “open-ended”. These include wooden blocks, art and craft materials – paper, crayons and play dough. Pretend-objects such as dress-up clothes as well as stuffed animals and dolls give children a chance to try out new behaviours and roles and to imitate adults.
If, sometimes, you can’t avoid giving your child the faddish toys of the moment, mix them with more tried-and-true play materials. Blocks, lego and construction sets are all examples of toys that let children build and create what they see in their mind’s eye (as well as what they see on the box).
But in the real world we have to acknowledge that not all toys have equal appeal. Individuals differ in their preferences and this needs to be respected. The toys you choose should be in line with your child’s skills and interests. Start by looking at the manufacturer’s age recommendation on the package – then use your judgement in deciding whether the toy is appropriate for your child.
Choose toys wisely by asking yourself questions such as the following:
* Is it something my child can manage by himself, or will it require an adult to wind it, make it work, or put it together?
* Is it a gadget that he will become bored with after the novelty has worn off?
* Will the toy present frustrating difficulties?
* Is the toy so fragile that he will have to be cautioned constantly to be careful with it?
* Does it have little attachments that are likely to be easily lost?
* Is it the kind of toy he generally likes to play with? Or is he begging for a particular toy because he saw it on television or at a friend’s home.
* How many different things can he do with it?
Good toys encourage children to imagine, think, and problem-solve. A one-year-old will typically pile blocks in a heap, a two-year-old will stack them, a three-year-old will build a house, and a four-year-old will build a whole city.
Look for toys that encourage your child to be active – he will learn more from a set of blocks that can become many different things than from an electric train set that he just keeps watching as it moves.
If toys are fun and interesting, playing with them can help children begin a lifelong love of learning.
Moreover, if your child shows little interest in toys or breaks them frequently and intentionally, consider getting help for him from a mental health professional. - Daily News
* Ramphal is an educational psychologist with special interest in career counselling and learning problems. Visit www.ramphaledupsych.co.za.