What Value do toys have for Pre-school aged Children?

Question

Can some one please help me, i am doing an assignment and need more info on: ''The value of toys for the Preschool age Child''.

i have to write a few pages on the subject .

help i am running out of things it write , i am starting to repeat myself over and over.!!

any info at all would be very much appreciated.

thank you :)

Answer 1

My understanding would be 'the value of toys' as children playing. In which case it can be said that the interaction a child has through play with other children and adults in pre-school settings is well known. Stimulating the developing mind of a child through play (and toys) obviously aids the development of a childs brain, their physical well being, their ability to interact with others and their general happiness.

Answer 2

It helps with their development, physically, socially and intellectually, I'm not so sure about emotionally =S. It helps physically because the child practises using his/her fine motor skills (the small joints: fingers, toes etc) and his/her gross motor skils (the bigger ones: legs, arms etc).

It helps socially because it allows the child to learn to share with others, and talk about things e.g. If you give the child building bricks he/she will then be able to talk about it.

It helps a child intellectually because toys like puzzles allow the child to experiment with the various pieces in order to get the right piece. I hope this helps a little, good luck with you assignment.

Answer 3

-Talk about benefits of 'play' by looking up the Foundation Stage Curriclulum guidance- i think if u go to QCA website you'll find info.

-Interest: holds their attention and provides learning opportunities.

-Pretend Play toys can give children experience of real world more safely than a REAL kettle or REAL knife.

-Self-esteem as they learn to control and succeed i the aims of toys.

-Child has a RIGHT to play and enjoy life (see UN Convention of the Rights of the Child) and kids enjoy toys!

Good Luck x

Answer 4

I'm thinking that toys help children experience the world, expand their imagination,and increase their vocabulary (if they talk about those toys with a peer or adult).  Google Piaget or Eric Ericson or Viagotsky.

Answer 5

Its hard to know what you have written already, but some positive aspects of preschool toys are:-

To improve hand/eye co-ordination.

To develop and help refine fine motor skills.

To develop a perception and an understanding of basic colours and shapes.

To encourage imaginary play. (Very important developmentally)

For use as a "transfer object" to relieve stress when the parent is not there (e.g. a teddy at bedtime).

Also, it may help you to have a look at some of the principles of the Montessori methods, a lot of which is about learning through play.

Answer 6

hya a lot of what every one else has said is really good, but no one has mentioned the fact that what kids learn through playing with a toy ie a particular skill, is the foundation of further learning throughout life.  skills start off basic yeah?, well then they are practised and become more refined, through playing with a toy, and can be applied to other things.

hope this helps a bit!!

Answer 7

Toys serve a lot of value for children at the preschool level.

Play is a very important part of learning for children at this age because they learn through acting and through exploring.

Developmentally appropriate toys can serve to broaden imagination, foster important socialization, creativity, develop physical fine and gross motor skills and more!

Children also view "playing" as their version of "working".  They feel that they have accomplished something in their day if they have truly explored and learned something through play!  Children at the preschool level also often gain more skills through well-planned activities and toys rather than "planned lessons" which many more preschools are trying push on children this age.