Guidelines for Selecting Developmentally Appropriate Toys

Selecting Developmentally Appropriate Toys is important issue. 

  Choosing suitable toys for children is very important for preschool teachers and families. Although the child has many toys at home or at school, some of them are appropriate or even dangerous for that child. Given the contribution of a toy to the child's development, the need for open - ended opportunities is high.

     The adults who remember the game memories say that they play without adult intervention and that they play freely with the open -  ended materials in the periosphere.  Obviously, most children don't have this opportunity today. When asked about them, childhood toys, games tell of toys supporting open - ended. And that these toys have attracted their attention for a long time. The most popular of these toys are  traditional dolls, metal tools and wooden building blocks.

     Mass marketing often controls what is available on the market. Television and movies have a lot of influence. Day by day, film and network programming comes with toy attachments. Usually a three year cycle prevails. The first year has a violent marketing. The second year is softer than the first year. In the third year, the marketing model, which doesn't exist in practice, is used depending on the previous demand.  Competition and violence, which are highly influential on the quality of the child's experience, are common themes.

     Consumerism is also evident in toy quality. Toys have planned aging. Quickly consume, take a new one instead. The disposable toy mentality was presented with free toys that were supplied with fast food. Like similar retail toys, they are quickly consumed and immediately discarded.

     For parents and early childhood educators, the basic element that should be considered is the developmental appropriateness of toys. What kind of toy is suitable for the child's age? What kind of toy fits the child's developmental stage? The recommended age on the toy packages may be very little reletad to the actual age appropriate for playing with that toy. The buyer should consider all these possibilities.  Another important issue is security.

     Finally, playability can determine whether the purchase of toys is valuable. When a child approaches a toy with different levels and open - ended results, this child may experience a sense of accomplishment, self esteem is developed, and the time the child adds to the game increases. Playability is a more appropriate marker than the name of the film shown in the package.





* Toy is durable and safe intended for extended use
     * Will not soon break or become useless
     * Has play value for more than a few weeks or months

* The toy can be approached from a variety of levels
     * Variety of developmental stages addressed
     * Lack of "functional fixedness"

* Toy is appropriate for intended use at home or child care center
     * Size appropriate for available space.
     * Can work for needed number of children.
     * Durable enough for expected use

* The toy is developmentally appropriate
     * Challenging but not frustrating
     * Appropriate level of complexity

* Toy is free of sex stereotype
     * Useable by both boys and girls
     * Colors don't dictate use by single sex

*   Toy is nonviolent in nature
     * Weapons not inclueded
     * Aggression not encouraged
     * Character doesn't represent violence

*Toy is safe for intended age group
     * Passes choke test
     * No sharp edges
     * Eye danger considered

* Toy is appealing to children
     * Color, shape, style best for age

* Play opportunities are open - ended
     * Stimulates divergent thinking
     * More than one right answer or method of use

*Price of toy reflects its value
     * Resulting play and durability are worth the investment

*Toy is appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use
     * Flexibility offers increased play value
     * Waterproof or easy to clean

* Toy is multicultural
     * Will contribute to a variety of ethnic groups represented by classroom toys
     * Is free of stereotypes

* Toy is a result of responsible use of resources
     * Not disposable
     * Toy and packing are recycled or recyclable

* Similar play and value can not be achieved by teacher, parent, made toy
     * Choice is responsible since other possibilities have been considered

* Addition of toy will add variety to existing play setting
     * Al developmental areas.

İmportance of Educational and Developmentally Toys

In this episode, I want to talk about toys that increase educational and productivity. Such toys are open-ended toys. There is no specific rule for playing with them. Such mind-building toys will shape your child's imagination. What does it mean? Educational toys consist of many pieces or blocks. In other words, they are not just a house or a car. According to your child's imagination and relationship with the environment, these toy parts are sometimes a car and sometimes a spaceship. These toy parts make your child productive by getting out of certain molds. We briefly talked about productive, educational and developmental toys. In the next headline, I will suggest you a variety of toys that I think are productive and educational.
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Example of Educational and Productivity Toys for Three Four and Five Year Olds Kids...

 

  First instance of creative and educational toys comes from Playmags. With this toys, your child's engineering outcomes are endless with these colorful 3D magnet tiles from Playmags.