Role Of Educative Toys In Child Development

 

 The integration of educative toys into the global schooling system began in the mid-19th century, when Friedrich Frobel, a German educator, introduced educational toys to promote learning through play. After this, Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, developed the montessori schooling system in the early 20th century. Dr. Maria Montessori's approach to education emphasized self-directed learning and hand-on activity, using specially-tailored materials such as educative toys. Presently, this system of schooling is commonly known as private school system across the world. Without any iota of doubt, the use of educative toys plays a significant role in a child's cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. There are different types of educative toys. Some are used for cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development in children. Educative toys facilitate children's development in the following ways: 

1. Cognitive development educative toys:

(i) Toys such as memory games and matching cards enhance memory and concentration.

(ii) Educative toys such as sorters and counting blocks teach children about shapes (circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, spheres, trapezia), colours (such as the seven colours of rainbow namely, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet), and numeracy (numbers and mathematical concepts).

(iii) Educative toys such as puzzles and brain teasers help children develop critical thinking and reasoning skills preparatory to problem-solving efficiency in future.

2. Physical development educative toys:

(i) Toys such as playdough, puzzles, and building blocks help children develop fine motor skills.

(ii) Toys such as balls, bicycles, ride-on toys promote gross motor skills (balance, coordination, and movement).

(iii) Toys used for catch-and-throw games and ball pits improve hand-eye coordination.

3. Social development educative toys: 

(i) Educative toys which encourage group play (board games and building blocks) teach children about sharing, empathy, kindness, and doing things turn-by-turn.

(ii) Educative toys such as puppets and role-playing sets help the children develop communication skills and practise social interactions.

(iii) Toys such as puzzles and building sets encourage collaborative play, cooperation, and team work. 

4. Emotional development educative toys: 

(i) Toys such as dolls and stuffed animals help children develop empathy, kindness, and understanding of emotions.

(ii) Toys which promote problem-solving, critical thinking and reasoning skills, can build a child's confidence. 

(iii) Educative toys such as playdough and art supplies can help children express and manage their emotions. 

Generally, educative toys have one way or the other to help in children's development. Those toys which provide opportunities to learn from failures and disappointments are necessary instruments to building resilience, doggedness, and perseverance into the children's lives. The World Declaration on Education for All (1990) emphasized the significance of early childhood education and the use of educative toys and play-based learning. The United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (1989) advocated for the use of educative toys for play and leisure activities for children's development. Renowned international NGOs and non-profits such as the Save the Children and the LEGO Foundation support the use of educative toys and play-based learning to promote early childhood development. The World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education have supported the use of educative toys and play-based learning to improve early childhood education. Both UNICEF and UNESCO have also encouraged the use of educative toys and play-based learning to promote early childhood development. 

To conclude, the benefits of educative toys and play-based learning cannot be overemphasized. They can enhance cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development of a child, as well as fostering curiosity, creativity, imagination,  and problem-solving skills. Educative toys are play materials designed to promote play-based learning in children. The educative toys stimulate curiosity and creativity, thereby preparing the children for greater academic heights for successful future. All parents, guardians, and caregivers, are required to buy educative toys for the children according to their age and grade to facilitate their overall development.

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