| Toys are the tools of play for young children. The | | | | children are not physically interacting with what |
| types of toys and how they are used play an | | | | they see on the screen. Some hi-tech devices |
| important role in your child's development. Toys | | | | such as toy computers that are aimed at children |
| can actually provide avenues for parents, | | | | as young as nine months old have been found to |
| caregivers and children to interact. This of course | | | | be no more effective in early childhood |
| is the best way for parents and caregivers to | | | | development than traditional ways of playing with |
| help their children learn and grow. When parents | | | | your child. |
| and caregivers participate in their child's play, | | | | So when looking for educational toys that will |
| learning is accelerated because it opens doors that | | | | promote your child's educational and |
| independent play may not. | | | | developmental skills parents / caregivers should... |
| First, there is no substitute for loving relationship | | | | - Avoid toys that promote violence... |
| building. Research shows that interaction between | | | | - Avoid toys that promote negative racial, ethnical |
| adults and children during play causes the brain to | | | | or cultural values... |
| be stimulated which enhances physical, social, | | | | - Avoid toys that discourage children from using |
| emotional, language, creative and cognitive | | | | their imagination... |
| development. Also as parents / caregivers | | | | - Avoid toys with parts that can be swallowed... |
| interact with their children it gives them the | | | | - Avoid toys with sharp edges... |
| opportunity to observe the skills that their children | | | | - Avoid toys that make loud or shrill sounds... |
| currently have, help them to refine these skills as | | | | - Choose toys that foster interaction... |
| well as help them to develop additional skills. But | | | | - Choose toys that are age appropriate and safe... |
| not all toys are going to enhance your child's | | | | - Choose toys that will help develop physical, |
| learning and growth development. Some toys can | | | | social, emotional, language, creative and cognitive |
| actually have a negative effect. | | | | skills... |
| Toys that depict acts of violence such as some | | | | - Choose toys that are not beneath or too |
| computer or video games can cause a child to act | | | | advanced for your child... The entire purpose of |
| out in a similar way. Even television programming | | | | providing avenues for the educational and |
| that boasts of its ability to aid in the educational | | | | developmental growth for your child should not |
| development of children may not enhance your | | | | only be to prepare your child for the future, but |
| child's development. Television is passive because | | | | for parents / caregivers to enjoy their child now. |