Imagine your child in a mega toy store, all wide-eyed and lost in the colourful magic of Lego blocks and puzzles, model trains and fire trucks, dolls and kitchenettes, action figures and playsets. Rattling this, touching that, tugging at your jeans and pointing at stuff they just have to have right away! Aren’t these the best childhood memories? They’re sure to leave an indelible impression in your child’s mind. Toys and games make up a majority of our childhood. And a good part of our adulthood too, albeit secretly. After all, there’s a child in all of us.
As research and modern education confirms, toys are essential learning tools for every child’s cognitive development. We live in a time of rapid technological advancement where gaming consoles and computer games tend to take away from children’s free play activities. Mindful parents try to limit the screen time their children get during the day, and introduce a variety of creative toys and games that can engage their senses, occupy their mind, and keep them involved in original and imaginative quests.
- Infants: Right from infancy, babies learn to perceive colours, shapes, textures, and sounds as they begin to interact with their surrounding environment. Brio Toys offers a fascinating range of infant care toys that can enhance their perceptive abilities, general motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Give your baby sturdy, clean and safe playthings to chew on, jiggle, throw and bounce around! Rattles, blocks, rings, teethers and activity balls are popular choices for tiny tots.
- Toddlers: A parent’s dream is to have their kid learn and play at the same time and Brio Toys offers the perfect blend of education and fun. While toddlers still enjoy some of the toys they played with as babies, they begin to learn about symmetrical objects, shape sorters, and building blocks. Pull along toys are especially loved by children of this age. Get your little one her very first wooden train set and let their adventurous minds go for a ride!
- Preschoolers: When children play with toys in groups, they develop important social skills while understanding the dynamics of teamwork. They learn to share responsibility, respect others around them, wait their turn and play fairly. Pretend play toys like the stove top kitchenette and model playsets like the fire station and the rescue helicopter, work wonders to spur their imagination as they play different characters and learn real world skills. As they get to preschool and school age, toys can turn into learning devices to build their literacy and numeracy skills. Jigsaw puzzles and memory games enhance the child’s potential for problem-solving, exploration and discovery.
Get down on the toy-covered play mat and bond with your child as they vroom about with their cars one minute, and play chef and serve you tea in a pan, the next. Creativity is a form of self-expression. Early learning through play empowers children to think independently and critically. Beyond the fun and entertainment that games and toys provide, they guarantee the development of abilities like conflict resolution, dramatic play, emotional maturity, and exceptional cognitive thinking.
So, the next time your child throws a tantrum and you are tempted to promise them a trip to the toy store, do not hesitate! Encourage organic learning through innovative games and toys and sit back at ease like the happy parent you are. You know you’re going to be crowned The Best Parent that night!
