Hello, long time no blog.. I recently got an email about toys in preschool:
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How important are pre-school toys to your business? Do you find that parents are now looking for toys that have an educational aspect? Have you noticed any specific trends in this area?
Thank you for your help on this and I look forward to hearing back from you.
All the best, Penny (Franks)
Editor – Nursery Today
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Having worked in a preschool for a number of years and running and afterschool club, i have spoken to many parents, and have noticed that more and more are taking an interest in educational toys. I have had many parents approach me as to which toys and activites would help their childs development further. I think parents awareness of educational toys and activites has increased. Here i have wrote up some information about toys from my experience as a nursery practitioner.
How important are preschool toys?
Preschool is usually for children between the ages of 3-4years. During this time in a childs life it is very important that they are mentally and physically stimulated by their surroundings and toys that they encounter. All the toys and activites provided in preschools are created to help the children move forward in their learning. By playing with toys and doing activites they wouldn’t normally get todo at home this stimulates and develops new areas of the brain.
Cognitive
Toys aid cognitive development like maths by using different size and shape containers in water play. Here children are able to begin to understand the concept of volume.
Social and Emotional
Toys also aid social and emotional development. Sharing toys and takig turns are important social skills that children are learning while they play.
Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge and understanding of the world is gained by children playing wf ith a wide variety of toys from different countries, this helps them to gain respect for different cultures and ways of life. For example, children playing with African drums with a talk about Africa.
Motor Skills
By playing with toys children learn fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Toys that promote the development of fine motor skills are… Threading beads, colouring, cutting out shapes..etc. Toys that promote gross motor skills are throwing and catching balls, football, riding a bike, climbing blocks, balancing..etc (Big physical activites).
Creative Development
Toys and Activites that promote creative development are; Painting, Music, Role play..etc.
