Children learn by playing and toys are the instruments that allow them to discover the world they live in. And this is precisely why they interact with their surroundings thru toys. Plus, toys provide plenty of enjoyment and happiness, both of which help build their self-esteem.
1. Motor Skills
Toys get children engaged in physical activity, by exercising their fine and gross motor skills. Whether they are colouring or dressing and undressing a doll, for example, children are using their sense of touch and sight (fine motor skills) while walkers,tricycles or toy cars boost their physiognomy (gross motor skills) and strengthen their arms and legs. Toys also help them discover balance and coordination and by being physically active, children avoid and adopt a healthy life style.
Ever since they are born, toys motivate babies to use their feet and hands in order to discover forms, colours and sounds. Once babies know how to sit and crawl, toys incite them to be on the move. If their favourite toy is out of reach, the baby will use its muscles to try and grab it.
2.Emotional Development
Toys boost children’s´ creativity and they help them express their emotions (internal and external). Whether it´s thru role playing (acting out different characters, use of costumes, etc.) or doll, children are given the space to imagine familiar situations (playing house, a day at the farm, a visit to the hospital…) or invent fantastical worlds that lead kids to abstraction. The capacity to generate symbolical games reveals a mature personality, capable of creating rules of its own.
3.Social Development
Aside from improving children´s language skills, toys teach social skills and gives them an understanding of the society they live in.Toys invits children children to interact, first with adults and then with other children their age. The simple act of playing with another child challenges them to experience situations where important lessons are to be learned: respect cooperation and sharing. Toys also motivate kids to take initiative, learn to negotiate and teaches them how to get better organized.
4.Cognitive Development
Toys promote children´s cognitive development by stimulating their concentration and memory skills and giving them the ability to solve problems creatively, which is key to their future autonomy (playing with building blocks). Cognitive development is important because it enables children to approach math and language skills in a way that´s fun for them