Sunday, March 4, 2007

Toying around

If you're ever found yourself feeling susceptible to marketing that would have you believe that this one toy or video is what will make a difference in your child's life (and let's face it, who hasn't?), resist the temptation by reminding yourself about these characteristics of good toys and good play:

* If it seems like your child is too young (or too old) for the activity, keep in mind that the age labelling on a toy refers to safety, not to what's developmentally appropriate. Trust your instincts; you know your child's capability far better than a toy manufacturer.

* A good toy is free of branding. That more fully allows a child to use the play to fit his own needs rather than to unwittingly follow a script.

* If you could only afford to buy your child one toy, buy blocks. If you could only afford two toys, buy two different kinds of blocks.

* A young child learns something from almost every play encounter (and almost any encounter can be turned into play for a young child). Good questions to ask of a toy: What will my child learn from this? Is there something this toy will keep my child from learning? For instance, a child may learn to memorize the alphabet from a counting toy or video, but there is more learning likely happening when you read to him, point out the sound in a "b" word, and then spend the next day looking for other B sounds in objects in his world. This can happen from a video or game, too, but only if you engage in it
with him.

* Get down on the floor and play with your child. Let him be the boss of the play. Continue to do this until he reaches an age when he doesn't want you to.

* "Want a smart kid?" asks Kenneth Ginsburg, spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Read to him every day. What kids love when they are small, more than anything else in the world, is being with their parents. When some of that time is spent reading, it says, 'Reading is wonderful, it's a way to explore the world while being connected with other human beings.' That's very powerful."

Websites with ideas about toys and play include TRUCE, Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment, and Playing for Keeps.

Posted by Barbara Meltz at 05:56 PM

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