Toy Gardening Tools for Kids
December 30, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Outdoor Toys
We have mentioned how kids love to be part of the team, doing chores and adding their work to the household. This is an aspect of child psychology that is often overlooked and misunderstood. People seem to have fantasy that childhood is “care-free” and that children should never have real responsibilities.
Of course, parents know that this is not true in the slightest! Children love to help out and they enjoy having responsibilities if they are meaningful ones. In traditional societies all around the world, children at the age of six are already adding substantive contributions to village life – and they still have plenty of time to horse around. Being responsible does not mean that childhood is over.
Toy Wagons Keep on Rollin’
December 27, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Toy Vehicles
The toy wagon is a wonderful toy that has been popular for over a century – and perhaps longer. These toys are more than a throw-back to simpler times. In truth, a toy wagon is a practical device that will remain useful as children grow and completely change their interests.
Toy wagons are perfect for hauling stuffed animals to the next tea party, and equally as perfect for transporting rocks, mud, or clay for some old-fashioned earthy fun. If several children want to use the wagon for different purposes, just hose it out, and it is ready for double duty.
The power of Play-Doh
December 24, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Vintage & Classic Toys
Play-Doh is ubiquitous in nurseries and preschools, and for good reason. This safe, non-toxic molding clay is the ultimate toy for building children’s imaginations.
Molding clay is often a child’s first exposure to creating material goods. To do so, they have to visualize what they want to create, and then use their hands to make their vision a reality.
Of course, playing with Play-Doh does not have to be so “results focused.” In fact, preschoolers have been known to simply make their favorite shapes and are content to squish the clay without direction for long periods of time.
Playing with dolls
December 21, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Baby Dolls & Doll Houses
On the topic of imagination, consider the newest craze for talking dolls and action figures. These expensive toys do all the talking and that can limit children’s creativity.
In the not-so-distant past, dolls and action figures were the bread and butter of kids’ imaginative play. There are no script or rules, only hours of absorptive fun that needs little parental intervention.
In fact, many child psychologists use dolls to help children work through their frustrations and issues. Creating new stories is how children learn to adapt to the world. Through imagination, kids try on new attitudes and roles. Play therapists call this work building a new “personal mythology.”
Imagination key to Learning
December 18, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Learning Toys
A century ago, there was no great debate about what kinds of toys were best for children. All toys were handmade, simply designed, and constructed from natural materials. The last thing that all these old-fashioned toys had in common: a welcoming of kids’ imagination.
Imagination is precisely the missing ingredient today for many toys on the market. Electronic toys are celebrated for their interactive abilities, but they come at the expense of creative play. While these toys are helpful for entertaining purposes, traditional toys are still the best for engaging children’s imagination because they encourage thinking outside the box.
Modeling positive behavior with toys
We have established that toys function by modeling what adults say is acceptable behavior for children. Wartime games are a negative reinforcement for children if parents are otherwise trying to raise law-abiding and thoughtful kids.
But how can we model positive behavior with toys?
It’s actually very easy. Kids love to do what their parents do, and toy choices can make this happen without any effort. For example, dolls are a perennial favorite for girls. What do girls do with their dolls and their dollhouse? They play house. They fold the laundry, cook imaginary dinners, and entertain guests. All this play is of course modeled on classic gender roles for our culture.
Violent toys and their effects
December 12, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Toy Recalls and Safety
Are all toys good toys? These next couple posts will explore why some types of toys may be better for children than others.
To begin, let’s take a virtual tour on the memories of yesteryear’s favorite toys. In 1920, what was the top selling toy for boys? Answer: the Daisy air rifle. In 1950: the air rifle now has twin barrels and continues to be a best-seller. In 1970, the most popular toy on the market was army action figure. In 1980, a full generation later, what was the number one toy for boys? Answer: realistic water guns. Look how far we’ve come!
Are traditional toys still worthwhile?
December 9, 2007 by toy-tma
Filed under Vintage & Classic Toys
What are the best kinds of toys – electronic or traditional? Last time we discussed toy experts who argue that electronic toys are the most effective for learning.
The other strong-minded camp of toy experts are the toy traditionalists. These experts argue that the best toys are the ones that stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination. Traditional toys are more flexible than electronic toys; they can be used in a variety of contexts for a variety of purposes. They also can be used in the bathtub!
Are electronic toys the best?
Toys are usually the first things that children have that are really their own. So it should not come as a surprise that these first possessions leave an important mark on child psychology. As such, parents should not think of toys simply as things that distract and entertain their children, but also as things that teach their children about the world they live in: most importantly, the world beyond the parent’s safe home.
Toys send messages about what is truly important, so choosing toys well can have long-lasting positive benefits on children. Experts disagree on what toys are the best for kids. There are two main camps: the technology lovers and the traditionalists.
Early learning toys from babies to preschoolers
Despite the warnings you may have heard that recommended ages listed on toys can be inaccurate, it is still possible to find the right toy as a gift if all you know is the child’s age. In particular, age categories are more consistent with younger children, from babies up to four or five years old.
