| If you asked any child if his or her toys are | | | | contention. Getting their own bikes or toy cars is |
| important, the answer would be a resounding YES. | | | | part of their pretend play to be like their dads. |
| We certainly thought so too when we were | | | | Stuffed animals look cute and cuddly and can |
| young enough to play with toys. When it's our | | | | easily be dismissed as frivolous objects. These |
| turn to buy them for the little ones, some of us | | | | toys in fact are so much more than aesthetically |
| begin to question the relevance of toys in a child's | | | | pleasing objects. Not only do they introduce the |
| life. | | | | tots to animals, these toys also give them an |
| We all have a favorite toy whose memories can | | | | exercise to explore textures. Some stuffed toys |
| still elicit a chuckle or two. Mine was a plastic food | | | | do make animal sounds when a certain appendage |
| set with plates and cups and saucers. I used to | | | | is pressed or held by the child. This is a good start |
| play with my cousins, and we certainly had fun | | | | for a child to learn about sounds and cause and |
| imagining those toy plates brimming with the | | | | effect. |
| sweets we craved back then. | | | | Toys are really important in different stages of a |
| Experts say that playing with toys is essential to | | | | child's development. It is up to the grown-ups to |
| a child's development starting from the infant | | | | figure out which toys are appropriate for the |
| stage. Kids' toys like rattles, mobiles, toy teethers, | | | | child's age as well as to ascertain that the toys |
| and key rings help babies connect sound, sight, | | | | are safe for use. |
| taste, touch, and smell to objects. Rattles do help | | | | There are still many skills that a child can learn |
| them learn about cause and effect not to | | | | through playing with his educational toys, but one |
| mention introduce colors and shapes. | | | | thing is for certain - the key player in his growth |
| Color and shape recognition, spatial relationship | | | | is still human interaction. |
| awareness, hand-eye coordination, and other | | | | According to Marilyn Segal, Ph.D., dean emeritus |
| motor skills are exercised through playing with | | | | and director of the professional development |
| educational toys that were made specifically to | | | | program at Mailman Segal Institute for Early |
| enhance those skills. There are also kids' toys that | | | | Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University |
| enhance the kids' imagination and creativity. Some | | | | in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the most important toy |
| toys even teach them patience (think floor | | | | is the parent and other caregivers because babies |
| puzzles) and reinforce the concept of hygiene | | | | crave one-on-one social interaction and need the |
| (think bath and tub toys). | | | | security it provides. |
| Toy stamps and colorful beads may not seem | | | | The toy is important for very young children but |
| like great toys, but they do enhance a little girl's | | | | they need social interaction more. When they get |
| creativity and imagination and introduces her to | | | | bigger, they need the toys to stimulate their |
| the arts and crafts. For young boys, getting their | | | | imagination, but parents will always be more |
| own set of wheels can become such a bone of | | | | important as playmates. |