If you ask any child what their favorite activity is, they’ll almost certainly say playing. Toys are what make this play possible, and they quickly become a firm feature of our existence from birth until tweenhood. During this time, toys play a significant role in a child’s development, making the psychology of play an intriguing and complicated area of study. As a result, it has been explored by child psychologists for years on end.
Some of the most popular toy brands, such as Maileg and Lego, use this psychology to develop the best toys that appeal to all manner of children. With that said, what is “play,” and how does it affect child development?
What is “play”?
Before delving into how toys affect child development, it must first be established what “play” is. Essentially, “play” is an activity that’s carried out for pleasure, amusement, or enjoyment. It’s self-motivated and completely voluntary, meaning there’s no external reward that’s being worked towards. Play is arguably the most important feature of a child’s life, as it serves numerous purposes. For instance, play aids children in learning about the world around them, resulting in the development of emotional and social skills, in addition to physical development.
Exploration, Experimentation, and Learning
First and foremost, toys play a huge role in a child’s ability to develop social, physical, and cognitive skills. This dates all the way back to a baby’s first rattle or comfort teddy, which helps them with their hand-eye coordination and sensory development. It’s for this reason that children’s interest in toys changes as they age; they’re constantly on the hunt for something more challenging to propel forwards in their development.
The Development of Imagination and Creativity
Essentially, toys are used as props in children’s play, wherein they create imaginary characters and worlds. This mode of play is integral to a child’s cognitive development, as they’re forced to think abstractly and problem-solve. On top of this, the dialogue and stories that children create during playtime assist them massively with their language development.
The Promotion of Social Interaction
There are so many toys out there that promote collaborative play, such as dolls, building blocks, and board games. The promotion of this collaborative play results in children learning crucial social skills like verbal communication, taking turns, and sharing. These skills also guide them in the development of empathy and understanding of others.
Emotional Development
Most people had a comfort toy as a child, most commonly in the form of a teddy bear. These types of toys provide little ones with feelings of security and safety, especially in situations that are unfamiliar to them. What’s more, toys that children develop an emotional connection to assist them in learning about emotions. For instance, dolls are often used in role-play scenarios wherein children identify emotions in their dolls and use these to express and manage their own feelings.
Can toys hinder a child’s development?
So, it’s clear that toys can aid a child’s development, but can they actually have the opposite effect? The short answer is yes. Electronic gadgets can be more of a hindrance than a help to a child’s development, as they require little to no imagination or creativity to use. Similarly, they stand in the way of social interaction, as children typically play with these devices alone. This is all on top of the overstimulation that’s caused by these products, contributing to attention problems.
As a result, children should be limited in how much time they spend using electronic devices and be encouraged to play with open-ended toys that allow for endless possibilities.