Low Technology Toys & Tools to Enhance Children's Development

Low Technology Toys & Tools to Enhance Children's Development by Julie Christensen, Demand Media Visit the aisles of any store and you'll find scores of electronic games with flashing lights and high- pitched beeps. These toys are touted as being educational, yet their value remains questionable. Researchers from Temple University found that electronic toys reduce independence and creative thinking and may even delay healthy development. Simple, open-ended toys encourage creative play and growth. These toys are the ones you likely remember from your childhood. Board Games

Board games offer a low-technology alternative to video and computer games. Board games teach a myriad of skills, from social skills, such as turn-taking, following directions and sportsmanship, to academic skills, including math and literacy. More importantly, board games offer real face-to-face contact between parents and children. These games encourage lively discussion and can even build a child's attention span. Classic games for children include dominoes, checkers, chess, mancala and Chinese checkers. Young children enjoy simple board games, such as Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. When playing games, focus on having fun, rather than winning. If games become too competitive, children may not want to play. Preschoolers lack the skills to accept losing with grace; at this age, it's okay to "help" a child win, notes Alvin Rosenfeld, of Scholastic.com. Building Materials Children are natural creators. Toys for building, such as blocks, Lincoln logs, erector sets or Legos, boost creativity and fine motor skills. When working with a parent or sibling, children learn to collaborate and problem solve. In addition to commercial building toys, make your own from cardboard boxes and cardboard cylinders. PVC pipes and joints make an inexpensive building toy. If possible, set aside a space in your home where structures can stay up for a few days. After putting in hours of work and planning, your child might feel distraught at the thought of tearing down a block tower or Lego castle. Pretend Play Even very young children enjoy pretending. They may act out a theme of dragons and knights or cook up some food in their kitchen. Pretend play is one of the hallmarks of childhood and offers many benefits. Through pretend play, children try on adult roles. They explore and conquer fears and gain understanding of confusing concepts. Pretend play encourages collaboration, problem solving and language development. As children mature, their pretend play becomes more sophisticated and they gain the ability to think abstractly. Offer realistic props, such as pretend food, cash registers, or costumes to encourage pretend play. These low-tech toys offer big gains in child development.

Puzzles When you think of puzzles, you probably think of a large jigsaw puzzle spread on a table. But puzzles for younger children also include stacking cups or cause-and-effect toys, such as those with buttons to slide and push. Puzzles boost child development for all ages. They build fine motor skills and encourage problem solving. Working on a puzzle requires mental focus and discipline. Finally, puzzles help children develop visual spatial thinking and the ability to see patterns. For young children, offer simple wooden puzzles with five to eight pieces. Preschoolers can complete tray puzzles with up to 25 pieces. Older children can tackle jigsaw puzzles. Arts and Crafts High-quality toys are those that grow with a child. Arts and crafts materials fit the bill. Young children tend to enjoy art materials for the tactile or sensory experience. They enjoy the soothing quality of craft dough or the squishy feeling of finger paint. Later, children use art symbolically to express feelings or communicate ideas. Your child might draw a family portrait, for example. Elementary-age children can begin learning about art theory and technique, including proportion, balance and color.

About the Author

Julie Christensen has been writing professionally since 2001. She is a full-time freelance writer and former teacher with writing credits from several regional and national publications such as "Colorado Parent" and "LDS Living." She specializes in parenting, education and gardening topics. Christensen studied early childhood education at Ricks College and spent 20 years as a teacher and director in university and public school settings. http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/low-technology-toys-tools-enhance- childrens-development-1092.html