Child Development Depends On Play And Toys

Toys are an essential tool of children’s play, said Professor Jeffrey Goldstein, Social Psychologist from the University of Utrecht, in response to a newspaper article published yesterday which claimed that too many toys may harm a child’s development. Professor Goldstein, who is also head of the International Play Research Organisation, stated There are many established research studies that show that children play longer when a wide variety of toys is available. One study in particular shows that access to a wide range of well-selected toys can actually improve a child’s emotional, physical, social and intellectual development, even increasing potential IQ, regardless of their sex, race or social class.

Playful children are happier, better adjusted, more co-operative, and more popular with their peers than those who play less. Children play longer when a wide variety of toys is available. It is not necessarily the most expensive toys that provide the greatest stimulation and enjoyment. It is better to have four or five different toys than one very expensive one.

Recent research by the Pre-School Learning Alliance confirmed Goldstein’s findings by showing that an overwhelming 96% of parents believe that play is a very important part of a child’s development and many feel that they do not have enough time to play with their children. The study, with support from the British Toy & Hobby Association, looked at parent’s attitudes towards their children’s play and concluded that toys play a significant role in a child’s educational and social development. The research involved over 1200 parents whose children attend PLA member pre-school groups.

Participants overwhelmingly agreed in their responses, believing that play is a very important part of a child’s development. 97% of parents felt that toys were extremely, very or fairly important to play. Parents felt that the main benefit of their children playing with toys is that they are specifically designed for the purposes of stimulating play, offering a high level of safety, hygiene and educational development as opposed to other objects. Over 50% of parents questioned thought that they did not have enough time to play with their children. This is regrettable since shared playtime offers parents the opportunity to interact with their child and learn about their interests and abilities. Toys play a vital role in this process as they offer endless opportunities for meaningful, varied and lengthy interactive play.

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Alex Gore is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-toys.com. Find all the toys you wish you had as a kid. Fun and educational toys found here.