As parents, we are always searching for what’s best for our children. How can we help them grow? How can we create a home where they will be happy? What can we do to give them a childhood filled with learning, love, and joy?
The less that the toy does, the more that the child will do.
Toy stores and websites are bursting with toys that flash and sing and move! It may seem exciting, but actually, these toys can be problematic. They do all the work while the child passively observes. For example, when you turn on this toy dog from MEVA, it walks, barks, and wags its tail. Adorable, right? But when a child plays with it, all he really does is watch the toy play.
By contrast, this wooden dog pull-toy from Hape Toys doesn’t do anything on its own. A child playing with it, however, will pull it, wag its tail, flip its ears, bark, and — at least in the case of my three-year-old — teach it not to jump up on the furniture. This type of play engages your child both physically and intellectually, providing opportunities for growth, development, and exploration.
Many different toys are available in either active or passive versions — toy animals, action figures, vehicles, and so on. When selecting toys for your child, look for those that do less, and give your child the opportunity to do more!
