Promote imagination, child thrives
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A child maneuvering toy cars down an imaginary highway in his backyard appears to be doing little other than having a good time.
But there could be more to the activity than meets the adult eye. Research shows that imagination and unstructured playtime are important to a child’s intellectual development.
It was his son’s interaction with stuffed animals that inspired author A.A. Milne to create Winnie-the-Pooh.
“Toys have played a significant role in almost everyone’s life,” says Cathy Miller, a former foster mother who now serves as national spokeswoman for the UglySnuglies line of educational stuffed animals.
The California-based Child Development Institute reports that the best toys inspire imagination and adds that all toys have some educational benefits. The institute suggests ways parents can use toys to promote learning throughout the child’s development:
—Babies: Toys for babies should be both safe and stimulating. They love rattles and toys that make music. Toys with contrasting colors also fascinate them. Objects such as blocks help them build motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
—Toddlers: Shape sorters are great for toddlers, the institute suggests. They teach how to match similar items and provide parents the opportunity to teach their children the names of shapes.
—Preschool and school-aged children: As children reach preschool age, toys can help them learn letters, numbers and language skills. The toys that encourage those skills range from basic alphabet puzzles to high-tech electronic games.
“Children sometimes just need to be children,” said Miller, who joined the UglySnuglies organization this year and was immediately impressed that, while the company’s line of stuffed animals has an educational aspect, they also allow children to use their imaginations and just have fun.
“One of the UglySnuglies is called Pouty Pig and it’s a bank, which encourages children to save,” she says. “But children could play with Pouty Pig like they would any stuffed animal, whether they put any coins in him or not. They could give him whatever personality they like.”
And that’s the moment when imagination — and unplanned learning — can take over.
