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The Role Of Toys In Child Development

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As a parent, it is good to note that the importance of including toys in your child’s development is something that cannot be understated. A wealth of lifetime advantages is the reward for playing with toys as a child. Immediate benefits include cardiovascular fitness and independence. And long-term benefits such as working effectively as a team member towards a common goal can be traced directly to playing with toys as a child. Let’s take a deeper look at the role of toys in child development, and uncover the importance of play.

A review of over three dozen major studies around the world has shown that play improves a child’s early stages of development in many areas by at least 33%. And playing with toys at just eighteen months directly contributes to improved intelligence at three years of age.

Further uncovering the importance of toys in your child’s healthy development is research which tracked children that did not play with toys. Self-control developed inadequately, and those children which did not frequently play with toys needed additional support to access the many benefits of play.

When your child plays with toys, this helps them to understand the benefits and importance of cooperating and the need to follow rules as well as developing their own self-control. And a 2009 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics shows that taking recess away from school children as a form of punishment is counterproductive.

The behavior of over 10,000 eight and nine-year-olds with and without recess was reported by their teachers. Children who had play time at least 15 minutes a day achieved better grades across the board than those who were punished with no recess.

The Learning Journey Match It! Mathematics

And since you know your child’s strong and weak points, you can boost his or her development by choosing the correct toy. Selecting educational toys which promote literacy, mathematics (such as the The Learning Journey Match It! Mathematics which is recommended here) or music can boost those individual traits.

Teamwork, independence, motor skill development and improved brainwave activity are all benefits of playing with toys for your child. The American Heart Association recommends that your child should actively play with toys at least an hour a day.

And a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in 2005 found that the most active nine to eighteen-year-olds which regularly played with toys remained active and healthy later in life.

From immediate to long-term benefits, the rewards of playing with toys for your child’s early development and ongoing growth are many. Make sure your child is playing with toys at least one hour every day, and you will reward him with a lifetime of advantages.

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