In one of our other articles, we've already mentioned it: playing is healthy and essential for your child's upbringing. So, let them play freely, either alone or with others. But did you know that toys also play a significant role in your child's development? We'll give you six reasons why.
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Motor skills and physical development
Children's fine motor skills involve touching, gripping, and feeling the material of toys. Gross motor skills, on the other hand, include movements like crawling or walking during play. Both are crucial for a child's healthy development. Allowing your child to play with toys helps them develop and refine these motor skills.
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Emotional development
Can you handle losing? If so, you likely played a lot with other children when you were younger. Playing together is something children need to learn. By playing with other children, your child learns to deal with emotions. These include the feelings you experience when you win a game, as well as the 'tougher' emotions when you lose. Moreover, your child learns to consider the feelings and emotions of others.
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Cognitive skills
Counting, naming colors, recognizing shapes, and much more. All of these are cognitive skills that children develop during play. Since children start playing at an early age, they can begin learning the cognitive skills they'll need in elementary school. Two birds with one stone!
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Creative skills
Crafting, drawing, or making music – who knows, your child might be a hidden Picasso or Bach! Playing also allows children to develop their creative skills or discover their knack for creativity.
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Language skills
Reading aloud or reading books themselves might not be the typical toys you had in mind, but reading is highly beneficial for your child's development. Reading aloud stimulates your child's imagination and creativity. Having them read on their own helps with language development. Even if your child isn't proficient in reading yet, this is still a fun way to engage together while stimulating their brains.
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Musical development
Making music together or singing nursery rhymes – who doesn't enjoy that? But what does it actually do to your child's brain? You'll be surprised. Learning a song together stimulates your child's memory. It also enhances language development and emotional recognition (what is the song about?). Not much of a songbird? Dancing or playing a musical instrument might be an option. This helps children develop a sense of rhythm and refine their hand-eye coordination.
