“ क्यों नहीं ख़रीदा कोई खिलौना ?
ना घोडा ना गुडिया
माँ, लोना खिलोना
हॉट व्हील्स ना माँगा था मैंने
बस एक सस्ती सी गुड़िया
बस एक पहेली का डिब्बा
आज मैं बाकी छात्रों जैसी तेज़ नहीं
गणित मेरे बाएं हाथ का खेल नहीं
चित्रकला कठिन है मेरे लिए
क्यों मेरे कल्पना ही सीमा आसमान नहीं ?
माना कि मुझे पालने में बड़ा कष्ट हुआ तुझे
अब समझने लगी हु मैं तुझे ”
This is the story of Shanti who was deprived of toys in her early childhood days and has been anguished that her mother did not make her competent enough that she can compete with her peers. Shanti understands that her mother did not get much support from her in-laws and her husband when she was born but still believes that she would have been smarter if her mother had made miniscule investments in toys for her growth and development.
The way a child learns to identify, understand, and manage emotions during early childhood can have an impact on everything from his or her relationships to performance in life as a grown-up adult and toys are the perfect tool to aid a child’s overall development.
Kids are little explorers who are always curious to know more. Playing with toys gives them ample
opportunities to learn and explore. To be able to learn and explore fast is a skill that is essential today as we are experiencing rapid technological changes which affect our daily lives.
Research shows that 80 to 90% of the human mind is developed by the time a child is five to six years old. Hence, mothers should necessarily expose their toddlers and preschoolers to toys, especially the educational types to maximize their child’s development during early childhood. Early childhood development means cognitive skills, mental skills, socio-emotional skills, physical development, creative abilities, educational development of a child from birth to eight years of age.
Toys are a child’s medium of interaction with friends and family and eventually with society.
The first year of a child is full of playing and exploring the world around him. Babies learn and develop new motor skills. A four months old begins to reach for and grasp objects, like a rattle. By seven months, they can transfer that rattle between hands. At around nine months, babies learn to pick up smaller objects like blocks.
By the age of two years, most toddlers can kick a ball, scribble with crayon. By age three years, they can do simple puzzles and pedal tricycles.
When the baby is of age four to five years, there is a tremendous explosion in learning and mothers can introduce interactive educational toys. Toys which teach mathematics and verbal skills such as phonics boards or mini computers.
When your child is six to seven years old he develops his own interest while learning from both his teachers and peers. Some like doing science experiments, others love making handmade jewelry or playing with Barbie dolls or soft toys. At this age you may expect your child to make you crazy for a particular toy.
At the age of eight years, kids love to play outdoor sports. They acquire adult-like interests, abilities and hobbies. Kids love to compete at this stage and will like toys where they have to make scores like video games, craft kits, outdoor sporting equipment, scrabble , monopoly.
Various types of modern toys are available in the market and each comes with its own fun elements. Not all children like all types of toys. Traditionally, boys have been fond of remote controlled cars and girls have been fond of Barbie Dolls. Well, there are other types also. Action figures like Captain America and G.I.Joe figures; cute animal soft toys of tigers, elephants, whales; construction game sets like Lego and Mechanix; creative toys like Mr.Potato Head; electronic toys like mini robots or walkie talkies; puzzles like jigsaw or rubik’s cube; sound toys; spinning toys; wooden toys etc.
Here Is a List of a Few Educational Development Toys Easily Available for All Mothers.
1.Finger painting – It helps develop creative abilities in a child and they have a lot of fun doing it.
2.Number match cards game – These toys help your child to develop their memory, observation, number recognition, counting and visual discrimination skills.
3.Pretend play profession set – These toys bring in a lot of joy in kids. These toys encourage imagination and creativity in kids.
4.Abacus – It is a wooden game to learn numbers, mathematical skills, patterning and color recognition. Hand- eye coordination and fine motor skills are also developed with this toy.
5.Wooden puzzle – This toy is fun to play with for young and older children. This toy works on two aspects at the same time; number on one side and alphabets on the other.
6.Attribute kitchen set for kids – This toy helps your child to become organized, responsible and a decision maker.
7.A Jazz drum set – It is a musical toy and can be a powerful tool for children with special needs.
8.Educational rechargeable solar energy kit – These toys build a deeper understanding of basic principles of art and science in a creative manner.
9.Multi-functional digital computing learning box – These toys help children learn mathematics, numbers, timekeeping, alphabets and punctuation through this box.
10.Multi color wisdom plate puzzle game – This toy aids in developing early sorting skills in children, hand and eye coordination, finger movements, logical thinking and problem solving skills.
Mothers can also engage their kids in outdoor toys and can reduce their screen time and build their physical strength.
Enlisted Below are a few outdoor Toys.
1.Doug kickball – This toy makes the child learn to play in groups.
2.Kite – It is easy to play with a kite as it requires little breeze to launch. It develops strength and coordination.
3.See-Saw – This toy helps children to learn balancing.
4.Swing – It helps develop gross motor skills like pumping legs, running, jumping. Swinging helps develop fine motor skills like grip, strength, hand arm and finger coordination. It helps develop core muscles and balance in children.
5.Slide – This helps develop balance and sense of touch. It also develops the child’s system of tendons, muscles and joints.
6.Aerial Toy – It does not require batteries. Children have to jump on the launch bed. It brings them to charge up and strengthen their muscles.
7.Water Pistol – This is the oldest pastime toy and children enjoy playing this water game a lot. They learn to play and chase each other.
8.The Playhouse – Children learn to play in groups and do activities. They imitate doing daily activities like cooking on the playhouse stove and watering the imitation plants in the playhouse.
9.Ninja Course – This toy is good for all the energetic kids out there. It makes the children climb and cross the whole course.
10.The Construction Experience – It is a sand digger toy which can keep children occupied for long and it offers endless fun to kids.
There is a varied range and types of toys suitable for kids of every age. Toys help develop kids’ motor skills, intellectual development, and their imaginative power. Toys are made up of different materials like sand, wood, fabric and plastic.
Toys are like a helping hand for a mother at times. Mother uses musical toys to soothe babies, at times mother uses toys as distraction for babies and helps a mother to feed the child. At times toys are used by mothers to make the babies understand roles by making toys play different role models.
Toys have always been part of our rich Indian culture. India’s tryst with toys dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. The trend of playing with traditional toys like lattu (spinning tops), Thanjavur dolls and others started declining after 1990 but everybody still enjoys the melodies of “ लकड़ी की काठी काठी पे घोड़ ” !
India’s first virtual Toy Fair held in March 2021 has revived interest in Indian toys to make the Toy industry Atmanirbhar.
“ माँ खिलोना लोना ! मैं भी काबिल बनना चाहती हूँ ”
~ Shanti
These toys of childhood become memories for a lifetime not only for the child but also the mother. Hence, do not ignore your child’s demands for toys. All parents are encouraged to get toys for their children with their budget and cherish seeing a special bond with their little ones. Do not allow your child to be another Shanti.
Give your children toys that are powered by their imagination and not by batteries.