Τι προσφέρει το παιχνίδι στα παιδιά;

Τα παιδιά έλκονται από παιχνίδια. Ακόμα και όταν δεν υπάρχουν παιχνίδια, τα παιδιά θα τα διαμορφώσουν από ό, τι έχουν στη διάθεσή τους. Αυτό μας οδηγεί να θέσουμε την ερώτηση "Ποια είναι η σημασία των παιχνιδιών στην ανάπτυξη των παιδιών;" Τα παιδιά φαίνεται ήδη να ξέρουν έμφυτα τι χρειάζονται και τείνουν να έλκονται προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση.

Τα παιχνίδια είναι απλά αντικείμενα που τα παιδιά χρησιμοποιούν για να διασκεδάσουν ενώ ταυτόχρονα εξερευνούν τον κόσμο γύρω τους, εκπαιδεύονται, παίζουν ρόλους και μαθαίνουν να εκφράζουν τα συναισθήματά τους.

Τα παιχνίδια χρησιμοποιούνται συχνά ως σύμβολα για άλλα πράγματα και εκεί βρίσκονται οι μεγάλες δυνατότητες τους να βοηθήσουν τα παιδιά να κατανοήσουν μεγαλύτερες ιδέες.

Ας δούμε μια στιγμή τα 5 σημαντικά σημεία που πρέπει να λάβουμε υπόψη όταν πρόκειται για παιχνίδια και ανάπτυξη παιδιών.

1. Open-ended toys can spark creativity and imagination.

Toys that can be played with in a multitude of ways help your child’s brain expand and get them thinking in narratives. This, in turn, helps them to see the world more broadly. Creativity is so important to nurture and helps kids learn to think outside of the box. 

When items as simple as blocks, dolls, animal toys, balls, mini-cars, or pretend food are handed to a child, they will take these as invitations to start creating stories and living out scenarios in their mind. A child’s play is truly their first classroom.

Even with objects that aren’t initially designed to be toys, kids will quickly re-assign them as such, especially if that is all they have available. A stick, a rock, a container, a box...all of these are great candidates for helping your child boost their imagination.
 

2. Toys teach kids about STEAM.
 

Kids have brains like sponges. They are always inputting information from their surroundings. Toys give kids another avenue to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Whether a toy is simple or complex, it has a lesson to teach your child and stresses the importance of toys in child development. 

When your child builds a tower with blocks and eventually watches it fall to the ground, that is a lesson in physics. Watching a remote control car bounce around just from the radio waves of the controller gets kids curious about how it all works. A puzzle stimulates your child’s brain and helps them explore patterns.

Never underestimate the power of education when it comes to toys. Kids learn more through creative play because it is engaging to their senses. This gives them a cognitive edge and makes them excited to continue to explore more about the world around them.

3. Toys refine a child’s motor development.
 

When a child grasps a toy and learns to manipulate it, they are practicing their motor skills and becoming more adept at hand/eye coordination. This helps your child advance through the stages of physical development.

Toys that require them to push, pull, grab, pinch, turn, or otherwise use their hands and body to make it do something are instrumental in a child’s growth.

Small toys, such as dolls, cars, and blocks that fit into your child’s hands tend to be favorites because they are easy to hold and carry. Using their hands to position their toys or stuff them into their pockets give kids ultimate control. Smaller details found on toys, such as buttons or zippers or beads give children practice with fine motor details.

Larger toys that kids manipulate with their whole body are equally useful in helping a child develop physically. Whether that includes throwing or catching a beach ball, learning to ride a bike, or jumping on a pogo stick, kids that master these skills are better able to handle harder tasks later.

4. Too many toys can be overwhelming.
 

As wonderful and important as toys can be, keep in mind that a child can be overwhelmed with too many options. Quantity is not better than quality when it comes to toys. It is better to have fewer toys that your child can do more with than more toys that just collect around the play space creating clutter.

If you notice that your child is struggling with cleaning up their toys, dealing with big emotions during playtime, or says “I’m bored” despite having a lot of toys, chances are good that their emotional well-being is being affected by the over-abundance of toys in their area.

5.Toys can help a child emotionally mature.

Toys provide connection, positive memories, and a way to interact with their feelings. Have you ever noticed how attached children become to their playthings? This is a phenomenon that generally promotes healthy and positive bonding. Kids associate their toys with love, attention, and happiness. So, when they bestow affection on their toys, they are cultivating and fostering sweet childhood memories.

1. Τα ανοιχτά παιχνίδια μπορούν να προκαλέσουν δημιουργικότητα και φαντασία.

Τα παιχνίδια που μπορούν να παιχτούν με πολλούς τρόπους βοηθούν τον εγκέφαλο του παιδιού σας να επεκταθεί και να το κάνει να σκεφτεί σε αφηγήσεις. Αυτό, με τη σειρά του, τους βοηθά να βλέπουν τον κόσμο ευρύτερα. Η δημιουργικότητα είναι τόσο σημαντική για την καλλιέργεια και βοηθά τα παιδιά να μάθουν να σκέφτονται έξω από το κουτί.

2. Τα παιχνίδια διδάσκουν στα παιδιά το STEAM.

Συμπέρασμα

Η σημασία των παιχνιδιών στην ανάπτυξη των παιδιών είναι κάτι που εμείς ως γονείς πρέπει να λάβουμε υπόψη τόσο ως προς το είδος του παιχνιδιού που παρέχουμε, όσο και σε πόσα να τα δώσουμε. Να θυμάστε ότι τα παιδιά δεν χρειάζονται απαραίτητα περισσότερα, χρειάζονται καλύτερα.