Modern life brings us some extraordinary benefits not limited to: access to amazing technology, products to ease the burden of household chores and goods and services at incredibly low costs. Children's play has evolved over the years as well and even toddlers can be seen pressing buttons and pushing levers to witness a display of lights and sound!! Often these items and toys are brushed aside once the novelty wears off and the child is left to find the next "stimulus". As parents, family and carers we need to be more aware of how our children are being engaged in their play. Are they using their imaginations with certain toys? Are they solving problems and extending their knowledge through investigation and "trial and error"?
Are they being given opportunities to feel the wonders of nature ....literally....underfoot, in their hands, through sights and smells? One of my favourite times is observing children playing together outside at the Kindy (It is just like a suburban backyard). These sometimes messy and often disorganised playtimes inspire learning and creativity. They can be making mud pies, chasing shadows, examining an army of ants or packing leaves into a bucket and transporting the load across the "river".
Children can also demonstrate that simple, inexpensive toys can provide the challenges and learning opportunities that lead to hours of fun. My preference when purchasing resources for Child Care and also for Ages and Stages is quality wooden toys. Blocks are an incredible example, as not only is the building process educational, it allows for so much open ended play. Children can add in an endless variety of props (even at home) such as farm animals, dinosaurs, cars, people, fences, materials etc. A mystery box filled with assorted items can stimulate your child's imagination and be "ever changing".
As I mentioned, I love wooden and traditional toys. Plastic materials are useful in some instances as they are often less expensive initially. However strong childhood memories were triggered for me when I smelt the rope on a set of quoits and when I felt the smooth wooden surface of a toy train........natural and timeless.
