Key points:
1. Toys provide a valuable opportunity for children to learn and explore.
2. Mechanical toys, like building blocks and shape sorting kits, offer unique educational benefits.
3. Choosing a favorite toy can engage a child’s interest and promote extended play.
4. Playing with mechanical toys can enhance problem-solving skills, sensory development, and physical coordination.
Kids love toys. I imagine you’ve witnessed your little one’s expression of awe and excitement when going into a toy store. This is an interest you can take advantage of since toys are more than just fun and games. Most of them provide an opportunity for your little one to learn something new.
In recent years, information regarding electronic and mechanic toys has been published and, in the dawn of tech’s evolution, we find ourselves going back to traditional toys, such as building blocks or shape sorting kits. Are we missing out on a great opportunity by ruling out other kinds of toys, such as the mechanical ones?
We truly recommend outdoor, physical, dramatic, and pretend play, as well as traditional educational toys; but your little one needs a bit of everything and when it comes to mechanical toys, there’s a lot you can take advantage of.
First of all, when your little one finds a toy they really like, they will be more likely to show interest and play with it. Has this happened to you before? They choose a doll and carries it around for weeks. While no other toy is receiving their attention, they get very involved in any game where the doll is included.
If they recently chose a mechanical toy as their new favorite one, here’s a couple things you can do to take advantage of the situation:
- Playing with mechanical toys can help them develop problem solving skills. For example, if they have a walking puppy that gets stuck behind the couch, it will make them find a solution to get the little puppy out. With your help, they might even try to find a way to prevent it from happening again, while overcoming their initial frustration.
- A mechanical toy that makes interesting noises can be stimulating for their senses and if you need to click on the toys’ belly or anywhere else to produce the noise, it can also foster the concept of cause and effect.
- If the mechanical toy is colorful, it will also contribute to their visual development, enlarging their visual attention spans.
- If the toy has a small button to turn it on and off, it can have a direct impact on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while also stimulating the cause and effect reasoning. They will click on the button and see how it goes on and off several times, until they understand what’s making it turn off.
- Mechanical toys can foster their curiosity and sense of exploration, especially on first encounters. They can wonder why something moves that way or makes that kind of noise and begin experimenting with what happens when they click here or there! They can also use their mechanical toy in pretend play and make it even more fun! If they are having a tea party, having a teapot that makes the noise of boiling water can be exhilarating.
- Chasing a mechanical toy that is on the move can be a great way to change their common physical play. Depending on the toy, it can have them jumping, skipping, running, using their hands and feet, while enhancing their strength, balance, and physical coordination.
Playing together and exploring what a toy can do, gives your little one a chance to bond with you, learn, and have fun at the same time. Enjoy play time with mechanical toys today!
