Introduction
In the early childhood education, the child needs to take a lesson in playing. The process of playing involves the use of different toys (Mayesky 239). This essay attempts to find out how appropriate these toys are for 3-5 year olds. This is whether they appeal to the child or parents as well as the preferable choice of toys. In order to achieve this, this essay will focus on three selected toys, which include wooden unit blocks, dramatic play materials and manipulative toys.
Materials for 3-5 year olds should enhance social skills. They should also increase motor skills, thoughts and rapidly boost a child’s choice of words (Mayesky 239).
Wooden Unit Blocks
Wooden unit blocks are great examples of developmental toys. These toys play a significant role in enhancing a child’s motor and organizational skills in relation to development. They are the appealing toys for any educational training. This is given that they help children differentiate between colors and shapes easily. In addition, a child who plays with wooden block units develops good mathematical skills, especially playing with the numbers of blocks, and developing motor skills (Mathews 154).
They are appealing to the child in this age group by creating thoughts for inventive games. When children form patterns routinely, they enjoy the play. Parents can select these toys since they enable the child to attain spatial development and above all, eye-hand coordination (Mathews 154). I can select this toy to use with a child in this age group given that it helps me impart the right development knowledge in the children. It is apparent that toys boost theoretical learning where children can make use of all their senses.
Dramatic Play Materials
Dramatic play materials are also developmentally appropriate for 3-5-year-olds. This is given that, when children play together, they express an individual understanding rather than simply imitating other people. The dramatic play toys help to build the thinking capabilities of children. In addition, they help in the development of the effective and linguistic capabilities of a child within 3-7 years (Mathews 155). Examples of this kind of toys are dress-up clothes and a number of household furniture. On the other hand, these toys are appealing to the children given that they present significant contexts for learning in and out of the school.
Many children at this age adore the dress-up dolls as they signify a way of life, values and traditions. Therefore, parents will select these toys to enable children to grow and develop appropriately. On the other hand, I will select these toys to help children visualize ideas and thoughts dramatically while playing with them. It is also apparent that children learn and develop ideas perfectly through visualizing objects.
Manipulative Toys
Manipulative toys are also developmentally appropriate for children of 3-5 years. These manipulative examples help children in making sense of what they are doing. When in the manipulative area, children work collectively to create puzzles, play board games, and complete classification and sequencing activities (Mathews, 155). Above all, these toys are appealing to children given that they make them active, engaged and interested in whatever they do. Therefore, they are appropriate in school (Mathews 155). Examples include dressing frames, stamp and printing materials, modeling dough, colored cubes, pegs, table blocks and finger paint.
Parents can select these toys for their children to benefit from playing with them as they grow and mature. Above all, lessons with toys in a school setting are indeed interesting. I will select this toy to use with a child in this age group since they help children in attaining early development of mathematical ideas. In particular, it is via such practices that a young child will explore relationships, visual discrimination and recognizable symbols.
In conclusion, the three examples of toys all enhance the social, cognitive and motor development of the children. Parents need to consider them as they enhance the normal growth of children, a factor that most parents desire.
Works Cited
Mathews, Carolie. Healthy Children: A Guide for Child Care. 2nd Edition. Marrickville: Elsevier Australia, 2004. Print.
Mayesky, Mary. Creative Activities for Young Children. Clifton Park, NY: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.