Introduction
Selecting developmentally age-appropriate toys for kids is important because it allows children to explore, use, and improve their set of skills at the exact developmental state that they are in. An article by the National Library of Medicine states, "Studies of early cognitive development have led researchers to understand the developing mind as astonishingly competent, active, and insightful from a very early age...from very early on, children are not simply passive observers, registering the superficial appearance of things. Rather, they are building explanatory systems—implicit theories—that organize their knowledge. Such implicit theories contain causal principles and causal relations; these theories enable children to predict, explain, and reason about relevant phenomena and, in some cases, intervene to change them,"(Allen LR et al.). The following toys are organized by Piaget's 4 stages of cognitive development and are intended to foster creativity, critical thinking skills, social skills, motor skills, and so much more!
Sensorimotor (0-2years)
"Play is the work of the child" -Jean Piaget
Preoperational (2-7years)
"Peeka You!" - (7-8 months) a custom picture is hidden in a colorful and tactile plastic box. Cause and effect is learned from pressing the button which triggers the photo to pop up. This toy helps babies learn object permanence and fine motor skills. "Object permanence mediates the ability to both pay selective attention to information and inhibit interfering information," ( Hokyoung Ryu et al.).
"Fantastic Forest" - (3-5 years) a forest-themed obstacle course perfect for tiny explorers! Set up 'stepping stones,' 'logs', and 'bridges' for your little one to practice balance, imaginative play, verbal communication, problem-solving skills, and spatial awareness.
Cognitive developmnt Toys for tots
formal operational (11+)
"Disagree to Agree" - (11+ years) a game for teens and adults alike! This card game promotes abstract thinking, perspective-taking, and problem-solving skills. Game cards will contain a topic that is typical for people to have strong viewpoints on and together your group has to come to a general agreement on the topic. You must first disagree and then eventually find common ground and agree on some aspect of the topic.
concrete operational (7-11)
"Mystery Madness" - (7-11 years) similar to a lifesize version of the mystery game Clue, kids will become tiny detectives with this one-of-a-kind game that brings mystery to life. Costumes will give this game an immersive feel. Easy-to-follow character cards and prompts will lead even young detectives through the simple and funny age-appropriate mystery. Kids will learn logical reasoning, strategy, and cooperative play. Different game levels will challenge older kids!
Conclusion
Providing the growing mind with toys and games that challenge and inspire the stage of growth they are at is incredibly important for physical and mental growth, building relationships, and learning to utilize thinking skills.
Allen, L. (2015, July 23). Child development and early learning. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310550/ Ryu, H., Han, G., Choi, J., Park, H. K., Kim, M. J., Ahn, D. H., & Lee, H. J. (2017). Object permanence and the development of attention capacity in preterm and term infants: an eye-tracking study. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 43(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-017-0408-2
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