As soon as your child starts talking, they’ll probably start asking for certain toys. It could be their favourite TV character or maybe just the flavour of the month.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with treating them every so often. But don’t forget, toys are designed to entertain and educate. You’ve hit the jackpot when your child loves playing with an item that’s teaching them, too.
As a busy modern family with working parents, it’s easy to favour toys that’ll keep them ‘occupied’ while you’re cooking dinner or cleaning the house. However, toys can help develop their learning if you choose them correctly.
So, what are the critical life skills that play teaches kids? Let’s go through a few examples of learning through play.
Reading, Swimming, ‘Cooking’ and Fine Motor Skills
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Following a Sleep Routine
While they might verbally fight you on this, kids need routine. As toddlers, it’s a great time to start teaching them to follow a consistent routine after dinner. Try the four B’s – bath, brushing, books, and bed. As for the books, they’ll help develop his or her language skills. Reading with them also forms a stronger bond between the two of you.
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Learning to Swim
Water can be confronting for bubs, but learning to swim from a young age is an important life skill. Your little one can begin by picking up basic skills such as submerging under water and floating, all under an instructor’s supervision. Help bubs get familiar with water by organising beach days and buy a blow-up pool for the backyard. Where there’s water, there’s fun. Add a few sand or water toys and you’ve got yourself a (learning) pool party.
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Basic ‘Cooking’
We put ‘cooking’ in inverted commas for a reason. Introduce your child to the kitchen, either by helping you or buying a toy kitchen set to mimic you (in safety). We sell tea pot sets, playdoh cupcake cutters, salad bowl play sets, and many other toys for imaginative kitchen play.
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Playing Music
Help your child develop one of their most important senses. And do it in the most productive way without giving you a headache. Our musical instruments increase their self-confidence, advance eye coordination and improve concentration.
- Numbers
Spelling or maths charts can make often dry learning fun. Put up a chart in your kitchen or bathroom, so you can reward your child as they progress through this sequential learning, such as the alphabet or times tables.
Instill a culture of fun learning in your home. Browse our wide range of uniquely-curated educational toys.
