Pretend Play Toys

Practices Fitting For The Preschool Years

Encouraging preschool age children to attend school on a weekly basis will aid their development of social skills dramatically. Having other children under the age of five to play with helps them to develop at a more rapid pace. The extra movement and activity will stimulate their cognitive functions and they will imitate their peers. After the imitation stage a child develops initiative and that is nurtured in the preschool environment.

Sometimes it is wise to sit a child in front of a graphic LCD screen to see their favorite TV show. The mind of a child is undeveloped and thrives on input from outside itself. For them to experience the vivid colors this way, they will be using their memory later on to paint and use colorful pencils and crayons. Toys and attention stimulate the child’s appetite for learning through experience.

A stimulating activity that can be used to expand a child’s listening skills is the practice of music. Playing along to the dreadnought acoustic guitar with drums, tambourines, toy pianos and singing along with teacher, is a wonderful learning experience for the tiny tots. Anything that makes a sound can be used as a musical instrument for them to clash together or beat like a drum. To help them understand to respect instruments, adults need to demonstrate how to treat them. And remind the children with simple verbal instruction when they behave in a manner that is inappropriate.

To make them feel like they are part of a social group, have music organised for them to play along with. Songs suitable for preschoolers include nursery rhymes, some modern pop music (this will have to be screened) and classical. About fifteen minutes to half an hour depending on the interest demonstrated by the child, is enough to have the children become involved in the experience. Musical activities are appreciated by children no matter how young.

The rooms for children to explore can have a multitude of exciting things ready and waiting for them to come and play. Blocks set up to appeal to the construction instincts of a preschooler will be dived upon by both boys and girls wanting to create. Towers and bridges and build ‘em up and knock ‘em down is a lot of fun. Their fine motor skills are helping develop the tiny muscles in their hands, they are focusing and coordinating eye and hand movement. Play-dough is another favorite activity that can be home made. Non toxic materials should be used as young children learn through putting everything in their mouth. Eating the play-dough and paints are a normal exploratory function of a preschooler.

Another much loved pastime of children is to use scrapbooking tools and materials to create their masterpieces. Loads of praise should be piled onto the child who cuts and pastes and draws and colors. Works of art need to be placed where they can be seen so the child knows they are appreciated. The child’s self esteem rises with the knowledge their work has a place of importance in the family home – as they do.

Adults cannot rush a child to grow faster than they do naturally. Allowing a child to grow through their experiences expresses a parent or guardians respect for the child. It is easy for the child to relax and learn when their environment is rich in learning resources and is given positive attention.