Value of Toys for Psychological and Other Domains of Child Development
Undoubtedly, a toy is one of the most important material things that surround a child. Toys help a child to recognize the most important images of the world and the features of many social processes. In fact, a toy is an adapted projection of the real things. It has almost the same meaning as any "adult" thing does, but thanks to its entertaining nature, it is also able to correct and explain the necessary information. Humankind has been using toys for thousands of years, so it has long been known that a formation of child's mind begins with toys. Many social processes and phenomena have their own rules and regulations, so they can be compared to games that children play. In addition, many material objects of adult life have largely the same functions as the children's toys do. This fact points to the importance of the functions performed by the toys in child psychological development. An analysis of the issue of toys' importance in child development affects many domains of human development in general. Yet it should be added that a toy is involved not only in psychological, but also in physical, emotional, and cognitive development, i.e. it makes a toy a base part of consciousness.
Description of a Toy
Basically, Towncenter Playhouse (TCP) is a small copy of a house that has 6 different functional parts, each of which changes the very essence of a game. This toy is unique because it can be placed anywhere and all its parts are transformed in different ways. TCP has 6 different sections or rooms, each of which has its own function. For example, this house has movable walls that allow children to expand an area for a game. This factor enables the simultaneous presence of a large number of children in the house. This toy includes a gas station, a cafe, a shop, a kitchen, and even a sports court with basketball hoop. These sections allow children to distribute their responsibilities and positions for a game. In addition to the various sections, this toy has a number of accessories that make the game more realistic and comfortable. The set includes two chairs, a basketball, a hammer, a screwdriver, a telephone, and many other tools for working in the studio. The house is easy to assemble and disassemble, as it has a fairly light weight, as well as a variety of colors; each section of the house has its own color. The house has several doors and windows, which makes it even more functional and realistic. In addition, it has an additional ventilation system to ensure that there is a fresh air inside ("6-in-1 Towncenter Playhouse", n.d.).
Explanation of child development benefit
Sometimes parents, buying a toy, just think of that their child would like it because this toy can held their attention, giving them a free time. This is a wrong approach, since "a right choice of a toy is largely responsible for a child's development" (Rakoczy, 2007, p. 56). A toy should not only entertain, but also develop and train a child, delighting them. It should be "appropriate for a certain age, be aesthetically attractive, and valuable for development" (Williams, 2006, p. 104). When choosing a toy, it is necessary to consider how it fits one's child. An improperly selected toy may "exacerbate the level of child development" and affect their psyche, since it is very vulnerable at an early age (Williams, 2006, p. 103).
Therefore, it can be stated that the present toy has a unique advantage for child development. It is not just a toy, which may eventually bore a child. It is a house that allows children to carry out any plan and idea. The main feature of this toy involved in child development is its realism. Through the projection of the main features of a real house, children can develop socially by means of distribution of a variety of duties among players. Moreover, it is worth noting that the "multi-functionality of a toy allows children to develop in the most different areas" (Gupta, 2008, p. 56). Due to its size and features, children are able to develop physically, as they are moving constantly; they can walk from one room to another or just play on the playground. Children's game with this house develops a good imagination and mental abilities, helping them to adapt to different social processes. It can be stated that every single part of this house develops individual skills of children, making it a versatile toy that can be helpful for children of different ages.
The right choice of toys can improve child's chances of a quick formation in various spheres. It can be stated that "a toy is one of the most important elements of a child's development and its use is a necessary function during a formation of personality and character" (Gupta, 2008, p. 59). A proper selection of toys for a child is a kind of educational strategy; therefore, almost all parents can either allow or prohibit a particular toy. Of course, the best option is a situation when a child has a range of toys, each of which is responsible for a particular function. TCP is a versatile toy that is able to contribute to all crucial areas of child development. At the same time, one should not forget that there are factors such as gender, age, and social classification that are also important in a process of selection of toys. Thus, the TCP toy is suitable for any of these factors, and everyone can receive an equal amount of benefit by using it.
Toy's contribution to physical development
As has been already mentioned, the importance of toys for child development is extremely high. Basically, toys "contribute to a problem solving of a range of educational issues" (Lindon, 2012, p. 73). Thus, contact with toys realizes a child's physical development, which is one of the most important of areas of development. Physical development is the bases, as thanks to it, "child's body is able to function fully, ensuring the normal development of all other functions" (Lindon, 2012, p. 73). This toy has a playground that gives children an opportunity to develop their physical state, coaching skills, agility, endurance, coordination, etc. In addition, children have an opportunity to throw out their "excess energy, thus normalizing their general condition which affects sleep and psyche" (Lindon, 2012, p. 75). TCP relates to a type of toys that keeps a child in motion and in good shape. Its components are created with the aim to develop a child in different directions; a special attention is paid to physical development ("6-in-1 Towncenter Playhouse", n.d.). For example, a child has an opportunity to play sports, basketball, football on a playground, or simply hide in different rooms of the house.
TCP is a kind of a playground where children can constantly invent new games and their new roles in these games. At the same time, they should move or change their location, try something new. The very design of this site stipulates for movement, i.e. a basis of physical development. The toy's dimensions make children not to play with it, but to play in it and around it.
Toy's contribution to emotional development
Precisely, development of emotions is also one of the most important areas of child development, which is often neglected by parents. Since emotional development is directly linked to the other domains, its violation can affect the mental and social development. Emotions help children to "comprehend themselves", as well as to "carry out communication with other children and the outside world" (Gupta, 2008, p. 66). Thus, parents' task is to pay attention to a child's emotional development, show what a certain feeling means and how it manifests itself, i.e. it may be expressed with the help of "facial expression, gestures, posture and voice", so that "a child learns the major feelings and emotions, recognizes them, talks about them, and shares them with his/her parents" (Sherry et al, 2013, p. 336).
According to Rakoczy (2007), child emotional development begins immediately after birth: at the beginning of life, child experiences first basic emotions, and then they become more diverse. Consequently, there appear feelings; hence, "children have a rich emotional sphere by the senior preschool age" (pp. 30-31). The TCP toy is a small projection of an adult home, which allows children to feel a wide range of emotions. This children's house has an important function that may be involved in child emotional development, it consists in an ability to collect a group of children in one place. Gathering together, children quickly grasp crucial emotions that are very diverse, as each child has a different upbringing. Children get together and share their emotions, recognize them, and assess their importance.
Despite the seeming simplicity, recognition and transfer of emotions represent a complex process that requires child's specific knowledge and skills. Most toys play an important role in the formation of children's emotions, but most of them also have their shortcomings. TCP has a sustainable impact on a formation of children's emotions, as some broken parts of a house can be easily repaired or substituted. At the same time, this kind of breakage should not upset a child as, for example, a failure of a favorite doll (which a child tends to animate). Due to the fact that the toy provides an interpersonal communication, child emotional development will continue to progress.
Toy's contribution to social development
Precisely, "social development is an integrated part of the overall child development", which is also responsible for many other processes (Rakoczy, 2007, p. 34). The present toy provides children with communication and self-identification among other children in a community, "which are the most important aspects of social development" (Rakoczy, 2007, p. 34). Children can use a Towncenter Playhouse as a place to which they belong; here they can share their duties and responsibilities, which allows them to adapt to a more adult life. TCP is divided into several sections, each of which provides a different effect on a child. For instance, one of the most important features of this toy is an "allocation of different areas", as this feature "favors an understanding of a child's place in society" (Williams, 2006, p. 113). TCP enables children to realize what they need to do in order to occupy the desired position in both a house and society.
In addition, "independence comes to the fore among the other aspects of social development" (Gupta, 2008, p. 74). With this toy a child receives an opportunity both to entertain and to determine his or her level of busy condition. The presence of various tools enables to fix something that also produces an effect of independence. In addition, TCP helps children to form a picture of adults' professional activities, which makes a certain contribution to their social development. This toy makes kids to use the maximum reserve of their skills in order to determine their place in the house construction that looks like a projection of society. Eventually, children will create specific rules in the framework of this toy, and everyone will have to comply with them. One way or another, it may even be a fire safety rules. Since society plays a fundamental role in human life, it would be appropriate to say that "intercourse with others determines human being" (Gupta, 2008, p. 26).
According to Williams (2006), a child acquires most of the basic skills and learning experience in early childhood, communicating with other children (p. 111). TCP provides children with the widest field for the study of their own and others' behavior during the game. Each of them will be able to estimate their abilities and needs and determine a degree of their importance for others. Children with the help of the realistic toy, which resembles an adult social order, will rapidly absorb these major social functions.
Toy's contribution to cognitive development
"Child cognitive development determines his or her future adult life", so it is very important to understand that parents should contribute to its development (Sherry et al, 2013, p. 337). TCP has a number of positive factors that contribute to cognitive development of a child of any social class, gender, and race. Playing with this toy, a child realizes that he or she can perform an action and get the result. Kids learn to separate themselves from the outside world, understanding that they are a part of it at the same time. For example, a child realizes that even if two toys contact with each other, they are not the same thing (Sherry et al, 2013, p. 337). Due to the fact that a child spends time with other children, he or she can "learn to categorize people and things, determining their importance" Sherry et al, 2013, p. 338). The difference in TCP's details can help a kid to compare, which will develop his or her pace of knowledge. Moreover, this toy introduces some basic technical issues to children, acquainting them with the necessary tools in order to get the desired result. TCP pushes kids to experiment and awakens their cognitive activity. In addition, the toy helps develop logical thinking. For instance, a child determines those actions that will lead him or her to the desired result independently. If a kid wants to play in some of the sections that are used by another child, he or she would have to think of how to solve this problem by using logic.
Cognitive development has a special importance in human life; moreover, its foundations "are determined in early childhood" (Lindon, 2012 p. 58). Town Center Playhouse contributes to child cognitive development, as it trains children's thinking and logic, teaches to monitor their activities as well as their opponent's ones. The presence of such toy increases the level of consciousness, as a child evaluates its size and quality. A game with such a structure will learn to analyze the situation of many things. TCP is a unique toy, as it can contribute to almost all domains of child development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, toys are the basis for a formation of child's mind in the early stages of development, so it is important to choose a right toy. Thus, Towncenter Playhouse has everything needed for a complete development of a child in almost all possible directions. This toy promotes child social, emotional, physical, psychological, and cognitive development, since it consists of many components each of which has its own function. TCP's dimensions, parameters, and devices create opportunities for diversified child development. Its main advantage is that it is universal and suitable for children of different ages. A game with this toy can involve several children and even adults, so it can be said that the toy's contribution to child development is great. If one compares TCP with other toys, it should be said that most of the toys have their own terms of fitness, as over time, children can become bored, as they always need something new and unique in the early stages of development. Towncenter Playhouse will be interesting for children of various ages because apart the fact that it is a toy, it is also a place where a child can combine different games.
References
6-in-1 Towncenter Playhouse. (n.d.). Little Tikes. Retrieved February 25, 2016, from http://www.littletikes.com/Made-In-USA/6-in-1-Towncenter-Playhouse/invt/604317
Gupta, J. (2008). Child Health and Development. Delhi, IND: Rajat Publications. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
Lindon, J. (2012). Child Development from Birth to Eight: A Practical Focus. London, GBR: National Children's Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
Rakoczy, H. (2007). Play, games, and the development of collective intentionality. New Directions For Child & Adolescent Development, 2007(115), 53-67. doi:10.1002/cad.182
Sherry, J. L., Lucas, K., Greenberg, B. S., & Holmstrom, A. (2013). Child Development and Genre Preference: Research for Educational Game Design. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 16(5), 335-339. doi:10.1089/cyber.2012.0242
Williams, C. L. (2006). Inside Toyland. Berkeley, US: University of California Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
