Why are quality toys and quality play so important?

Research tells us that young children need to be actively
engaged in play in order to develop basic learning
skills. This is how they learn about themselves and their
world. We know that quality play promotes close relationships,
language, creativity, physical development,
thinking skills and social skills. This type of creative
play is often challenged in our media centered world, as
children spend more and more time in front of a television
or computer screen.

Many times toys marketed as “educational” offer
little evidence to back their claims. Recently, as a result
of a ruling by the Federal Trade Commission, Disney
agreed to refund consumers for a limited time on the
purchase of their popular baby DVDs . The claim made
for the educational value of the product was determined
to be false advertising. Research done at the University
of Washington found that for every hour spent watching
baby DVDs, infants learned six to eight fewer new
words than babies that never watched. High tech toys
and DVDs can keep young children from interacting
with parents and engaging in creative play—two activities
that promote learning. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends no electronic media before age
two. Television and an increasing number of electronic
toys advertised as “interactive” may in fact, be passive
toys, only requiring children to push a button.

Consider the following criteria when choosing quality
toys.
· Is it safe?
· Does it suit the child’s age level and interest?
· Does it allow the child to participate?
· Will it challenge without frustrating?
· Does it have more than one use?
· Is it well-made?
· Will it have long-term interest so that the child can
play with it over a period of years?
· Does it perpetuate sexist or ethnic stereotypes?
· Does it stimulate aggression and violence?

Toys have limited play value when they…
· Can only be used in one way encouraging all children
to play the same way.
· Look exciting but quickly become boring because
they only require children to push a button and
watch what happens.
· Do the play “for” children, instead of encouraging
exploration and mastery.

What's wrong with toys that have a limited play value?
· Lead children to spend more time with TV or other
media, and letting the screen take control of their
play.
· Lure children into watching the TV program or
other media linked to the toy.
· Promote violence and sexualized behavior, which
can lead to aggressive and disrespectful play.
· Separate girls and boys with highly gender-divided
toys.
· Introduce academic concepts at too early an age,
leaving less time for creative play that best prepares
children for academic learning.

Adapted from TRUCE “Play Recommendations” and
“What types of toys support healthy play?”
www.truceteachers.org