Basic toys 'best for young children'

PHIL REID/Dominion Post

YOUNG BUILDER: Children pick up number skills from playing with blocks, according to children's development website Growing Tiny Minds.

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Parents should be wary of buying elaborate toys for their children, a child play specialist says.

Nicky Woollaston, a director and author of children's development website Growing Tiny Minds, said manufacturers were increasingly marketing complicated toys that claimed to be good for expanding young people's minds.

But under-five-year-olds were much better off playing with basic toys such as puzzles and building blocks, the mother of three young children said.

"They have more benefit for the child's development than having a whiz-bang toy with lots of bells and whistles.

"You see them just sitting there pushing the same button again and again and again, then they get up and walk away."

Mrs Woollaston, a hospital play specialist at Christchurch Public Hospital and a registered early childhood teacher, said the more features and gadgets a toy had, the less it helped a child's development.

Research had shown that board games, drawing, ball games and climbing develop motor skills and intellect, while playing with others helps with social development.

Youngsters at Barnardos Early Learning Centre in Wellington have plenty of hands-on activities to engage in.

They even have a wormery and frogs that have been raised from tiny tadpoles.

Head teacher Margaret Jamieson said playtime favourites such as building blocks and drawing encouraged children to use their imagination, be creative and solve problems. These skills were rewarding in later life.

She said playing with building blocks was a way of learning mathematical skills. Drawing was great for hand and eye coordination and for developing motor skills.

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