Why children play?

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Play brings together and connects different parts of the network of learning. It uses real first-hand experiences, games with rules, representations and helps children reflect on and try out ideas, feelings, and relationships. Play co-ordinates a child's development and learning. (Tina Bruce 1996)

Children learn trough their senses, 

• sight
• smell
• touch
• hearing
• taste

Only from books children can experience only the sights via pictures, but they still would not get an experience how a specific thing smells, taste, or what voice they give, what kind of surface it has?

General guidelines to toy-shopping: Always read labels to make sure a toy is appropriate for a child's age.

• Toys made of fabric should be labelled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Avoid marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches in diameter or less because they can become lodged in the throat above the windpipe and restrict breathing.
• Battery-operated toys should have battery cases that secure with screws so that kids cannot pry them open. Batteries and battery fluid pose serious risks, including choking, internal bleeding, and chemical burns.
• And make sure a toy isn't too loud for your child. The noise of some electronic toys can be very loud,  even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears— and can contribute to hearing damage.

Keeping Toys Safe at Home: After you've bought safe toys, it's also important to make sure kids know how to use them.

Teach kids to take care of their things and put toys away. 

• Check toys regularly to make sure that they aren't broken or unusable e.g. (look for rust or sharp edges on bikes and outdoor toys, and frayed wires on electronics).
• Throw away broken toys or repair them right away.
• Store outdoor toys when they're not in use so they're not exposed to rain or snow.
• Read manufacturer's directions to find out the best way to clean your child's toys and keep them in good shape.
• Be aware that kids this age are often tempted by non-toys, such as fireworks, matches, tools, and knives. Keep these things out of reach.



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