3 Benefits of allowing kids to play with toys
Not only are toys fun for kids, but they also have educational benefits. Here are three benefits of allowing your kids to play with toys.
Think back to a time when you were younger. Do you remember that one toy that you simply could not put down or part with? We all had that one toy that meant the world to us.
The festive season is right around the corner, and if you're a parent reading this, you are probably going to receive a long list that you need to send to Santa on behalf of your little one.
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In addition to keeping your child entertained while you do grown-up things, there are also educational benefits of allowing your kids to play with toys.
Here are just three of them that we've found:
They help a child's imagination
In some natural way, toys help to stimulate a child's imagination and allows them to think out the box. While a blue and red truck may not look the most appealing to an adult, for a child playing with that truck allows them to escape to another world. Playing with toys of different shapes and sizes helps stimulate the mind, and helps unlock different parts of their imagination.
They help kids to be social
When kids play, they love having someone else to join in on the fun and play with them. Toys have a way of allowing them to play and engage with other kids - a crucial skill to develop especially for those schooling years and beyond. Play dates are a good way to allow your child to have fun and develop their social skills with other little ones.
They help perfect their motor skills
As your child grows on a daily basis, they need to develop different motor skills which are important for their development. Interactive toys allow children to develop their ability to master dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Examples of toys which help a child's motor skills include bead mazes, wooden touch and feel puzzles, and magnetic fishing games.
While you're out this festive season buying your child their favourite toy, spare a thought for the many underprivileged children in and around KZN who have never had the joy of playing with a toy. You can help ensure that they too have a toy story to tell by donating a toy to this year's East Coast Radio Toy Story in partnership with Toys R Us & Babies R Us.
All you need to do to get involved is buy and donate a new toy at any Toys R Us & Babies R Us across KZN by dropping it in the collection box in store, or drop off new toy donations at East Coast Radio House. Alternatively, you can make a cash donation, or donate via Zapper. For more information, click here.