Experiencing materials other than natural ones has to happen at some point in the life of our naturally brought-up children. From my experience, this time comes at about the age of five. This doesn’t mean that this is children’s first encounter with plastic or rubber of course. Even if you want to avoid all artificial material objects, it is impossible because we live in the modern world where most things are unnatural.
My idea here is real cognitive analysis, which implies that children have to observe, explore, experience, reflect, reason, analyze, synthesize, conceptualize, get knowledge and then create their view of what they have experienced. The older they are the better understanding you may expect.
Major Development Areas
Studies show that children’s skills develop at similar ages, accordingly, there are so many books telling us when a child starts walking, talking, climbing, drawing or dressing. Nevertheless, each child is different and grows and develops skills at their own pace. Some children may feel stronger in one area earlier than the book says but others may be developed later.
Predicted ages of development should not discourage parents as all areas will develop in their time when children feel confident about it. It is important not to force them into something they are not ready for yet.
There are five major development areas: physical growth, cognitive development, emotional and social development, language development, and sensory and motor development.
By the age of five, children have already grown enough physically, depending on genetics and the activities they do. Together with physical growth, children can walk, run, jump on one foot, swing, slide and use the toilet by themselves. Drawing people, animals and shapes and eating with a fork and spoon show their progress with fine motor skills.
This is the age when they show independence, agree to rules and make social contacts and friends. They take part in meaningful conversations and tell stories. Their cognitive area is prepared enough to realize the world around them, draw their own conclusions and learn.
A Five-Year-Old’s Needs
Therefore, they ask for more practice, more toys and more learning tools. Unified practice is something that can be helpful when the children are ready and eager for more knowledge. Parents should not miss this moment and have to provide their offspring with what they need in order to advance their existing skills and develop new abilities and knowledge.
Guessing that they have already encountered natural materials – wood perhaps, children also get to know a lot about other materials such as plastic, metal, rubber and synthetics. They make difference between materials and learn about their appearance, feel, temperature and structure.
Children have to learn to handle those artificial materials and they will soon learn that they need to deal with them carefully. They will be handling unnatural objects more and more in their lives, so it is high time to get to know them.
Any parent should know that plastic being brittle as it is should be used under supervision. Likewise, metal, especially screws, nails and wires are sharp thus unattended use may cause harm.
Versatile Solutions
Many times, parents spend a fortune on different toys that develop one skill at a time. However, the solution may be only one toy that contains so many activities and helps kids with so many life-needed skills. Versatile and comprehensive it occupies children’s attention and time. Meaningful hours are spent playing with this toy, gaining knowledge and getting new perspectives.
Modern parents usually say that children have it all in a phone, tablet, iPod or iPad. Partially they are right. Kids can get knowledge from modern gadgets, but it’s not complete. Using contemporary gadgets, fine motor skills, as well as cognitive skills, are partially developed. Gross motor skills, emotional and social and language are minimally involved in this kind of play.
Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not against using modern devices, but they have to be used in a limited time frame, and at this age as little as possible. Focus on developing all five areas before you first give them the phone. Once you think they are ready for it, let them use it, but don’t forget that they need to practice and advance the skills they have developed.
Suggestion
My kids have been lucky to abound with so many toys. However, they have been supervised all the time and taught to take care of each toy. Most of the time they have been only observed but sometimes they need our instruction or even help. Our idea is to interfere as little as possible or instruct unobtrusively.
One of the toys that occupy them completely is this. It is demanding, it makes them do things and it makes them learn and practice. Using it over time, they become skilful and develop and master all five major areas.
The only area that will need your intervention here is language. Speak to them while they are playing, ask them what they are doing and teach them names of the elements, their parts and materials, colours and shapes. The rest will be their job to master.
After using it for a week you will see the change. If you allow and encourage them to play longer with it they will be masters of their skills.
Conclusion
I have always loved such toys because they are money-saving and worthwhile. However, one has to be careful when they buy them. Reading reviews is always helpful to see if the toy you have chosen is meant for the age of your child and if it meets your expectations.
Pay attention to the small parts such toys have. Plastic parts are breakable and metal parts such as screws and nails are sharp. Manufacturers take the responsibility off themselves by putting the inscription that children need to use the product under supervision. However, I must agree that such products must be used under control.
If used properly with adults around, this toy will create a magic play for your child while at the same time making them learn about and understand the world around them. Children will become skilful and easily make use of all five major areas.
When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. ~ John Ruskin
Source: https://proverbicals.com/skills
Very useful and comprehensive article. I see you are an expert in this field. I had heard about the Montessori method of raising children and knew something about it. Today I found out that there are toys that have been developed in accordance with the Montessori method. I’m not a parent yet, so I’m getting informed in time about the proper way to raise children. From time to time I find myself in a situation where I have to babysit someone’s child. Considering I love children very much and care about the well-being of every child I interact with, I want to know as much as possible how I can contribute to someone’s healthy upbringing. Thank you Nevena for informing us. Is it okay if a child doesn’t want to play with toys but only with ordinary things he finds in the house?
Best regards
Hello Mel,
Thank you for reaching out. I am a mother of two, a teacher and a craftsman because my husband and I had a small wooden-toy shop.
It is nice to hear that there are people who would like to be informed about raising children in advance. This will mean to you because when they come, you will be ready. Moreover, you can practise it while babysitting so you will see how it works.
Yes, I wrote about it in my previous blogs. Children find every activity a play and every object a toy. So we, carers, have to be careful about what they play with. When we are sure the object is not hazardous, we can let the child play. When I was a kid, we played with kitchen pans and pots and yes, they were very good toys with which we developed so many life-important skills.
Definitely, children will develop skills while playing with what we have at home as long as it is safe.
I know parents have many other financial obligations and buying toys is a bit of an expense. However, my suggestion for buying a present for any kid is to buy a toy. Children don’t like clothes but will be over the moon if you bring them a toy. I have written about my experience in the blog “Thank you, but where is my present?”
Thank you for taking interest in my blog. If I may be of more assistance, feel free to contact me.
Nevena
Hello Nevena,
You’re right. Any object that is not dangerous can be a useful toy. Thanks for the advice. I completely forgot that children like to get a toy as a gift. I bought clothes for small children who have older siblings, because they already have toys from their siblings. Another reason was that I would reduce the obligation of their parents to buy clothes so that they could spend more time with their children. This year I will buy toys, because the child is already at an age when he understands a lot of things. The most important thing is the happiness of the children.
I was looking at the pictures of wooden toys on your blog. They look wonderful. I believe that children enjoy playing with them. Thank you very much for the information and advices.
Mel
Hello again, Mel,
It is very nice of you to think about the parents and the time they spend with their children.
However, I look at it differently. I always say, parents must equip their children with obligatory staff and my task is to make them happy.
My sister has always been angry at me for buying her children expensive toys. She would always measure them in boots or jackets. I say that boots and jackets are her duty and my duty is to spoil them and make them happy.
You are so welcome. I am always available for a nice chat.
Best regards,
Nevena
Hello Nevena! Children are sacred and should be spoiled and made happy. We never know how we will affect someone’s life and what each of them will become. We should do our best for them. Besides toys, as a material gift that they love, love and attention are the most important. I am glad that we exchanged views on this important and wonderful topic and that you are writing about this. Everything I’m interested in about children is now in one place. I have added this page to my favorites. Thanks for all the information and best regards!
Mel
You are right Mel, we should do our best and love them. Love is the most important thing in life. A loved person can do anything. Also, we should play with them. However hard it looks to us, we must have time for them. This time won’t come back. They will soon grow up and they won’t want to play with us anymore. So make use of their childhood while it lasts.
I appreciate adding my page to your favourites. Please feel free to write anytime you need an exchange of views. You can also write via email if you prefer.
Sincerely,
Nevena