Playtime is vital for the cognitive development of kids. It has a crucial role in the child’s ability to communicate, think, remember, imagine, learn, and gauge future outcomes from their actions. While being engaged in play, children acquire critical thinking and learn valuable decision-making skills that prepare them for adulthood. One form of play that aids in cognitive development is soft toys.
It’s through them that kids can make better sense of the world and start absorbing information. Soft toys also play a vital role in shaping a child’s imagination and act as a catalyst for bringing out their creative genius. Before we proceed ahead, let us first gain a clear understanding of what cognitive development means and how children acquire it through play.
Learning Cognitive Skills Through Play
The etymology of cognition in Latin literally means “to know”. Kids are naturally born with the curiosity of wanting to know about things. They are always trying to figure out their surroundings, explore objects, and are captivated by colorful sights and peculiar sounds. By providing them with the right tools and the environment, we can assist them in their natural quest for knowledge.
This is where cognitive growth and play meet. Through play, they start developing the ability to process information, express emotions, interact with things, and create memories. As kids grow and acquire cognitive skills through play, they learn how to integrate new habits with the old ones, thereby developing their understanding and knowledge of the world.
How Can Soft Toys Help with Cognitive Development?
- Cognitive development naturally evolves and becomes more complex as kids grow with age. During the first few years of a toddler’s life, they develop brain-cell connections in trillions. This process is known as neural synapses. By providing kids with play opportunities such as multi-sensory soft toys, we can assist and encourage them to explore the world around them.
- This, in turn, encourages the brain cells to form neural connections that help with vital skills such as reasoning, communication, decision-making, and intellectual thinking.
- Soft toys are designed to be visually pleasing. There is a reason behind this. By interacting with attractive and colorful soft toys, a child’s visual perception is enhanced and their brain learns to interpret and make sense of what they see.
- The sense of touch is of great importance for children. Soft toys are a great way to introduce new textures and heighten their awareness of various surfaces.
- Soft toys that emit musical sounds can help with auditory stimulation and can enhance a child’s auditory pathway in the brain.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Selecting Soft Toys
When choosing soft toys for your baby, keep in mind a few safety essentials. They are as follows:
- Opt for soft toys made with high-quality material.
- Ensure the material and colors are lead-free and non-toxic to avoid allergies.
- Make sure there are no pointy or sharp objects sticking out of the soft toy
- Ensure the tiny parts of the toy are well stitched or glued together so that your baby doesn’t break it and accidentally swallow the part.
Conclusion
We hope you have gained some valuable advice from this article. Apart from buying soft toys, spending some time playing with your kid will also significantly improve cognitive development. This is because playing together is a wonderful way to build a strong bond and it sends a powerful message of importance to the child. This message is key to assisting the growth of your child and providing them with the confidence to continue exploring and learning.
