The Power of Play: Choosing Open-Ended Toys for Child Development
I had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Dalziel, an experienced preschool speech and language pathologist, on the significance of open-ended toys in promoting children’s development through play-based therapy. In this blog post, I share key takeaways and insights from our conversation, focusing on the value of choosing open-ended toys and the impact they have on engaging children and supporting their language and cognitive development.
The Importance of Open-Ended Toys
Anna began by emphasizing the importance of selecting open-ended toys that foster surprise and engagement. Open-ended toys provide numerous opportunities for practice and can be played with in various ways. Anna believes that the element of surprise in toys is enticing and can lead to increased interest from children. She stressed the significance of the process of uncovering something in a toy rather than the actual toy itself, as it engages children’s interest and promotes play.
Engaging Children Through Play
We discussed the significance of presenting toys in a way that excites and engages children. Anna stressed the importance of really being open to modifying and playing with the toys in different ways to encourage imaginative and dynamic play. She highlights the value of tailoring therapy to each child and the need to be flexible and open to different approaches. I genuinely support the idea of empowering children during playtime and we both acknowledged the pressure parents feel, mostly due to social media standards.
The Impact of Social Media and Electronic Toys
Anna addressed the overwhelming effect of excessive toys, and specifically electronic toys, on children’s play experiences. Anna suggests that fewer toys can actually lead to more meaningful play interactions and consequently, the understanding for parents that all types of play are valid.
The Impact of Toy Selection on Development
Anna expanded on the impact of open-ended toys on children’s language and cognitive development. She encourages parents to follow their child’s lead in play and engage in their activities, as children’s playtime can really allow them to be in charge, which has a firmly positive impact on their attitude. We both raised the importance of allowing children to lead and set the pace during play, moving away from rigid schedules to a more child-centered and natural approach.
Challenges and Solutions
The challenges parents face in allowing their children access to certain toys, such as messy or small pieces. Anna offered solutions to address those barriers and suggested using a variety of toys for different activities, strongly advocating for toy rotation. Especially important for parents to note is her recommendation for keeping special toys for specific times, tailored to individual family dynamics.
Conclusion
As a speech and language pathologist with a passion for play-based therapy, Anna Dalziel’s insights on open-ended toys and engaging children through play are invaluable. Her emphasis on empowering parents with information to make their own decisions about toys for their children highlights the importance of understanding the impact of toy selection on children’s development. By choosing open-ended toys that promote surprise and engagement, parents and therapists can create meaningful play experiences that support children’s language, cognitive, and social-emotional development.