Building Skills with Toys

Dr. Kathleen Alfano

Ph.D. Director of Child Research at Fisher-Price®

Toys develop every aspect of a child's development. Studies reveal that right choice of toys help improve physical, cognitive, social, emotional, imaginative and language skills in kids. There are toys that are designed in a specific way and help provide overall development while some are focused on one or two skills only.

Studies have shown that children learn a lot while playing. So, it is very important to provide them with toys that fit in their abilities and help them in their development as well. For example, infants get attracted towards bright colours and so if colourful rattles and teethers are provided to them, they will help them learn and develop grasping skills.

Read on to find out how toys help in physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of children.

Physical Development

Let us have a look at how toys help in physical development of children.

• Develops motor skills
• Hand-eye coordination
• Spatial skills
• Improves foot power
• Helps improve balance
• Build arm and leg strength
• Helps in precise hand movement
• Learns about weight, stability and balance

Intellectual Development

Here is how toys boost intellectual development of children.

• Improves IQ level
• Learns to recognize different colours
• Improves pre-reading and speaking skills
• Learn to make-up stories
• Helps improve imaginative skills
• Improves fundamental math concepts
• Helps in developing problem solving skills
• Learns about basic shapes
• Stimulates creative thinking
• Solve divergent problems in a better way
• Improves vocabulary
• Improves reasoning power

Social and Emotional Development

Have a quick look at how toys help in social and emotional development of children.

• Become friendlier
• More social savvy
• Form high quality friendship
• Show a non-significant trend towards watching less TV
• Learns to set rules and follow them
• Learns about turn-taking and expectations
• Develops patience
• Has improved focus and concentration
• Wards off boredom
• Explore their feelings
• Learn to keep feelings in control

Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend
you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to
contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about
a medical condition.