Experts say that games and toys, which are important for children to socialize and practice daily life skills, support the child's development, strengthen their sense of empathy and creativity, enable them to take responsibility and express themselves. Child Development Specialist Elif İpek Tutuş said, 'Play is a child's work. It is not correct to say that children should only play in early childhood, and then constantly study during the school period.'
Üsküdar University Child Development Lecturer Elif İpek Tutuş stated that play is an activity, exhibited with or without a specific purpose, with or without rules, in which the child actively and joyfully participates, supporting all areas of the child's development, and added the following:
Play helps in the practice of life…
“Play is a part of a child's life. It holds an important place in a child's life for supporting their development, socializing, practicing daily life skills, and most importantly, for having an enjoyable time. A child's games and toys can vary according to their age, developmental characteristics, and developmental areas. Play supports a child's development, strengthens their sense of empathy and creativity; it enables them to take responsibility, express themselves, and helps them practice life.”
Toys should be age-appropriate for children
Emphasizing the importance of choosing age-appropriate toys for children, Tutuş said, “In early childhood, it is recommended not to choose toys that are small enough to be swallowed by children, are not soft, or are electric. It is also very important to choose sturdy and durable toys and to ensure that the chosen toy is age-appropriate and functional.”
Games contribute to a child's muscle and bone development
Tutuş explained that it is necessary to choose toys and activities that aim to support a child's gross motor, fine motor, language, social, and cognitive development during preschool and school periods; and that prepare them for school and life in later stages, stating the following:
“Preschool children have highly developed imaginations. It is essential to choose games and toys that support this skill during this period. In this regard, materials that allow them to play symbolic games, practice life, and take an active role should be preferred. Examples of these materials include miniature dollhouse toys. Additionally, for cognitive development, puzzles, simple board games, memory cards; for motor development, blocks, Legos, bead stringing sets, and wooden toys can be given as examples. Active games can contribute to a child's muscle and bone development and accelerate blood circulation.”
Pots, wooden spoons are also toys
Tutuş, also explaining that games support children's emotional development by allowing them to express their feelings, continued:
“It is observed that a child's social development is also supported in games played with a group by taking turns, defending their rights, helping each other, and cooperating. Plush toys, picture books, and musical instruments are also essential play materials that support the development of preschool and school-aged children. In fact, not just these, but also wooden spoons, pots, old clothes found in our homes, objects in nature, waste materials, water, sand… All of these can become play materials on their own, and various games and activities can be created with them.”
Play is also very important during school years
Child Development Specialist Elif İpek Tutuş, stating that play is very important not only during preschool but also during primary and middle school periods, said, “Especially educational games, intelligence-developing board games, and group activities played by children in cooperation with their peers are prominent during this period. Particularly in play activities conducted within a peer group, the child learns etiquette, understands how to exist in society and protect their rights, cooperates, and discovers emotions such as patience and empathy.”
The 'always study' rhetoric is not correct!
Tutuş, stating that play is a child's work, continued:
“It is not correct to say that children should only play in early childhood, and then constantly study during the school period. During the school period, a child's responsibilities should certainly be emphasized, but their right to play should not be taken away. Regular play should also be engaged in with school-aged children, but the chosen games should be age-appropriate and suitable for their developmental characteristics; the child should be encouraged and supported in this direction.”
Play also teaches tolerance and cooperation
Emphasizing that with cognitive development games, a child's academic success will increase, and through activities with a group, they will learn skills related to tolerance, cooperation, and how to behave in society, Tutuş concluded her words as follows:
“In this regard, families are recommended activities such as riddles, board games, nature walks, explorations, or making crafts from waste materials on weekends. During school time, ensuring that children actively play with their friends during breaks will not only help them rest between lessons, increasing concentration in class, but also contribute to strengthening their peer relationships.”