Toys are a basic part of childhood and play time. Toys are not only entertaining but also teach children skills which they may need in later life. Children often use toys as a form of imaginative play, but toys are also valuable for developing the motor skills essential for learning to write, count, and solve problems. A toy is anything that is used mainly by small children although can also be played with by adults under specific circumstances. Playing with toys is an exciting way of developing young children into responsible adults.
Toy cars, dolls, puppets, and other interactive toys can help develop the hand-eye coordination needed for simple tasks such as reading, cutting paper, riding a bicycle, riding a model airplane, and operating a computer. Small children are more likely to engage in these types of activities if they have a toy car or doll they can imitate. Moving toys are particularly helpful as they don’t require the child to run or crawl. Many parents think of moving toys as play vehicles, but quality models have proved to be useful tools for teaching young people how to sit on a sofa, stand on their own, and even crawl.
Dolls are a great toy for young girls who wish to play with a Barbie-like role model. While many adult women might be happy to see their little girls grow up into a dollhouse full of doll houses, a few young girls tend to prefer playing with toy versions of their favorite celebrities. Toy versions of Hannah Montana, Destine, and Barbie have been particularly popular as they teach girls how to act like their favorite teen idols and create their own home-based businesses. The Yo-Yo game from Mattel is another toy for the young woman’s allowance. The yo-yo is similar to the yo-yo used by kids in school, except that it moves from one yo-yo board to another.