We all ask ourselves at one time or another what is the most suitable gift for our children. For this, there are different ways to know what characteristics a toy should have to be suitable for the little ones.
We are told that it is important that the toy is related to the child’s evolutionary moment, but how can we know if what he wants is a desire or simply follows a fashion.
The experts at Psikids explain.
Games and children
As is well known, play is an essential element in the child’s development, both at a ludic and pedagogical level. Therefore, it is very important to guide the children’s criteria according to their own development and personal preferences. To this end, it is essential to keep in mind the child’s stage of development and psychological development, taking into account the following considerations:
- It is important that he chooses a game/toy that appeals to his own interests and concerns. Otherwise, they will not be satisfied with what they get and will tend to ask for more toys.
- In a technological era such as ours, games become more expensive, so it is important to guide children towards choosing those that give them satisfaction and fulfill entertainment objectives, which does not mean the most expensive or the best known.
- In the context in which we live, it is likely that when our children are enjoying “the latest” in a short time this will be outdated with the arrival of new releases. In this sense, it is vital to work with our children to value what they have, so that they do not discard it when a more current toy appears. From a psychological point of view, this helps our children develop frustration tolerance and value what they have.
- Giving gifts beyond the material, because it favors the psychological development of our children, acquiring value that which has an affective component.
Thus, it is essential to keep in mind and transmit to children that having more toys does not mean they play more, especially if these are not in accordance with their preferences. Likewise, learning to enjoy what they have avoids falling into the constant need to update, especially in the technological area, favoring their psychological development. And finally, it is essential in their personal development to value other types of gifts, going beyond the material; for example, a day in the country with the family, an afternoon at the theater or an excursion are unbeatable gifts.