Essential Characteristics and Types of Children's Toys

Key Characteristics of Children's Toys

The main characteristics of a toy are as follows: A toy is any object or material that children use in their games. A child may even attribute the value of a toy to objects initially created for another purpose. For example, a blanket can become a hut or a house. Therefore, the first feature is that the toy emerges as a spontaneous creation.

The toy is a resource used to play, but it is not essential to develop the game. The toy is just an instrument; the important thing is the game itself. Play is an essential element in a child’s life and development, which can occur with or without a toy. The less structured and sophisticated a toy is, the more it favors imagination development and play possibilities. It is vital that the toy favors freedom of choice and allows for the development of a child's imagination and creativity.

1. Exercise Toys

Children derive pleasure through the manipulation of these toys, especially if they provide visual and sound effects. These toys help to fix the gaze, facilitate gripping and pincer movements, and develop eye-hand coordination, autonomy, psychomotricity, and auditory development.

Babies’ toys are designed to awaken the senses. They must offer a wide variety of shapes, colors, textures, and sounds while presenting no risk to the baby's health. They must be washable, smooth (not rough), and have no sharp edges or snags. Rattles with circular shapes and vivid tones are highly recommended. When children take their first steps, they can play with wheels or balls. We recommend using dolls and teddy bears that are washable, cannot be unstitched, have no detachable small pieces, and are lightweight.

2. Symbolic Toys

Symbolic toys facilitate the representation of roles and pretend games. The best known and most used are dolls, miniature objects that replicate everyday life, costumes, and puppets. The most prominent symbolic toys are dolls and their various accessories.

3. Arming Toys

More commonly used from the age of four, these toys serve to represent reality as the child conceives it. In this category, you will find puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, threading games, glass beads, and building blocks.

4. Rule-Based Toys

From the age of four, a child can follow instructions and respect simple rules, allowing them to engage in group games. As the child grows, they can use toys with more complex rules, such as Lottery, Ludo, and Chess. Progressively, chance becomes less important, giving way to logic and ingenuity.

In children with a low tolerance for frustration, behaviors like lying, trapping, or "bad losing" may appear. The ESAR classification system divides these into simple and complex rule sets.