Let’s just say this, we all want to get away from our screens. The pandemic isn’t helping and there’s an overload of the virtual world for everyone.
But Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) and the resultant shift to Home-Based Learning (HBL) has been particularly difficult on children.
Apart from adapting to a completely virtual school cycle, it’s also been an overload of screens with kids confined to their homes. Be it schooling or entertainment, a tablet, laptop or computer seem to be the only solution.
And as much as you’d want it, it’s difficult to limit their screentime given the prevailing conditions.
However, what you can do is divert their energy towards something that’s more productive. And no, a book isn’t the only solution when we want kids to avoid screen-time.
Instead, it’s time to look into open-ended toys for kids that may seem old-school but are the perfect foil to the fatigue-inducing tablets and laptops.
Don’t know much about open-ended toys for kids?
Don’t worry, from benefits to the games you can play, we have you covered on everything you need to know.
What Are Open-Ended Toys For Kids?
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These toys may seem a bit old-school but they are all about interpretation. The toy does not decide how a kid needs to play with it.
In fact, you give the same toy to four kids in the same room, and they will find four different ways to play with it.
When we say open-ended toys, they include action figures, building blocks, toy cars, pretend food, and so much more. Kids learn to build their own stories, create a world in itself, imagine different actions and so much more.
You can have the same toys for a three-year-old and a five-year-old, which make this even more fun.
And if you are up for it, then you can play with them after growing up as well. Make a display area may be, spend obnoxious amounts of adult money to buy more of these.
Benefits Of Open-Ended Toys For Kids
Open-ended toys work differently for different kids based on their imagination, developmental ability and personal interest.
Here’s a look at the benefits of these toys:
Creativity
These toys do not come with a fixed set of rules to play with them. So all the child needs to do is unleash their creative mind and let that be the rules or gameplay.
Social-emotional development
Open-ended toys provide the right opportunity for children to learn social behaviour. How does a child include their friends during playtime. Are they considerate enough to share their toys? Or dominating with them?
This is the time to watch out for such things. You will also see kids creating several make-believe scenarios with the same.
Open To Learning New Concepts
Playing with open-ended toys can make kids curious learners. If you get them a set of different toy vegetables and fruits, for instance, it could increase their interest in cooking or foods.
At the same time, you could see them transform into a hawker or a supermarket shop and sell these.
Again, imagination is the limit here, and kids can roleplay different scenarios with other child or the parents.
Different Types Of Open-Ended Toys For Kids
There are about six types of different open-ended toys that kids can choose from. Here’s a breakdown of the games under each category.
1. Sensory play
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As the name suggests, these are touch-based games that require movement and creating different things. Sensory games include:
- Pop fidget
- Kinetic sand
- Cloud dough
- Fabric
2. Construction play
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Construction games let kids build things out of wooden blocks, bricks and more. Is your child a budding architect, maybe this would give you an idea.
- LEGO Bricks
- Magnetic Tiles
- Wooden Blocks
- Jenga Blocks
- Trainset
- Rainbow Blocks
3. Pretend play
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Imagination takes the front seat here, and kids might like an audience too for this one. Some of the games to play here include:
- Costumes
- Dolls
- Dollhouse
- Puppets
- Cardboard
- Cash register
- Play telephone
4. Fine motor play
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These games are all about enhancing the child’s fine motor skills. Here are the toys your kids can play with:
- Playdough
- Tweezers
- Gardening
- Getting dressed
5. Small world play
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Watch kids recreate a scene from a movie or cook up a completely new plot of their own. Little fast and little furious? You bet!
- Toy cars
- Animal figures
- Mini furniture
- Felt playmats
6. Cognitive play
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Challenge your kids intellect with these games as they allow them to think hard and really out their brains behind solving logical puzzles.
- Puzzles
- Matching games
- Dominoes
- Magnetic counting chips
- Logic games
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