Choosing Appropriate Play Materials for Infants and Toddlers

This article provides information on selecting play materials for infants and toddlers, considering their developmental needs and interests. It emphasizes the importance of age-appropriate, safe, and culturally appropriate toys. The article also discusses toy safety guidelines and the benefits of using appropriate materials for children's development.

Running head: EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

1EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Summary of the text book
Section A
Infants and the toddlers are the passive recipients of the world and start engaging with the
environment from the moment they are born. The world of play is thus a place where children
are allowed to venture and explore safely.
The main aim of this article to provide information regarding the selection of different
play materials for the infants and the toddlers. It has set down some of the important criteria for
the selection of play materials for the infants and he toddlers. The chapter has put forward some
of the valuable questions like “whether the materials are developmentally appropriate and
whether they encourage active participation of the children (Shabazian & Soga, 2014). Whether
they are healthy, safe or open ended, non- biased and neutral. As stated by the author, while
selecting the appropriate materials, it is important to consider the individual needs of the child
and their personal interests. The author had also emphasized on the role of the teachers to use
their knowledge about the development of the children for making general predictions regarding
a particular age group and capacities to use materials appropriate to the age group. From the
garden of Eden, God has designed family" as the most important educational agency .God's
instruction to the parents were to whet the intellectual appetites in the children (Berryman, 2013).
They were instructed to sharpen their knowledge, prompting questions that would be helpful to
create the teachable moments such that the instruction in the faith of Israel has to be given. This
law has to be continuously and unremittingly injected (Berryman, 2013). Throughout this paper
the author had cited several examples make the learners understand the association between the
play materials and development of the children (Shabazian & Soga, 2014). For example, for the

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babies who are mobile, teacher might place board books or assorted jar lids in small basket and
keep them in places, easily accessible to the infants. The author has also emphasized on the
importance of considering culture while choosing play material. The author has also drawn the
theory of Vygotsky of the how using suitable play materials can actually help babies to match the
zone of proximal development (Shabazian & Soga, 2014). The paper had successfully provide
information about the play materials that encourages participation of children. Play materials has
to be chosen in such a way that they provide the scope of exploration and feedback to foster
more important understanding of the world assisting them to realize the association between
action and reaction. For example, when an infant shares a rattle, a sound can be heard that he had
made happen. Technological play devices can be used for teaching children. However, that has
to be done in a way that is developmentally appropriate. Drawing examples from one of the
studies, the author has admitted that the children within the age range 15-21 learn more by live
presentation than from television. Brain growth is crucial between the years 203 years. Hence the
play materials that has to be chosen should stimulate the development of brain of the children.
Divergent thinking in children in necessary for the future personality development of a child.
Open ended materials needs to be used to foster skills of divergent thinking in the child. Some of
the examples of open ended materials are puzzles, boxes, papers, or the shape sorters.
The materials important for the infants and the toddlers needs to be sturdy, safe, and
durable, on toxic. Some household material used for the infants are made up of plastic and might
contain armfuk materials like bisphenol A and Phtahlate DEHP, that can cross the blood brain
barrier and affect the brain of children. The authors have also put forward some of the ideas of
natural resources like shells and barks , providing wonderful textures and can act as sensory
stimulation in the toddlers. Again, thicker or larger shells should be used in order to nullify the

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chance of choking. Finally, it cannot be denied that children have an inclination towards beauty.
Aesthetic sense of the play materials should be considered while choosing the play materials as it
is the aesthetics that allows children to engage deeply in interactive and personal learning.
Section B
Baby center, Toy safety guidelines
According to Psalm 127:3, it has been stated that children are heritage from God, a reward and
hence should be protected in all conditions. In relation to child safety, This website has
recommended some valuable toy safety guidelines that should be considered while choosing toys
for the toddlers. The guidelines have stated that it is required to be realistic to the development of
the child and select age appropriate toys. For example, the projectile toys are not suitable for
children under the age of 4. Again toys that with smaller parts are never suitable for children
under the age of three (BabyCenter, 2019). It is necessary to check the toys and before buying,
check for the batteries, ribbons or eyes beads that can be easily chewed off. A risk assessment
should be made before buying the toy as which toy poses chocking risks. It also necessary to
assess the physical condition of the child before selecting toys. Selecting unappropriated toys can
cause physical injury. Objects like latex balloons, which are the inevitable components of party
decorations also possess chocking fatalities causing severe breathing trouble. Toys with the long
cords (long than 12 inches) should be used to reduce the chance of getting strangled
(BabyCenter, 2019). Old play phones with cord needs to be place with wireless phones. Again
toys with powerful magnets needs to be avoided as they can be swallowed by children. Two or
more swallowed magnets can get attracted and might pinch and twist the intestine causing

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blockages on infections. Finally, plastic toys needs to be checked for phthalates and other toxic
compounds to prevent long tern health hazards.
Choosing Appropriate Toys and Equipment for Young Children
The article by Angie Dorrell, has discussed about the usefulness of choosing appropriate
play materials for young children. The author has drawn attention towards the fact that it is
necessary to be cautious about the needs of the child, the amount spend and the importance of the
toy (Dorrell, 2019). Each classroom should maintain an inventory list to monitor the type and the
amount of play materials. The author has also emphasized on the use of recycled materials as
classroom’s learning resources. Some of attributes of a great toy successfully pointed out by the
authors are that the materials should be appealing and interesting. All the toys should be
culturally appropriate and the materials and should be culturally appropriate. The toys should be
strong, shatterproof, and non-toxic. None of the toys should have sharp edges and the materials
should be such that they can be cleaned easily (Dorrell, 2019). The author has successfully
mentioned the benefits of using appropriate materials and toys. Age appropriate toys and
materials helps in the development of gross motor skill in the child. It has also been found to
play an important role in the hand eye coordination of the child. Toys that allows exploration
helps in enhancing the creative skills .For example the hardwood unit helps the children to learn
about shapes, sizes and geometry of the object (Dorrell, 2019). Appropriate materials also helps
in increasing the language acquisition skills in children. This article has recommended some
measures to clean up the toys and materials. Labeling of the storage containers and shelves can
be one important clean up strategy.

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INFANT/TODDLER MATERIALS GUIDE
This material has provided a detailed account of the equipment and materials to support
learning, the guidelines for the general arrangement of the rooms. As per the article ,it is
necessary to arrange for proper space to set up play areas. Materials not appropriate for the
children has to be locked in the cabinets for preventing injury. This paper has emphasized on the
importance of a parent communication center, where parents can actually leave messages of talk
with an educator or a caregiver. Sufficient information can also be obtained regarding the
construction of dramatic play area. It has been rightfully mentioned the materials selected for the
dramatic play activity should actually represent the types of materials that the children should
need to enact the experiences of their life. This article has provided with an ocean of information
regarding the spaces, ratios and relationship of the play with learning.
Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage
The content of this article is similar to the content of the other articles where
recommendations has been given for choosing appropriate toys. Toys for the young infants
should include something that they can shake or make noise or squeeze. Older babies would
require baby dolls, plastic vehicles and puppets, plastic bowls (NAEYC, 2019). Toys for the 1
years old should be bored picture books, recordings with rhymes, songs and simple stories,
crayons, play doughs, dress up accessories. Suitable toys for two years old includes wooden
puzzles, soring objects, building blocks. Kindergarten children on the other hand needs large and
small crayons for drawing, puppets, rhythm instruments, tricycles, tunnels, climbers, plastic bats
and balls (NAEYC, 2019).

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Thus it can be concluded that the toys for the children should be age appropriate, culturally
appropriate, and complying with all the toy safety guidelines.

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References
BabyCenter. (2019). Toy safety guidelines | BabyCenter. [online] Available at:
https://www.babycenter.com/0_toy-safety-guidelines_423.bc [Accessed 25 May 2019].
Berryman, J. W. (2013). The spiritual guidance of children: Montessori, godly play, and the
future. Church Publishing, Inc..
Dorrell, A. (2019). Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center. Retrieved from
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=222
Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage | NAEYC. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys
Shabazian, A. N., & Soga, C. L. (2014). Making the Right Choice Simple: Selecting Materials
for Infants and Toddlers. YC Young Children, 69(3), 60.
University of South Carolina (2019). Retrieved from
http://scpitc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SC-Infant-Toddler-Materials-Guide.pdf