Play: Interest Developing way
We characteristically associate tl is with play. Toys date back to 3,000 B.c.with dolls and miniature carte found in the ruins of ancient cities. Toys offer the opportunity for 6e child to respond to his or her environment and, in an elementa:y way, to act out feelings toward that environment.
Many interests are developed through play. Whether it be playing with rattles, blocks, or dolls, pretending to be a cowboy or an astronaut, learning to jump rope, or making mud pies, playing is more than just fun; it is "work" for the child. Through the study of attention spans in children we know that play also satisfies needs.Also, a toy that may be a good attention holder for a two-year-old declines in its appeal as the child grows older. Some toys, of course, are beyond the age range of the child.
Every good toy should contribute to the mental, physical, and etic development of the child. Toys should be selected for child appeal rather than parent appeal. Thus the three-year-old may play with a given toy for a certain amount of time, the four-year-old for a longer period of time, and the five-year-old for the longest period of time. If when the child is six years of age the toy has lost its appeal, it is no longer satisfying a need. The closer a toy comes to satisfying the particular needs of the child, the higher will be the play value of the toy. The length of time children will concentrate in play depends on the selection of the right toy for the right age.
