01 September 2018

Importance of play: Toy Library

In today’s technology and screen focused world, play has never been more important for children. Play is essential for a child’s brain development and it is the way children learn about themselves and the world around them.

So much is happening when a child is playing- 
• imaginations are running wild
• language and communication skills are developing
• motor skills are maturing
• confidence is growing
• fun is happening

Play is the most powerful way children learn and it lays the foundations for literacy. Through play children are talking, listening, learning new words, problem solving, turn taking, creating, exploring and imagining.

One type of play children love to engage in is imaginative or pretend play. Imaginative play is when children act out experiences they have had, seen or heard. This can be something from everyday life or from story they have listened to. They might be cooking a cake, making a cup of tea, calling a friend on the phone, working in a shop, driving a car or rescuing a princess from an evil dragon.
To support your child’s pretend play you can provide some props or toys. This can be as simple as a cardboard box which becomes a car, a bear cave or a rocket. Your dining table can easily be transformed with a few sheets into a cubby house or a castle. Some pretend food can be the basis of a market stall, a supermarket or the ingredients to cook up a yummy dinner. 

The Unley Toy Library has lots of props and toys to encourage imaginative play. Come in for a look, we would love to see you.

The Unley Toy Library Team
The Unley Toy Library can be found in Unley Civic Library, 181 Unley Road, Unley.

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