Occupational specialists warn that too much TV and electronic time can affect physical and social development in children, leading to a higher need for OT.
OT specialist, from Sensory Zone, Ray Anne Cook recently addressed a workshop of parents at Toy Kingdom, Canal Walk, Cape Town, to talk more on the importance of play, especially in the foundation years for children. According to Cook, “when children sit in front of a screen, they are not developing holistically; they are not using their bodies to move. The screen is simultaneous visual and auditory stimulation which is not calming or soothing for a child as much as movement and resistance activities are.”
Cook elaborates further in the press release below. Some of the key insights include:
- Sensory Development– at the age of 2 years old, a child does not yet know where their body is and they need to explore and see how their bodies can move in a 3 dimensional world. This is where motor planning skills becomes important so that children can learn to problem solve. Cook highlights the need for traditional play time with educational toys that can encourage problem solving skills.
- Empathy and Social Skills– children need to learn from a very young age how to react to the world around them, and playing with toys such as dolls and action figures can help with understanding feelings of empathy
- Spatial awareness– giving your children the freedom to move during play will increase their sense of understanding of their bodies. If a child is frequently knocking into things, it is more than likely that his or her sense of touch and body space awareness is underdeveloped.
- Signs to look out for? – Cook advises that generally, if a child does not enjoy an age appropriate game or activity, has difficulty engaging with his peers in play, is unable to participate actively in everyday classroom tasks and is struggling to develop independence in age appropriate tasks at home, i.e. play, dressing, feeding, toileting etc., there may be a deficit or delay in skills development
- What sorts of toys are useful? – Cook includes of list of the sorts of toys to help development, e.g. things that feel weird, toys that require use of both hands etc. To help parents navigate their stores to find skills building toys, Toy Kingdom have introduced a category system in stores nationwide that helps parents identify which toys help to build certain skills.
Occupational therapy is a term becoming increasingly known to South African parents as one of the fields recruited to assist with early childhood development, particularly in the areas of play, motor and perceptions skills. A child’s occupation is play and they develop and learn through play. OT specialist Ray Anne Cook recently addressed a group of parents at an OT workshop hosted by toy brand, Toy Kingdom, and emphasised concerns around too much screen time. “When children sit in front of a screen, they are not developing holistically; they are not using their bodies to move. The screen is simultaneous visual and auditory stimulation which is not calming or soothing for a child as much as movement and resistance activities are. ”
Cook explained that the first two years in a child’s life focuses on sensory development, followed by sensory motor development from ages 2-4 years which explores touch. “At the age of 2 years old, a child does not yet know where their body is and they need to explore and see how their bodies can move in a 3 dimensional world. This is where motor planning skills becomes important so that children can learn to problem solve.” Cook highlights the need for traditional play time with educational toys that can encourage problem solving skills. She believes that a child who does not learn to problem solve in the classroom, playground or at home and in the community will have trouble tackling issues later on in life. Cook further stresses the importance of nurturing a child’s interest when it comes to toys, and to not force children onto toys that a parent thinks they should be playing with. If the toys or games speak to the child’s interest, the child will be more inclined to play.
Children need to learn from a very young age how to react to the world around them, and playing with toys such as dolls and action figures can help with understanding feelings of empathy, as well help to build social skills. “Play is relationship building, this is the space where social skills are developed and parents must be mindful that it’s not about getting the game right, it’s about the experience the child is having. Never force a child to play, let them discover their surroundings” said Cook.
Giving your children the freedom to move during play will increase their sense of understanding of their bodies. If a child is frequently knocking into things, it is more than likely that his or her sense of touch and body space awareness is underdeveloped. Cook explains that even doing something as simple as pulling a child on a blanket across the floor will not only be fun for the child, but will teach him or her about the sense of balance.
For many parents, knowing what to look out for in their children when assessing their needs for further skill development or occupational therapy can be daunting. Cook advises that generally, if a child does not enjoy an age appropriate game or activity, has difficulty engaging with his peers in play, is unable to participate actively in everyday classroom tasks and is struggling to develop independence in age appropriate tasks at home, i.e. play, dressing, feeding, toileting etc., there may be a deficit or delay in skills development. She also explains that often children’s resistant, controlling or avoidant behaviour can be the first sign that they are finding something challenging.
Quality development in the right areas can assist young children to inhibit the basic skills needed to perform efficiently in the schooling and home environment,” says Grant Webster, COO of Toy Kingdom. The children’s toy store places strong emphasis on using educational toys to help children develop the skills needed to participate in their environment, and has recently introduced a category system in-store for certain toys to help parents navigate according to the skills the toys build on.
The types of toys that can assist in a child’s development at home
The below provides a guideline of what sorts of toys are suitable for children being treated for OT and how they can assist in building skills:
Toys that encourage problem solving – building blocks and toys that encourage the ability to put parts together to make something are a good choice for developing children’s motor and problem solving skills on a fine motor level, as it gives them a chance to try and figure things out for themselves. It’s important to also consider toys that will help build strength in children’s hands, e.g. play dough scissors. This strength will be necessary to take on writing amongst other daily activities.
Things that feel ‘weird’ – toys with sticky or slimy surfaces help children to experiment with texture. You can start with nature such as mud, water and sand and then move to the synthetic feels. This can be beneficial in ensuring children are more open to putting textured food in their mouths, and is also a great way for them to get their hands working.
Toys that require the use of both hands – learning to use both hands well can help with colouring, cutting and writing. Wind -up toys are a good example or even simply tossing and catching a ball.
Toys that encourage pretend play – fantasy and play have long been used to stimulate creativity as well as social skills in children. By pretending to do or be something different, the child is practicing both verbal and non-verbal communication, harnessing the skills to socialise and cooperate with other children and adults. Toy Kingdom’s Shopkins range is a perfect set-up for children to play with pretend food and enjoy make-believe scenarios.
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