Designing a Toy
This document explains the design of a toy. Playing is essential for a child’s development. This will help the child to develop physically and mentally. A child who does not play does not have many skills related to playing, such as social skills. This document explains the type of toy and its use, as well as the safety measures associated with it. This toy can be used in math classes. It’s about balancing. The child can be able to grasp knowledge on weights at a tender age.
What is the name of the toy?
The balance board
Describe the toy.
The type of material used for this toy includes one wooden board, approximately 30 cm long by 12 cm wide, 1 PVC tube and industrial glue. This toy can also be personalized with colours or markers by the child.
How old is the child for whom the toy is intended?
The toy is intended for a 3 to 7-year-old child.
What developmental theory or theories justify the utility of your toy?
Piaget’s theory justifies the development theory. Piaget’s theory is divided into four stages. Each stage of a child is associated with a particular characteristic. In this case, the stage is the pre-occupational stage. It is usually between 2 to 7years.In this stage, a child plays with objects and tries to relate them with real-life situations (Blum, Coates, Olesker, Parens, Ross, Schechter & Smolen, 2020). For example, the balance board, which means that for it to swing, there must be two people on both sides. One must side must be a bit heavier for it to be able to move from side to side.
How does the child play with it?
For the child to be able to play with the balance board, first he or she has to set up a pivot. This will enable the balance board to lean on either of the direction. The pivot can be a stone or even a metal pipe. One child stands on one side of the balance board while the other stands on it, trying to balance (Blum et al.,2020). The heavier one would be likely to get the side of the board is lower than the other child. On both sides, two children can stand, making a total of four in the balance card. The determinant would be the hardness of the balance board.
What features of the toy make it developmentally appropriate?
The feature that is being developed in a child is the brain. The child can be able to learn many aspects of life, such as balancing what makes two objects to have equal measures. The child can also be able to learn how to create mechanical objects since he or she can make a pivot or a balance board using any material. The interaction during play also helps the child develop social skills. These skills help a child to know how to make a meaningful relationship despite competition. Lastly, it makes the child more physically healthy since the activity involves moving up and down.
What is the domain (s) of development your toy designed to stimulate? How are the domains stimulated?
The areas of development that should be stimulated by my toy are cognitive, health, physical and motor. This toy will stimulate cognitive development, as they need to use coordination skills to balance the board. This helps to “train” the brain. It will also help to stimulate motor skills. It will also stimulate health and physical development, as the baby will need to develop leg strength to maintain balance.
What are the specific features of the toy (size, shape, colour, noise-making properties, etc.) that enhance its attractiveness and play value?
Some special features of the toy that increase its appeal and play value are that it can be customized according to the child’s specification. It can be painted and coloured. They can also play with their friends to see who can keep their balance the longest. It also helps children to get in touch and do a physical activity instead of mental activity.
What considerations are there for preventing injury when the toy is used?
Some considerations to remember to avoid injuries are that this toy has good coordination and fine motor skills. Children should be supervised to prevent a child from falling and injuring themselves, and this activity should always be performed on a soft surface, such as a rug, off the grass or with foam pillows.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the toy has factored in a lot of aspects for the child. This includes the health aspect. The child can be able to play without facing any health issues. It also makes develop social skills which are required in his or her development stages. He or she can be able to relate physical objects and know their purposes, for example, the pivot.
References
Blum, H., Coates, S., Olesker, W., Parens, H., Ross, J. M., Schechter, D., & Smolen, A. G. (2020). Growing Up: Revisiting Child Development Theories and Their Application to Patients of All Ages. Lexington Books.