Hobbies And Interests
Understanding the World
Manipulative toys, such as blocks, help children explore and understand their world. According to Cynthia Hoisington of Early Childhood News, children experiment with blocks to build their own structures. Through trial and error, blocks are placed together to hold up other blocks. Children begin to understand the laws of science through these manipulatives and increase the size of their structures as they grow confident in their building skills. Soon they carefully choose blocks of the right size and shape for their play.
Cause and Effect
Manipulative toys educate children about cause and effect relationships. For example, in block play, children figure out how using blocks can hold up other blocks with the right conditions, such as the weight of the blocks and the right kind of flooring. Building with these toys show children cause and effect relationships, which are used later in science and math. With puzzles, children theorize whether certain shapes fit into spaces. Through testing and close examination, they learn the effects of the right or wrong shape with the puzzle.
Writing
Fine-tuning of the small muscles in your fingers are necessary for writing. Manipulative toys work on this type of muscle control as well as hand-eye coordination needed for writing well. Toys, such as threading boards and construction toys, develop the small muscles in the fingers. They lay the foundation for holding pencils for writing and using tools, such as scissors. It can make the difference between clumsy and refined writing.
Self-Help
Children are better able to engage in self-help activities, such as tying shoes and buttoning jackets, with manipulative toys. Fine motor skills developed by manipulative toys are a precursor to the child's independence. Toys, such as board games and musical instruments, help improve the fine motor skills that are used in most self-help activities. These activities are also important for the self-esteem of children, because it can result in frustration and fatigue if they cannot perform simple everyday tasks.