From Play to Profession: How building toys can inspire future Architects and Engineers
According to the American Institute of Architects, Frank Lloyd Wright is the most influential of all US architects. Creator of “organic architecture” and open-plan advocate. His “prairie houses” became the model for American residential architecture in the twentieth century. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Frank Lloyd Wright is “the most creative genius of American architecture”.
As a child, Frank Lloyd Wright enjoyed playing with educational construction sets. Unsurprisingly, this man was so successful in architecture as an adult because his talents were nurtured at such a young age. This provides additional evidence that early childhood experience, when the human brain is at its most active stage of development, is the most important factor determining the speed of development and the vector of interest formation.
Educational toy types
Every parent sincerely wishes their child a happy childhood and does everything possible to ensure this. Parents are willing to do a lot for the sake of their children and, as a rule, buy a variety of toys for their kids.
Building toys
Building toys are examples of educational toys that allow children to develop their imagination and creative thinking. Building toys are available in a variety of sizes and materials. For children, we recommend choosing construction sets made from large parts and simpler ones, without a specific task, and for older adults, construction sets whose task requires assembling some kind of structure.
We do not advise small-part construction sets for children less than 3 years old due to the fact that small children use tasting as a way of learning about the world and end up putting everything in their mouths. There are now building toys that can be used from infancy. This construction set’s parts have no sharp corners and are at least six centimetres in size. Details are bright, colourful, and have a smooth surface, and the parts for the youngest children have simple shapes, making it easier for the baby to understand.
Wooden toys are a huge hit with kids and have already received a lot of positive feedback from parents. All parts of such construction sets are meticulously processed and polished so that the child can enjoy holding them. Young children will most likely want to taste the construction set, which is another benefit of wooden construction sets: they do not cause allergic reactions and are completely safe.
Mosaics
A mosaic will be an excellent purchase if you are looking for not only beautiful and trendy toys for your baby but also educational toys. Even a one-year-old baby can participate in mosaic games. The smallest children are drawn in by the large, bright, multi-coloured mosaic details, and the simple patterns of objects familiar to the child in the surrounding world are easy and accessible. A large mosaic is required for children who are just getting started with this educational game. The mosaic pieces are easy to grasp with children’s fingers. The option of soft mosaic, which bends but does not break, is particularly appealing. Its elements are easily interlocking.
The elements in children’s mosaics vary not only in size, shape, material, and colour scheme but also in design options. Magnetic mosaics, for example, can be assembled on any horizontal or vertical metal surface. Parts of the mosaic pattern can stick to the door or wall of a refrigerator, for example, thanks to special magnetic inserts in the mosaic pieces.
Floor mosaic is an excellent choice. Its details are visible and comfortable, and it washes well in warm water. Floor mosaics can be used while walking in the yard, or on a long trip – on a train, in a car. If the game uses a transparent base for assembly, the child will be able to lay out a fairly complex drawing on his own. The drawing can be positioned beneath the base, and the pieces can be positioned directly on the image.
A wooden mosaic made of multi-coloured geometric shapes is used not only for laying out different patterns but also for building various three-dimensional structures. Wooden mosaics help children develop their imaginations and mental abilities.
Puzzles
Some toys are equally appealing to children of all ages. The great thing about puzzle toys is that both children and adults enjoy them. Puzzles help to develop new mental abilities while also strengthening existing ones. Such toys will entertain your child and allow him to make the most of his free time.
There are puzzles designed to stimulate a child’s mental potential by encouraging mathematical understanding, three-dimensional reasoning, and the development of high-level systems thinking.
Metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, and glass are used in modern educational puzzles. Dr. Slocum, a well-known inventor and collector, categorizes existing puzzles into ten types. The majority of the world’s puzzles work on the overlapping principle. The main benefit of these toys is their variety, widespread availability, and low cost. This category of educational games contains a variety of exciting and simple toys for children of all ages, including infants.
Conclusion
All of the toys described in this article are intended to help your child realize his or her full potential and develop his or her creative abilities. The more diverse the toys your child has, the better because each child has preferences that aren’t always obvious. That is why it is critical to provide the baby with a variety of options so that he can independently decide on the direction and choose what will please him. As you know, learning through games is the best way to learn, and a game is good when it brings joy and pleasure. The development process will only be truly effective in this case.