ABILITIES AND INTERESTS
Primary School Age 6, 7 and 8 Years
Through play children learn, grow up and develop physically, mentally and socially. Toys are a tool that should serve the proper development of a child. A good choice of a toy is a very important part of parenting because it is closely linked to children’s development.
PHYSICAL
- large muscle interests and abilities include: water sports, hopscotch, jumprope, roller skating, stunts and climbing (trees, trapeze), ice skating, riding bicycle, ball play (but most not ready for competitive team sports)
- small muscle interests and abilities include: simple sewing (can sew straight line), printing, braiding, drawing with pencils, cutting out paper dolls, simple carpentry (can saw straight line), weaving, string small beads, puzzles.
- will practice in target activities or to improve a skill.
MENTAL
Interest in:
- reading, spelling and printing activities and games.
- simple arithmetic activities and games, and in time, calendars, weights, value of coins.
- nature and in simple science activities and experiments.
- collecting things and in hobbies.
- the line between fantasy and realitylikes magic and “tricks”.
- producing finished products (art, models, crafts, sewing, carpentry)
- other times and other places.
SOCIAL
- Special friends, clicks, gangs, secret languages and passwords enjoy a great interest in a group of colleagues and “belonging”.
- prefers to play with same sex peers.
- great increase in ability to play cooperatively with othersenjoys group activities.
- interest in “fair play” and living up to standards (own and group’s standards of excellence).
- continues interest in dramatic games (puppets, dolls, paper dolls, dress-ups, war games, cowboys and Indians, cops and robbers, space games) by age 8 increased interest in producing shows and plays.
- starting interest in the wider community.
ALL TOYS
- The child is primarily concerned with the goal, not the means or processes.
- Experimentation is becoming more “scientific”.
- A child less dependent on a particular subject for a concept.
Child can:
- sort and classify using more than one criterion increasingly make use of reading, writing and simple arithmetic in games and toys.
- do simple sewing, weaving, braiding, ceramics, jewelry kitshas greatly in- creased fine motor control
- use simple mechanical toys (cars, trains).
Child is interested in:
- time and seasons and in toys marking wood time
- collections of things line between fantasy and reality (likes tricks and magic and disguise kits)
- paper line between fantasy and reality (likes cardboard tricks and magic and disguise kits)
- producing products in arts, crafts, woodworking etc.
- kits (science, craft, models) and can follow simple directions
- adult roles and likes realistic costumes and props for character play
- rudiments of sports and skill development
- Children show increasing variation in interest and abilities.
- Reading interests vary but child beginning to be able to use dictionary.
- Beginning of interest in giving “shows”.
- Great interest in “fairness” but hates to lose and will cheat to win in games.
- Toys should have no sharp points or edges.
- No electrical parts without adult supervision.
ACTIVE PLAYPush and Pull Toys Ride-On Toys
Outdoor and Gym Equipment
Sports Equipment
| MANIPULATIVE PLAYConstruction Toys
Puzzles
Pattern Making Toys
Manipulative Toys
Dressing, Lacing, and Stringing Toys
Sand and Water Play Toys
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MAKE-BELIEVE PLAYDolls
Stuffed Toys
Puppets
Role-Play Materials
Play Scenes
Transportation Toys
Projectile Toys
| CREATIVE PLAY (arts, crafts, music)Musical Instruments
Art and Craft Materials
Audio-Visual Equipment
| LEARNING PLAYGames
Specific Skill Development Toys
Books
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Source:
Which Toy For Which Child, Dr Barbara Goodson, Dr Martha Bronson, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Read about:
*Choosing the right toys for your child
*Toys for older Toddlers – 2 year old
