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FUNCTIONAL PLAY: What Does It Do?
A child explores a toy to see how s/he can make it "work". This begins with combination play such as banging toys against each other or a surface, emptying containers (dumping) and knocking blocks down. The child slowly begins to use toys as they are designed to be used; where the toy design "speaks" to them! Reactive toys are used which are very responsive to a child's manipulation and may offer multiple areas responding in different reactions. A child begins to understand cause and effect in that specific actions result in specific responses.
Children begin to combine objects to see what they can do to elicit different responses. Banging toys against a surface (tray) or each other, finding "hidden" toys, and dumping or pulling toys out of containers are places to start. Children begin to discover what they must do to make a toy work. Some electronic toys that require minimal touch or voice to "turn on" and have multiple responses (lights, vibration, sound, etc.)
FUNCTIONAL PLAY: SUGGESTED TOYS
Developlay Activity Center – (Tiny Love) |
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Hang this toy on a crib or put in the removable feet and use it on the floor. This toy features two side to promote discovery learning as your child's interests change. It combines color, texture, and sounds within a variety of reactive areas. Children are encouraged to pull, spin, push, grasp, look and listen.
Firefly & Friends Bug Jar – (Sassy) |
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Kids will enjoy discovering all of the different ways this toy can be used. They can hold the bugs; put them into the clear container without the top or through any slot on the lid. The many colors and textures will draw your child to this toy. Look for the firefly- it lights up.
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Wiggly Giggly Ball - ( Hands on Toys) |
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Children are drawn to the giggly sounds made as the ball rolls around. Your child will want to follow it as it takes a different path each time. There is no right or wrong way to play – children will want to play with it over and over again.
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Multi-Activity Table- (TOMY) |
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These toys unique adjustability features allow it to be used at many different "stages" and in many different ways. The removable legs allow the toy to be used as a hanging activity center. Using one leg and placing the table on its side allows for an easy to reach play surface in sitting. The legs can be collapsed for a small table or extended underneath for a supporting surface for standing. When a child is bigger the legs can be turned around to make a desk. In addition to the many positions it can be used in the exploratory activity surface can be turned over for drawing. The built in adjustability and flexibility of this toy are truly unique.
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Shake ‘n Go Car- (Fisher Price)
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Use any back and forth movement to "rev-up" this car- the longer you shake it, the farther it will go! These easy to hold racers will take off on almost any surface. Discover how many ways your child can play with this flexible toy.
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Rollipop Starter Set – (Edushape) |
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This toy comes with brightly colored balls that even have funny faces. The balls can be dropped into the tower. Hitting every stop along the way, these balls wind their way down to the bottom only to be dropped again. Your child will want to put them down again and again. Connect the colorful plastic ramps together to make the tower as high or low as you want to. Watch as the balls disappear inside columns then roll down and around!
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Super Enormous Play Tunnel 6 ft/ X 28" – (Pacific Play Tents) |
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This super tunnel is 28" in diameter making it easy for kids (or adults) large or small to move in and out of. It is large enough to sit-up in and play "house". Your child will find countless ways to use this giant "fort". The tunnel has a padded interior for comfort and is constructed of spring steel with a sturdy nylon cover.
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