Toys and Child Development: Montessori, Piaget, and Vygotsky

Playing, as a specific activity for children, first gained importance in the eyes of experts of human development as it came to be viewed as having the capacity to promote development on multiple levels. Children can play with or without objects, but the toy is a primordial tool for understanding the importance of playing in development. Despite this recognition, the role of toys in children’s development is still a subject that has not been studied thoroughly in theories of human development.

In a general sense, toys are not just gadgets for play; they are, in Lev Vygotsky’s terms, tools reflecting the way traditions see children’s learning and development. Social games and toys help children with developmental delays to learn life skills as teeth brushing, communicating with ...