Functional play is considered a "first toy" for children, as it is the first toy they use when they begin using objects to entertain themselves. This play begins in early childhood and continues until approximately two years of age, when the stage of constructive play begins.
The importance of these games lies in their ability to pick up, disassemble, and touch objects within their reach. Whether they are toys or everyday household items, they simply want to play, as this contributes to their self-development.
In a report published in the Spanish magazine "Pecia Padres," author Maria José Roldán Prieto said that when young children begin to play, they do so in parallel with functional play, which is extremely important for the growth and development of these little beings.
Why does the baby love the box?
If you give a box to a young child, he will definitely love to play with it. The child can imagine these boxes (cubes) as imaginary worlds and invisible friends, because his imagination and creativity will help him enjoy these simple pieces.
These building blocks can be transformed into a house or anything else they need to play with in the constructive play stage. However, to get there, they must first experience these toys by touching them in the functional play stage.
At this stage, it doesn't matter what the toys are, what they do with them, or how they experience them by touching them, playing with them, and making them fall. As all parents have noticed, a simple cardboard box will appeal to children as much as a new train toy, as it has so many wonderful features worth discovering.
Functional play does not mean using toys or everyday objects in a symbolic way, as that would be reserved for later stages, since in this functional stage your child will focus on the natural physical properties of an object.
Playing is pure joy.
As your baby interacts with and examines objects, they'll use their senses to learn more about the toy and its world. They may be drawn to the bright colors of an object, the sound it makes when hit with a spoon, the smooth feel of its sides, or the new and unusual smells it emits.
It is essential that children's toys are of good quality, as they should stimulate your child's senses. They should also be safe enough for him to pull, suck, and throw from the crib without breaking. Specifically, toys and materials provided to young children must comply with safety standards set by law.
Another advantage of functional play is that it often involves repetition. For example, your child might intentionally pass a ball over and over again simply because they like seeing the colors spin and hearing the sound of it bouncing. This way, they'll benefit from the sight and sound, especially since they enjoy this repetition.
Benefits of playing in the career stage
Children enjoy everything that toys offer on a sensory level, even the simplest activities, such as the repetitive activities common in functional play that actually build literacy, motor, and thinking skills.
For example, some ways you can tell when your child is playing include placing cars in a line according to size or color to reinforce skills such as identifying and classifying objects, as well as grouping objects without doing anything else specifically to introduce the concept of cause and effect.
As a result, functional play may be known as “first play,” but it also prepares children for the complex skills they will need to use both in school and in everyday life.
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