Selecting Toys, Equipment, and Educational Materials Chapter 10 Selecting Toys, Equipment, and Educational Materials

Selection Criteria Consideration when selecting toys and equipment.

Program Goals Classroom toys and equipment should reflect program goals. If a program goal is to have the children develop language skills, then language materials should be placed in the classroom. Books Pictures CDs Alphabet cards Puppets

Budget To stay within the budget, follow these guidelines: First purchase the basics. Tables Chairs Shelving units

Balance Before buying equipment, review each item to decide if it adds balance to the items already available. Can the item be used with other toys? Will it help children reach goals that are not met sufficiently with current toys? Will it promote interaction with peers? Will it balance toys for all areas of development?

Space Keep in mind the space and storage needed for any new items. Large pieces of equipment

Maintenance All toys and equipment require maintenance. The care required varies with the type of toy or equipment and the amount of use. Plastic items require less upkeep than metal or wooden ones.

Durability Children’s toys need to be durable. Children bang, drop, and stand on them. When angry, children may even throw toys. Materials that are durable: wood cloth

Quantity In most classrooms, it is common to find two or more children playing with the same toys. To promote cooperation, supply an ample amount of toys. Studies show that children who have been exposed to a wide variety of toys are more imaginative and creative.

Child Involvement Choose toys that will actively involve children. Avoid spectator toys (toys that require little action on the child’s part). Battery-powered cars Talking dolls

Brainstorm Provide examples of toys that actively involve children.

Developmentally Appropriate Toys Children's physical age and developmental age are often quite different. Physical age (also known as chronological age): age determined by a birth date Developmental age: a child’s skills and growth level compared to typical skills for that physical age group

Violence and Toys Toys that promote aggressive behavior: superheroes monsters guns war games

Nonsexist Toys and Materials It is important to set up an environment that is free of gender bias. The teacher’s attitude about toys will affect what children learn about sex roles. It is necessary to make a conscious effort to suggest a variety of toys to all children.

Multicultural Toys and Materials Multicultural toys: toys that represent a variety of cultural or ethnic groups Multicultural toys and materials encourage children to explore the world’s diversity learn to appreciate others develop a sense of identity

Selecting Safe Toys To promote safety, choose toys carefully. Discard items that contain any of the following safety hazards: breakable piece sharp edge or points small parts toxic materials toys with long cords toys with small beadlike objects inside

Proper Developmental Design Proper developmental design features include equipment designed closer to the ground railings on ramps low platforms with few access points railings on decks over three feet high covers or canopies over sand tables

Protective Surfacing Unitary surfacing materials Rubber mats Blend of rubber-like materials Loose fill impact absorbing materials Wood chips Mulch Tile systems Sand

Equipment Maintenance Well-maintained playgrounds provide greater production and less risk. Loose screws and bolts Sharp edges Broken or missing parts Open pipes Tripping hazards

Safety General hazards to avoid include exposed pinch-crush parts on seesaws or gliders head entrapment openings open-end S-rings on swing sets hard swing seats exposed screws or sharp edges hot metal playground equipment

Appeal If the equipment does not appeal to children, they will not use it. Children prefer to have a variety of equipment, they enjoy being able to push pull balance swing slide

Maintenance Choose equipment that is durable. For durability and safety, many of the playgrounds are constructed from plastic metal wood

Buying Consumable Supplies Consumable supplies: materials that cannot be used more than once Clay Paper Paint Paste Glue