One can see them gaining new skills and can observe their delight in the process. I'm not saying we should go back to the old pots and pans and not have the wonderful new toys available for youngsters today. I am encouraging toys that offer opportunities for growth and extended use plus both independent and cooperative play. I like toys that encourage language development, eye-hand coordination, imagination, creativity, and a sense of personal satisfaction and success. Even the most basic toys offer multiple growth opportunities.
Some toys offer challenges to match and sort, and to string things of different colors and shapes.
You can also use those pieces to make simple or complex patterns. You can make piles and talk about which is bigger or smaller. You can talk about adding or taking away. Sometimes you might create new shapes by combining the pieces, i.e. two squares to make a rectangle or two triangles to create a diamond. When pieces come in various sizes, you can arrange them from smallest to largest.