OLUSANJO MICHAEL OLUWOLE
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILA-ORANGUN
ABSTRACT
This paper examined the toys used to teach Mathematics in elementary schools. It also establishes meaning of toys, types of toys, classifications and importance of toys in all round development of children. The paper is concluded by stating some of the various toys that can be used to teach certain contents and skills in elementary school mathematics.
INTRODUCTION
The term toys are used to describe the tools children use in play. It can also be describe as the tool that can lead to fun learning experiences for children. According to National Network for Child Care Organisation (NNCC) (2003), toys can be purchased, or they may be as simple as kitchen pan lids or paper sack puppet, or may be as complex as an electronic computer the older child or adult used for sophisticated games.
Toys are usually associated with children, but it is not unusual for adult to play with toys (Wikipedia, 2010). Toys are important when it comes to growing up and learning about the world around us. Areas where toys have been found useful include forming and strengthening social bonds, teaching and learning, remembering and reinforcing lessons, discovering identity, to exercise mind and bodies, exploring relationships, practice skill and to decorate living spaces (Wikipedia,2010). Playing with toys is an introductory phase of child’s academic life (India Parenting, 1999).
Mathematics can be intimidating because it is full of concepts and facts. In view of these two points, learners at all levels of education struggle with mathematics likewise teachers do struggle to find way of helping their pupils / students master many skills involved in mathematics. It is base on this premises that the author will examine how we can use or how toys have been used to make teaching of mathematics in elementary schools fun and real.
What are Toys?
The origin of the word ‘toy’ is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in 14th century (Etymonline, 2010). Toys are things that can be used in play (Wikipedia, 2010). Toy according to Answer.com is any plaything for child or adult. Toys survive the remote past and from a great variety of cultures (Answer.com, 2010). They range from the simple to the complex, from a stick or piece of string that becomes a toy in a child’s hands to complex mechanical and electronic devices.
Favourite toys include balls, jump ropes, dolls, drums, whistles, dice, jackstones, board games, marbles, play weapons, and costumes. With recent technological development, computer games and other electronic toys have been invented (Answer.com, 2010). According to Van Patten (2006), the materials that toys are made from have changed what toys are and what toys can do have also changed, but the fact that children play with toys has not changed. Toys are not just things to play with but, they can play an important role in child’s physical and mental development. Toys are an excellent way to stimulate a child’s intelligence. Toys that encourage child to enhance his learning skills are great to educate (Neufeld, 2003).
It can be said that all toys are educational, but some toys are more educational than others. Educational toys are deemed to be highly educational as they can be used to boost learning skills in one or two school subjects. Toys that are used to teach specific school subjects are called Educational toys. Educational toys provide entertainment while fulfilling an education role. Educational toys that have been used to boost one learning skills or the other according to India Parenting (1999) will be examined below:
1. Hands- on toys: These are toys that require a child to physically move around or about. These toys could be used to teach hand-eye co-ordination and to encourage problem-solving skills. Examples of hands-on toys are puzzles and jigsaw.
2. Picture books and music: Pictures in books can be used to appeal to child’s visual senses, when an adult read the child learn new words and their meaning. Music allows a child to experience different sounds and appreciate them.
3. Construction items: This type of toy can be used to enhance child’s scientific abilities by allowing him or her to build working models of machines. This toy also encourages child to develop reasoning abilities.
4. Musical instruments and experimental materials: Experimental materials refer to clay, sand and water. These materials are good tools for a child to explore his sense of touch. Likewise, musical instruments can be used to appeal to a child’s sense of rhythm and harmony.
5. Blocks: Blocks can be used to develop mathematical skills in a child. Various shapes of blocks can be used to introduce geometrical concepts like squares, circles, triangles, etc.
6. Educational games: These are games that have been specifically designed to teach learners about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assist learners in learning a skill as they play. They include board, card and video games (Wikipedia, 2010)
Types of Toys
There are different types of toys according to scholars, association and organisation in the field. In this paper, types of toys according to online encyclopaedia (Wikipedia, 2010) will be examined.
Construction sets: A construction set is a collection of separate pieces that can be joined together to create models. Construction sets such as Lego bricks and Lincoln Logs are designed for slightly older children and have been quite popular in the last century. Construction sets appeal to children and adults who like to work with their hands, puzzle solvers and imaginative sorts.
Dolls and Miniatures: A doll is a model of human (often baby), a humanoid (like Bert and Ernie), or an animal. Modern dolls are often made of cloth or plastic. Other materials that are , or have been used in the manufacture of dolls include cornhusks, bones, stone, wood, porcelain (sometimes called china), bisque, celluloid, wax and even apples. Any material could be used to make dolls. A doll or stuffed animal of soft material is sometimes called a plush toy or plushie. A popular toy of this type is the Teddy Bear. Examples of miniatures are animal figures and version of vehicle, aircraft, boat, train and military vehicles.
Puzzles: A puzzle is a problem or enigma that challenges ingenuity. Solutions to puzzle may require recognising pattern and creating a particular order. Puzzles may be based on the process of inquiry and discovery or deduction skills. Puzzles may be used to develop planning and problem-solving skills and algorithms e.g. Rubik’s cube. Other examples of puzzles are maze, lock puzzles, logic puzzles, stick puzzles, tiling puzzles, transport puzzle, etc.
Physical activity toys: These are the toys that require active play. Playing with these sorts of toys allows children to exercise, building strong bones and muscles and aiding in physical fitness. Throwing and catching balls and Frisbees can improve hand-eye coordination. Examples of these toys include hoops, lops, jump ropes and balls, as well as more modern toys like foot bags, yo-yo, myachi, etc.
Promotional merchandise: These are the toys that are often related to successful films, television programs, books and sport teams. Promotional toys can fall into other toy categories. For example they can be dolls or action figures based on the characters of movies or professional athletes, or they can be balls, yo-yos, and lunch boxes with logos on them.
Classifications of Toys
Toys can be classified into three groups according to the function they perform (ToystoTeach, 2003 & NNCC, 2003):
1. Sensory toys: These are the toys that stimulate the senses (touch, sight, sound, taste and smell) for infants. Sensory toys do make sound, have different textures and have flashing lights.
2. Developmental toys: These are the toys that help children develop certain skills. Developmental toys include walkers, building blocks, construction sets, sand tables, etc.
3. Educational toys: These are the toys that teach a specific educational subject or topic. Such as Reading, Physics, Mathematics, Music, etc. Educational toys may make sound or word, recite alphabet or count.
Importance of Toys in the all round development of children
Toys are important to children in elementary schools since they need to have direct experience with the world in order to make sense of and learn about it. For examples, children learn how to walk, sit up, talk, run, read, count, write, etc. by playing with toys.
Other areas where toys have been found important in the all round development of children according to Caldera, Aletha and Marion (1989), NNCC (2003), Nicole (2010) and Wikipedia (2010) are as follow:
1. Physical development: Toys are very useful in the physical development of children. For example, children exercise their muscles with toys by rocking horses and riding bikes.
2. Creativity and Sense of imagination: Through play with toys, infants begin to recognise shapes and colours. Toys enable children to create and use their imagination. When an empty cardboard box is given to a child, it can become some things like a train, house, or cage at the zoo. Also, Play-doh, Silly Putty and other hands-on materials allow the child to make toys of their own.
3. Intellectual and Reasoning development: When children play with toys they gain self-confidence, that is, as children play with toys they develop a sense of power.
4. Social development: Toys can be used to foster friendship among children. For instance toys like teeter-totters only work when children co-operate. Playing with toys in a group helps children discover how others think and feel what brings approval or disapproval.
Factors that determine selection of Toys for teaching and learning in elementary schools
In selecting toys for children of elementary school, teachers and parents should borne this in mind:
1. Interest: Almost any play material can present opportunities for being creative, imaginative and constructive, but teachers and parents should first of all be guided by child’s interest rather than educational and creative natures of the toys. The interest of children in selecting a play material is very essential as each child has different needs and interest. Different reasons may lead a child to ask for a particular toy (Matthew, 2010).
2. Safety and Durability: When selecting toys for children to play with, primary school educators and parents should look for safe and well-built play thing. Since children usually put toys into their mouth, the material used to make a toy must not be the one that can harm (poison) the children. Also, toys should be safe to handle, not have sharp edges and small-attached pieces (NNCC, 2003 &U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2004).
3. Age level: Age –level in terms of developmental age and chronological age should be considered. The reason for this is that toy that is appropriate for one age may be inappropriate for another age group. Toys are usually designed for certain ages, not all toys for an age group will appeal to a child (Matthew, 2003).
4. Ease of use of the toy: Toy selection should be based on whether the child can use the toy alone or need another person. The teacher should determine whether the toy is designed for independent play or group play (Matthew, 2003).
5. Culture: Toys to be selected must take culture of the environment into consideration; this is as a result of different value system, because a play material that is allowed in one place may be forbidden in another place. Also, parents’ value system can encourage or discourage the use of one toy or the other (Matthew, 2003).
6. Disability categories: Another factor that may guide selection of toys is the disability categories of the child who is going to play with the material. According to TLC Mobility Foundation (2009), there are four disability categories viz; cognitive, communication, physical and sensory.
Math Toys for Elementary School Pupils
Toys that make learners to understand and reinforce mathematics concepts are called ‘Math Toys’. For the specific case of elementary school mathematics, that is, mathematics taught to children between the ages of approximately 5 and 12 years in most parts of the world consists mainly of arithmetic, with some geometry and some experiences using computers. The toys to teach mathematics in elementary schools vary from one country to another. This is as a result of emphasis place on mathematics is not always the same throughout the world. For instance, in Japan, concrete material such as abacus is used for counting. The importance of toys in the teaching and learning of mathematics cannot be over emphasis as it has been found useful in the areas of deductive reasoning and problem-solving skills.
In Nigeria, counters of various kinds are used to teach some mathematical concepts like addition and subtraction. Also, simple picture books using symbols have been found to be a successful playing device for teaching elementary school mathematics. Another math toy that has been used in teaching and learning of elementary mathematics include flash card. Flash card can be used to teach children how to count and recognise some other arithmetical concepts. Mathematical tables like multiplication tables and arithmetical tables can be used to teach recitation.
Computer can also be used in CAI (computer-assisted instruction) mode, for simulation, or even to teach addition, division, subtraction and multiplication of numbers and computational geometry in a form designed especially to have fun for young children.
Mathematics is certainly not boring when we use math toys. With the use of math toy we will make learning of mathematics fun and more real. In the remaining section of this paper therefore, the writer will examine some math toys on the basis of mathematical skills they can be used to teach (Larry, 2007; Curious Parent Parenting Resources, 2007 & Nicole, 2010).
1. Alex toys- This is also known as ‘My Number Puzzles’. This type of puzzle can be used to introduce children to counting and simple mathematical concepts. This toy can be used to stimulate problem-solving and to improve dexterity.
2. Matchmatics- This toy can be used to develop mental calculation strategies and instant recall of multiplication, division, addition and subtraction facts.
3. Additional Dominoes- This is a math toy/game that is used to give practice in adding number up to 20. It can also be used to assist children in recognising numerals and to count, order and estimate.
4. Decimal Fraction Dominoes- This toy can be used for practice in fraction and decimal recognition, decimal notation, place value and fraction/ decimal equivalence.
5. Product Multiplication Games- These are the math resources that are designed to improve children’s multiplication, division, times tables, factors and function skills. Product multiplication games could be in any format such as board, video, audio and card. Factor frenzy is an example of product multiplication game for making multiplication and division fun. It is deal for learning addition as well.
6. Times tables with songs and games-This is an audio resource usually in compact disc format that a child can listen to each time table is spoken and then sing along with a different song for each times tables.
Other math toys that can be used to teach mathematics in elementary schools according to ( Wonderbrain.com, 2003) include; Hot dots flash card, Additional Bingo game, Money puzzles, Audio memory math-addition songs cd, Pizza math learning game, Blocks, Number Beans Bag and Roll ‘n Divide game .
Conclusion
Toys have been found to be of great importance in the teaching and learning of mathematics in our elementary schools. The importance of toys for teaching and learning of mathematics in elementary schools have been noticed in presenting mathematic al contents in an interesting, fun and motivating way. Toys can be used to teach most other subjects as well.
The use of toys to teach could be either before or after the concept is presented in the classroom. When toys are used before the concepts are presented, pupils tend to have fun and not really understand the physical concepts behind the toys. But this does not hinder learning; because once pupils discover how things work they will never forget.
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