Children usually remember their first toys being cuddly teddy bears or adorable dolls. That’s because they are easy to play with and safe for infants and toddlers. This is why many parents opt for soft toys like Jellycat in Australia as their child’s first plaything.
These toys are a huge part of children’s lives as they grow up. Kids will take their toys everywhere they go, and parents will find that they’d rather sleep cuddling next to one than be alone. However, there are far more advantages to soft toys than being just cuddly playmates for babies in Australia.
The Australian Baby Toys Market is a large market in itself, and customers will find thousands, if not millions, of toys for their children. Owing to the wide variety of choices available, parents will find themselves in a pickle in whether to choose soft toys or go for electronic ones in the Australian market. As exciting as electronic toys come, they can never compete with the myriad of benefits that soft toys will provide as long they are safe:
Provide Emotional Support
Ever notice kids speaking to their toys as if they were real people? That’s the power of imagination in kids, and it’s something that parents can never replace. When they continuously play with a doll or a teddy bear, they will forge an emotional bond that will offer them comfort when they are scared or lonely.
An example of this would be, as mentioned before, kids asking for their favorite doll when going to sleep. Do understand that babies also feel the stress that adults do, but they don’t know how to display or control it.
So, soft toys like the Jellycat in Australia give them comfort and familiarity when they are stressed or overwhelmed.
Affordable and Easily Available
One of the best things about soft toys is that they are affordable and easily available. Parents don’t need to spend a fortune on buying soft toys for their children, and they can find them in most toy stores or online marketplaces.
Compared to electronic toys or gadgets, soft toys are relatively inexpensive. Even high-quality soft toys like Jellycat in Australia are affordable and can fit most parents’ budgets. This means that parents can buy multiple soft toys for their children without worrying about breaking the bank.
Another advantage of soft toys is that they are easily available. Toy stores, department stores, and online marketplaces have a wide variety of soft toys to choose from. Parents can find soft toys of different sizes, shapes, and colors, making it easy to choose the perfect toy for their child.
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Developing Necessary Sensory Skills
Babies are curious about the world around them and are not afraid to go out and explore. They’re curious about how things feel, taste, or look, and playing with soft toys satisfies a small part of their curious minds.
Soft toys will help introduce new colors, textures, shapes, and sizes without the added danger, allowing babies to learn more about their environment. Hence, parents can make use of soft toys for their kids’ emotional growth.
For example, a soft toy may have a furry exterior, while another might be smooth and silky. By touching and feeling the different textures, babies can develop their sense of touch and learn to recognize different textures.
Fostering Social Skills and Language Development
Soft Toys can help kids in Australia learn to interact through sounds and emotions when they pretend-play. The more they play, the more confident they become with communicating, setting the necessary foundation for practicing English. Parents can make use of this by teaching the words associated with the toy or by taking an active role in the kid’s playtime.
Through play, children can learn to interact with their soft toys, expressing themselves through sounds, facial expressions, and body language. This can help them develop their communication skills, learn to express their emotions, and understand the emotions of others.
In addition, soft toys can provide a safe space for children to practice their language skills. Children can engage in pretend conversations with their toys, using simple sentences and vocabulary to express their thoughts and feelings. This can help them develop their language skills and build their confidence in speaking and communicating with others.
Encourage Creativity and Imagination
Soft toys are not only cuddly companions for children, but they can also be the key to unlocking their imagination and creativity. Children’s minds are naturally imaginative, and providing them with soft toys can help them explore their creativity further.
One of the best things about soft toys is that they don’t come with any predetermined use or story. Unlike electronic toys or board games, soft toys don’t come with a set of instructions or rules. This means that children can use them in any way they want and come up with their own stories and adventures.
For example, a teddy bear can be a king ruling over his kingdom, or a doctor treating his patients. A soft toy can be a character in a child’s imaginary world, and they can create a whole story around it.
Evoke Compassion
Another great advantage of soft toys is that they can bring out the compassionate and empathetic nature of the kids by triggering the emotions of love and care for their toys. As mentioned before, in the eyes of the kids, these aren’t just toys but imaginary playmates. They will shower love on their toys the same way they watch their parents showing love and concern for each other.
Parents Can Use Soft Toys to Teach Their Kids
Parents can use soft toys to help kids set a regular bedtime and teach them to brush. Since kids have a strong emotional connection to their soft toys, parents can make use of this to teach their kids manners, the history of their culture and their country, help them grow, tackle challenges and teach them the right way to behave in certain situations. No parent will ever regret buying a stuffed soft toy for the children.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soft toys like Jellycat in Australia offer numerous benefits for children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. They provide comfort and familiarity, develop sensory skills, foster social skills and language development, encourage creativity and imagination, and evoke compassion.