Using Toys for Childlike Learning

Using Toys for Childlike Learning

Today I’ve got my Corporate Trainer hat- if you undertake too, I want to know:

Do you use toys inside your classroom session?

I’ve been bringing what I call Fiddle Toys to my classroom learning sessions for nearly 20 years and perhaps they are always a hit.  I see that giving learners something active about their hands not just enables them to stay mentally focused, it is assistance to those people who are kinesthetic learners (meaning they learn by moving their bodies.) Even grumpy, non-engaged participants may ultimately chill out a little to find reasons to touch among the items placed in the biggest market of their table.

Because toys do degrade, I’ve been investigating refreshing my stash. That’s prompted an expression on my criteria for appropriate Fiddle Toys.

My fiddle toys have to be:

 Durable Quiet Safe-can’t pinch people or somehow “rub off” in it with ink Something that doesn’t invite a lot of “play”/interaction with someone else

Also, perhaps the most common toy that I’ve seen used is a thing “filled”-squishy items filled with gel, liquid, or sand.  I’ve tried all of them and still have given up. Believe it or not, I’ve seen the 3 types destroyed …

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