It is easy to under-estimate the educational benefits of play time. By the time we become adults, most of us have been indoctrinated with the philosophy of no pain, no gain. But research shows play time for kids can help with development of important skills. Studies have linked pretend play to children’s mathematic readiness, linguistic abilities, cognitive functioning, impulse control, and problem-solving skills. Pretend play is a crucial factor in a child’s cognitive development.
With that stated, the burden then falls on parents to help kids get the most from their play time by providing them with the right toys that can facilitate learning. This article explains 4 ways that wooden train sets can help kids develop cognitive skills.
Kids train sets are available from brands like Thomas Tank Engine and Melissa and Doug. These sets offer many different challenges for kids. Here are 3 ways these toys promote cognitive development:
1. Problem solving skills are honed during pretend play as kids attempt to find solutions for the problems they encounter every day. Thomas wooden railway and other wooden train sets come with track pieces and bridges that have to be put together so the trains can run down the track with structures and other figures in position around the track. Kids have to come up with a plan for the track layout, find the right pieces and fit them together to complete the plan.
2. Playing with pretend toys such as a Thomas Wooden Railway helps children develop social skills. As they recreate scenes from their everyday lives, they act out the socially appropriate behavior in those scenes. Thomas Tank Engine is a known character seen on the PBS television series. Thomas has his own distinct personality with positive character traits like hard work and honesty. When playing with character toys such as Thomas Tank Engine, kids negotiate the roles of each toy within a particular scene, again learning about socially appropriate behavior. When playing with friends, they collaborate together as the plan, build and share together. In the process they learn to accept and respect the opinions and ideas of others.
3. Thomas Wooden Railway can also help develop the linguistic competence of children. Children are naturally expressive. Often, with minimal prompting, children will enjoy telling other adults and children about their imaginations. As they learn new words to describe their imaginations, they will expand their vocabulary, as well as their overall command of language.
4. Pretend play, with or without character toys like Thomas Tank Engine, also improves children’s academic skills and academic potential. Pretend play first gives children a solid command of many academic subjects, though on a basic children’s level. They learn about patterns, ordering, and other basics of mathematics by playing with different toys of different colors, shapes, and sizes. They learn about balance, gravity, and physics as they stack toys on top of each other. They learn about language as they describe their imaginations. Knowledge formed during pretend play also provides a solid foundation for future academic studies. As children grow older and leave their pretend play behind, they will be learning about more advanced levels of every major academic subject. The deep understanding of basic mathematics, science, and language gained during early pretend play will aid the students as they pursue a higher level of mathematics, science, or language.
In addition to cognitive skills, pretend play also provides physical benefits. As children lift and move toys around the Thomas wooden railway track, they develop their muscles. In turn, they improve their hand-eye coordination and balance, as well as their fine motor skills. Improved physical health is directly correlated with improved cognitive skills.
Pretend play, supplemented by character toys like Thomas Tank Engine, provides many educational benefits. Although these benefits cannot be measured quantitatively, they facilitate overall child development.
Click here to download our free Thomas Wooden Railway guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
What do you get when you pair the world’s leading brand of preschool toys with one of the world’s most beloved wooden train characters? In just a few more months, we’ll find out. Starting in 2010, Fisher-Price, will be marketing Thomas Tank Engine play toys. The release is timed to coincide with the popular train toys’ 65th birthday.
Best known for its track and engine sets, Fisher-Price will be expanding the Thomas brand beyond the current line of wooden train sets to include high-quality die-cast vehicles, electronic learning and developmental toys, role play toys, battery-powered ride-ons, and, in some places, plastic pedal trikes (see below for a complete list).
In a new deal with HIT Entertainment, a world leader in children’s programming, entertainment, and properties, Fisher-Price has been granted global rights (excluding Japan) for a collection of Thomas and Friends toys. HIT Entertainment’s portfolio includes several hot properties–Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Fireman Sam™, and Angelina Ballerina™ are among the most popular.
What does this mean for Thomas Tank Engine wooden train sets? According to Jeff Dunn, CEO of HIT entertainment, “Aligning one of the world’s most successful and preeminent preschool brands with the world’s largest toy company is both an exciting event and a natural evolution for HIT Entertainment. We are immensely proud of Thomas & Friends… We look forward to working closely with Fisher-Price in taking Thomas & Friends to the next level as we begin preparations for Thomas’ 65th Anniversary celebrations in 2010.” Learning Curve will retain the rights to wooden Thomas toys.
Thomas Tank Engine has been popular with children since his first appearance in 1946, as a wooden train character in the Rev. W.V. Awdry’s Railway Series. The much-loved television series, Thomas Tank Engine and Friends (Thomas and Friends in the US) followed in 1984. The series quickly gained popularity, possibly in part due to the casting of Richard Starkey, better known as Beatle Ringo Starr, as the Fat Conductor. From 2000 through 2009, Thomas Tank Engine has also appeared in three movies, leading to a resurgence in Thomas play toys.
The new HIT Entertainment/Fisher-Price deal, however, brings Thomas back to his roots. How? The very first Thomas toy was carved by Rev. Awdry from a piece of broomstick. Carved to resemble a train, the toy was intended to amuse Rev. Awdry’s small son, Christopher. (Christopher Awdry has since authored several Thomas books, and marks the series as beginning when he was just two years of age, and suffering through a bout of measles.) Today, Thomas and Friends wooden train toys are the world’s most successful brand for preschool-aged boys.
Neil Friedman, President of Fisher-Price’s parent company, Mattel Brands, says, “It feels only natural that the world’s number one preschool brand for boys and the world’s largest toy company should work together to continue the growth and development of this much-loved property.
Fisher-Price and Thomas & Friends both have an incredibly rich history, and are much loved by children and trusted with parents. We look forward to bringing our expertise to development of the Thomas line, taking Thomas into its 65th year and beyond.”
Want to know more about the new Thomas Tank Engine play toys? Here’s the complete list of global production rights, according to a joint press release:
? Vehicles, figures and play-sets, including die cast vehicles and play sets, and the TrackMaster™ train system
? Preschool toys, including electronic learning and developmental toys
? Plush, games, puzzles, role play and water toys
? Battery-powered ride-ons
? Plastic pedal trikes (North and South America and Asia only)
Click here to download our free wooden train guidebook filled with helpful tips, ideas and information.
Since their introduction, Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends have chugged their way into the hearts of young fans and their parents worldwide. While learning railroading terms and laughing at the antics of mischievous freight cars, kids learn many positive character traits.
Every engine in the yard aims to be “a really useful engine”. It’s some of the highest praise they can earn, and it teaches children to value hard work and pulling their fair share in a job. When they rejoice with Thomas and Friends when they finally earn this praise from Sir Topham Hatt, children get excited and want to try for themselves. They look for their own ways to be “really useful engines.” Wise parents nurture this tendency by giving them child-size tasks that really make a difference about the house and telling them so when they’ve completed the job.
Obeying common sense and listening to others’ advice is another trait highlighted in Thomas the Tank Engine stories. Small children reenact these stories with Thomas and friends, repeating to themselves, “Silly Thomas, he should have listened,” and very painlessly internalize a lesson every parent wants their children to take to heart: Listen to good advice! It will save you a lot of pain and trouble.
Good manners and a good attitude are also modeled by these cheerful little engines and the people who work with them. Thomas and friends tell one another good morning, thank one another for help, and are respectful of their drivers and Sir Topham Hatt. The lessons in politeness are all the stronger because it’s just a “given” on the island of Sodor. If you are an upstanding engine, you speak politely to others.
And punctuality! Each engine strives to be “right on time” and works very hard to avoid being late. This is such an important character trait for children to develop. Whether it’s getting ready for school or piano practice, punctuality is important and is reinforced by the knowledge that every little engine strives to be “right on time.”
The response of the engines to newcomers helps children understand the importance of kindness in welcoming others and being glad for the “new kid” and his contributions. Having watched Thomas and friends work through initial uncertainties and misunderstandings and become good friends with new engines, children see how they should respond in friendship to newcomers in their peer group. Friendliness is a character trait you will see children practicing in their role play with Thomas play toys.
Another lesson, too, is dealing with difficult personalities. Even the best of engines have fits of petulancy, and some trucks and diesels in particular seem always to have a chip on their shoulder. For Thomas the Tank Engine and for his friends, this poses the lesson of how to deal with difficult people. Percy for instance, finds a creative way to teach mischievous trucks a lesson, modeling resourcefulness and a willingness to stand up for him. Children need to learn this too, that there are some difficult people in the world and it sometimes takes creativity and determination to work with them, and to thwart the trouble they may cause.
Thomas the Tank engine stories and play toys stand out as very popular children’s series that actually teaches many positive character traits in a completely wholesome environment. Parents appreciate that Thomas and friends are both hardworking AND polite. They’re resourceful and even heroic, and at the same time they’re respectful. They stand up for themselves when faced with difficult peers, but they learn to listen to sensible advice from those in authority. Sometimes this can be a rare combination of character traits in a children’s series these days! If you’re looking to build character, with toys and stories that small children love, check out Thomas and friends! You’re sure to be impressed.
Click here to see more information and prices for Thomas and Friends.
