5 Reasons Children Love Soft Toys Like Jellycat
When children are little, they love soft toys. Soft toys and stuffed animals are usually a child’s first best friend and comforter. But what is the reason that children love them so much? Here are 5 reasons why.
Whilst this seems a basic option, especially with technology as a major contender, soft toys are a great way to help your child learn the basic social skills they require. Beyond the educational benefits, soft toys have great benefits with regards to their emotional development too:
1. They Encourage Compassion and Empathy
Soft toys nurture children’s natural desire to connect with others. Research has shown that children can develop an appreciation for relationships with others through pretend playing as it requires them to consider other people. Simply, this means taking care of their soft toys encourages a child to consider the toys needs.
2. Help Develop Social Skills
When your child is interacting and playing with its soft toy it may not seem a big deal. But in truth, these toys help lay the groundwork for important social skills. Experts say that the time between 12 and 18 months is optimal for starting us soft toys and stuffed animals to encourage pretend play. Pretend play can include imitating familiar everyday activities like cooking and cleaning.
3. Enhances Sensory Skills
Young children are drawn to the softness offered by soft toys as well as the colours. By having these furry friends, it allows children to develop sensory skills like sight and touch as they snuggle up with their companions.
4. Can Help Them Express Themselves Better
Kids typically talk to their soft toy companions which is an excellent form of self-expression and can help with socialisation. Often introverted children find that having soft toys help them open up and interact socially.
5. Language Skills
Once your child starts saying their first words, they are often keen to practice their newfound words and gain confidence in their speech. Having little conversations with their soft toys provides an excellent opportunity for them to do so. A soft toy is a confidante and someone whom a child can try out the words he or she hears on a daily basis. These pretend conversations are also an effective way for them to practice expression their emotions and giving voice to their thoughts.
At Lavish Preference we sell a range of Jellycat soft toys for children that we know they will love! The Jellycat Soft Toy Collections are a mixture of cute and quirky softies. Shop our range here.