What is an open ended toys? 10 Types of open ended toys that best for children

There are many open ended toys on Instagram especially in Western countries. I heard that open ended toys are good for children, but I don’t really know what the benefits are. To put it simply, open ended play is to follow the children's intuition to make what they want, learn from mistakes, accumulate a sense of accomplishment, and develop into a more flexible future person.

As parents, what is even more worrying than guiding my children to play with open ended toys? Don't be afraid, in this article I will introduce to you what open ended toys are. What are the benefits of playing with open ended toys?

Content:

|Opening

|What is open ended play

|Benefits of open ended toys

|Open ended toys that best for children

If you come to an environment where there is no right or wrong and no standard, no one will correct you, no matter what you do or say. Would you be happy and feeling released? Or do you feel anxiously overwhelmed?

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I think most adults will immediately question “Does it even exist?" More people tend to be overwhelmed, but it doesn't matter. This is the common feature of our growing up in a standard environment.

But do you know? Now children are still in a relatively standardized education environment, accepting guidance that does not meet the needs of the times, and only after they enter the society, they discover that the world is not what they imagined.

How to let the next generation have strong adaptability and professionalism is the most important topic for us, parents.

 

What is an open ended toys? 10 Types of open ended toys that best for children

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What is an open ended toys?

If you want to understand open ended toy, you must first understand what is "a not open ended toy”? Let's call it standard toy. For example, in the Gundam parts set bought from the toy store, the child assembles the model by hand. In this process, do you think it is open or standard?

The view of early childhood educators is that it is good to do it by hand, but assembling with parts designed by others, this is a standard gameplay, which lacks integrated thinking and creativity.

Open game is a form of game with 90% children and 10% toys. In the process, children are the dominant players, toys are auxiliary materials, and the purpose of the game is ‘the process’.

Open play emphasizes the process. For example, we should focus on the process of building a simulated zoo, not just whether he builds a correct zoo.

The core spirit of open games coincides is STEM education.

To put it simply, open play is to follow the children's intuition to make what they want, learn from their mistakes, accumulate a sense of accomplishment, and develop into a more flexible future person.

The benefits of open ended play and toys

The characteristics of low structure and high construction of open toys give children opportunities to explore and grow. Therefore, foreign countries will also use "Invitation to Play" to describe it, which means "invite" children to take the initiative to play.

1. The opportunity to become a leader

Open ended game is a game without rules or at least children are the one who creating the rules. During the process, children have the opportunity to decide for themselves how to accomplish the goal. For example, if you want to build a castle, you have to think about what shape of material to use, what color to choose, and so on.

This is a good opportunity to cultivate children's independent judgment, so that they can deal with difficult problems more skillfully and make independent decisions when they grow up.

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2. Opportunities to solve the problem

Take the above-mentioned castle as an example. What if the castle collapses in half? If you can't find a suitable part, what can be used instead? Or make one yourself?

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3. Unlimited opportunities for creativity

What will the castle looks like is entirely up to the child to imagine, decide, and then create. Adults can guide him in the process, but he does not tell him "what the castle should look like", "the tree must be green" or "the roof must have an attic." First follow the child's expectations and intuition, although in the end he builds a hot air balloon, it is also the best result!

Types of open ended toys

What is an open ended toys?

Simply say, all toys that can be used for multiple times and multiple games can be called open toys.

Seeing this, you might still be confused. Let's start with the toys we can usually see!

1. Build blocks

Simple, good-textured wooden toys are classics of open ended toys. It is suitable for children to play alone or with others. Because it is simple enough and has no rules, it is very suitable for creativity.

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Apart from geometric shapes, building blocks have no redundant design. Children can stack and piece together a block at will. This process is an open ended gameplay!

Read more: What is STEM.org certification? Why do I need a STEM certification?

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2. Dolls/Puppets

Huh? Is there an open ended way to play dolls too? We generally think that dolls are "designed" toys, and there should be no room for flexible extension, but did you know? Dolls are also an indispensable element in open gameplay!

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These dolls are the representatives of a villain in the hands of children. They can take them to play in the castle they built, or they can let the villain slide down from the pillows. The whole home is an amusement park!

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When we tell stories, we use dolls or puppets as characters, which is more vivid. In the same way, when children develop games or extend their imagination, they will also need puppets to assist them!

3. Anything with neutral color

There are many kitchen utensils, tool boxes, doctor toys, etc. in the house, right? These don’t look like open gameplay, but they are not! Open ended toys do not lie in the toy itself, but pay more attention to how you play with it.

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For example, children can let the dolls float on the water on the bowls or plates then start a little adventure, allowing the children to experience life and discover themselves without restriction, which is also one of the benefits of open ended play. Pay attention to not being restricted by gender when providing materials. It is best to choose neutral color, which reduces the chance of children's creativity being dominated by the meaning of color.

4. Pretend play and dress up

Dress up, props and costumes should be children’s essential toys. Girls may like princesses and mermaids, while boys like racers and Spider-Man. If your children like that, you can prepare more of these props and costumes at home. When the children's friends come over, they can also play together. They negotiate and plan on their own. Maybe a self-directed and self-acted stage play will be produced.

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The colorful silk scarves like the ones you have seen are hot-selling children's products in the United States! Because silk scarves are soft and changeable, in addition to being used as clothing, children can be used as wings, tents, flags, etc., so foreign countries even create unique ways to play silk scarves. Isn’t it interesting?

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5. Brushes, paints and cardboard

Art creation allows children to inspire creativity and beauty, and help children prepare art supplies. They can use recycled materials such as cartons, clay, and bottles to create.

Read more: Recommended bath toys

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6. Toys that can generate rhythm and music

Music is another broad and imaginative world. We need to give children some small objects that allow them to enter and start exploring the world. Some are very simple or even self-made. For example, a pot and a spoon are good "metronomes". They can play more complicated ones when they grow up. Small drum kits, electronic organs, etc. are all very good toys.

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7. Sports toys

Ball, skipping rope, frisbee, etc., which is also very beneficial. Not only can they exercise, but these simple sports toys are good items that inspire children to come up with a variety of ways to play.

You can also find that some kindergartens have large-scale wood, cement, old tires, etc. in the outdoor spaces. These items are used to inspire children to use their bodies to play a set of their own games!

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8. Animal shape toys

The usage of animal shape toys is very similar to dolls. Whether it is farm animals, zoo animals or dinosaurs, children can enter a world full of imagination. A group of animals is a small society, and children will spend a lot of time studying the relationship, dialogue and struggle between them.

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The animal shape toys itself has no redundant design, it is easy to combine with the building blocks or loose materials in the home, so it is also fun to make things together!

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9. Construction toys

The most common construction toy is LEGO. This kind of toy is more difficult than wooden building blocks. There are different shapes of blocks and the combination of different blocks is also different. Children need to keep trying, designing, and even knocking out and restarting. Train the small muscles and mind.

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10. Teaching tools and board games

Board games have fixed rules of the game, but children must think deeply about various strategies while observing the rules, so as to exercise their problem-solving skills.

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Many parents worry that they don’t have time to play with, or don’t know how to guide their children. This is all normal! How to start an open ended game, it is recommended to start with preparing materials. The easiest way is to buy building blocks, buy some dolls or animal shape toys, and show them directly to the children. When the child is older, he can choose to construct toys, follow the instructions at first, and then slowly learn to make the shape he wants.

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The main concept is to find materials at your home, use recycle waste, such as cartons, bottles, or even flowers, grass, buttons, and many more. Let your children play freely!

Playing open-ended toy with Dena toys - My First Rainbow

Dena is a safe, simple and smart toy, suitable from babies to all ages. Their toys are made of food-grade platinum silicone, the same high-quality material as dummies, teethers and baking moulds. It’s a new alternative to wooden toys.

Dena means "everything" in the Basque language (*Basque is a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain) spoken. Dena toys are a high-quality, versatile toy that could be used in open-ended play to promote creativity and imagination. With Dena toys, everything is possible!

All of Dena’s products made from platinum silicone. Platinum silicone is a soft, strong, bacteria resistant, hypoallergenic and BPA-free material and 100% safe. It resists temperatures from minus 60º C to 220º C. It can be used in the microwave, oven, fridge, freezer and is dishwasher safe.

Read more: Dena, toy that every parents are looking for

Content:

| What is open-ended toy?

| What are the benefits of open-ended toy?

| Summary

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What is open-ended toy?

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

All of Dena toys is an open-ended toy. What is an open-ended? Open-ended toy is one that can be played with in many different ways. They aren’t bound to one form of play.

For example, a video game can only function in one way. You can’t make spontaneous changes depending on your mood. But an open-ended toy can be used to suit your child’s imagination. This nurtures child’s creativity and developing skills.

Let say it in a simpler way. Open-ended toy means there’s no pre-defined structure to the play pattern associated with the toy. The experience is entirely child-led and the toy acts like a blank canvas which relies on the child to manipulate and bring it to life.

Due to its minimalist and timeless design, Dena toys can be used by babies, pre-schoolers and beyond in many diverse ways, and yes, it is an open-ended toy!

Read more: Educate your child with these 6 Montessori activities!

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What are the benefits of open-ended toy?

The more ways a child can play with a toy, the more he will learn.

Encourages social development and social interaction

Open-ended toys result in open-ended play. This type of play can evolve over time while also encouraging children to create and problem-solve as they explore the world around them. Open-ended play with peers encourages social development and social interaction while also developing cognitive skills. Children have to discuss and negotiate how to use the multipurpose toy. The social and developmental gains made by open-ended play far exceed those made by directed play.

More cost-effective in the long run

Another advantage to open-ended toys is they are more cost-effective in the long run - Mom, listen cost-effective! Although this may benefit the giver rather than the receiver, it’s an important consideration. Open-ended toys, such as a set of blocks, a doll, or a toy truck will accompany your child over the years as they learn, grow, and play. When children dictate play, it can constantly be reinvented and play can become more creative and complex. In turn, the learning also becomes more complex, offering more learning opportunities.

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Summary

It is almost Christmas season, when searching for the perfect holiday gift in your price range, of course you should ensure that the toy is safe and age-appropriate. Once that is established, evaluate the potential play and remember that the more ways a child can play with a toy, the more he will learn. Open-ended toys truly are the gifts that keep on giving.

Read more: What can you play with Dena toys?

Dena, a special open-ended toy that every parents are looking for

Dena means "everything" in the Basque language (*Basque is a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain) spoken. Dena toys are a high-quality, versatile toy that could be used in open-ended play to promote creativity and imagination. With Dena toys, everything is possible!

The options are endless in the ways Dena toys can be used as a teether, for stacking, as a sensory toy for children with special needs, at the beach and even as a baking mold. What can you play with Dena toys? You'll never think about it!

Parents can have peace of mind that that their child, no matter the age, is playing safely and children love the freedom to play without rules of how it should be used!

We know your customers will be thrilled to find a high-quality, creative toy like Dena toys!

Read more: Activities idea with Dena toys?

What makes Dena so special?

Dena toys are an unstructured toy that contributes to the early stimulation of babies and the development of their imagination and creativity. You know what, Dena is a STEAM toy.

Dena is a safe, fun and creative toy!!

We all know kids like to play and we like to let them play wild and free. We like simple toys that stimulate their imagination, creativity, and can help them develop future skills. We really like wooden toys, but one day we realized that wood doesn’t adapt well to the needs of younger children, who instinctively bite, hit or throw their toys...

Dena, teether and playmate, all in one.

Thanks to its soft material and its design, with Dena toys your baby will begin to stimulate her creativity from the first day. They will spend the day experimenting, playing and chewing safely. Dena toys are very useful for psychomotor development.

Read more: Educate your child with these 6 STEAM activities!

Is Dena ideal for all stages of kids?

The answer is YES! Why? Let’s take a look below.

More about Dena

Dena made of platinum-based silicone, can resist temperatures between -60ºC and 220ºC. Suitable for microwave, oven, dishwasher, fridge and freezer. This toy is BPA free, PVC free, Latex free and Phthalate free.

Read more: Build learning kids by let them playing blocks

Did you know you can help your child succeed in the future by developing skills with playing toys at home? Far from taking time away from your child’s current curriculum, there are skills that can all be worked into other lessons — both in school and at home. Experts say all kids will need these skills to succeed, no matter what field they go into.

Read more: Recommended toys to develop child's skills for the future

If you have interest in being Dena reseller, no matter where you are, in HongKong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea, Japan or any other countries in Asia, send us an email and I will reply you shortly.

Hope that BabyLux can be parents’ best assistant.

BabyLux is looking for Dena Toys distributor, especially for those who located in China and Vietnam, send us message and show us your enthusiasm!!