Elif ELMA (Food Engineer)
Our Almighty God has entrusted us with our children, the light of our eyes. It is our duty to protect and raise both their bodies and souls in the cleanest and most beautiful way, as they were created according to Islamic nature. Just as we make sure that the food they buy is halal, we should also make sure that the clothing and toys they use during the day are in Islamic conditions. We must protect their souls with the same care as we protect their bodies.
Fish swim, birds fly, and children run and play. Play is the most basic communication language of children. When we consider that play takes place most of a child’s time during the day, the importance of games and toys will increase.
Things to consider when choosing toys:
1. Material structure;
Materials such as wood, plastic, metal and fabric are generally used. The structures of these materials must have been examined, they must have passed a number of chemical and physical tests, and they must be kept away from harmful dyes and odors.
2. Suitability of toys for age, gender and religious beliefs;
The size of toys is something that families should be very careful about when choosing due to the risk of swallowing by small babies. It is very important to choose according to the age and gender of older children. The child who plays also transfers a reflection of daily life into his play. For this reason, it is necessary to choose toys according to the nature of boys and girls. Especially for girls, dolls dressed in accordance with Islamic nature, the shape of the doll and its facial expression are very important for the games that child will set up. Although it is thought that boys mostly play with cars, today cartoon heroes are promoted in a very attractive way. The toys of these cartoon heroes, who are prone to violence and use inappropriate words and behaviors, lead boys to abuse. It is essential to take into account the discourses of Muslim Pedagogues who approach as Islamic.
3. Suitability for Learning and Development;
Toys not only develop children’s imagination, but also their fine motor muscles and hand-eye coordination. Many useful toys such as counting, learning colors, sensory integration should be a priority.
