TOY PEDAGOGY WORKSHOP

The importance of toy pedagogy has been greatly emphasized by the NCF in its recommendations for the Foundation Stage. Toys can greatly enrich play and help children develop and grow. They fire the imagination, laying the foundation for improving cognitive and motor skills. They also help teach the importance of sharing, cooperating, and communicating. Toys are constantly evolving, reflecting our culture and our lifestyles.

Toys contribute to the development of cognitive, motor, psychosocial, emotional, and linguistic skills.

It also plays a key role in raising self-confident, creative, and happy children.

 

On Tuesday, 26^th March 2024, a workshop on ‘Toy Pedagogy’ was hosted by Ahlcon International School to provide educators with an enriching platform to explore the multifaceted role of toys in early childhood education. The Resource Person Ms. Sarika Passi, Headmistress, Pre-Primary, Bal Bharti Public School, Noida, and her team, offered hands-on experiences and talked beyond theoretical discussions,  that resonated with the practical challenges educators face in the classroom.

 

The workshop taught how toys can be brought into the classroom scenario to introduce and teach various concepts at the foundation stage. The hands-on experience was given to the teachers to help them create audio toys, pop-up toys, interesting flashcards, finger puppets, etc. An introduction game demonstrated how homemade musical instruments can invigorate classroom mornings, while role play and dramatization were underscored for their role in nurturing critical thinking and creativity. The workshop meritoriously emphasized how the use of these toys in the classroom can help our students transition from rote learning to experiential learning further making the child an independent thinker which is what the NEP aims for.

 

By creating audio toys and finger puppets, teachers gained valuable insights into how these seemingly simple objects could serve as powerful tools for promoting cognitive development, sparking creativity, and enhancing social interactions among students. The emphasis on fostering independent thinking and conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization underscored the workshop’s alignment with the National Education Policy.

 

Ms. Sarika, the resource person, extended her gratitude to the School and Principal Mr. Sanjay Yadav for the opportunity provided to her team. She also thanked the attendees for their active participation and her team for their support and skills sharing.

 

Ms. Pooja Shandilya, Headmistress, Foundation Stage, commended the workshop team for their efforts in inspiring transformative practices in the foundation stage, emphasizing its fundamental role in shaping the future of learning for young minds.

Overall, the workshop served as a beacon of innovation and collaboration, empowering educators to create inclusive and engaging learning environments where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.