Psych in action PDF

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PSYCH IN ACTION project in PSYC 104 with Dr. Robyn Kelton...

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Meena Sreedhara PSYC 104 11/28/17 Psych in Action! Toy Evaluation (Developmental)

GOOD TOYS: 1. Interactive baby seat a. This interactive baby seat is a very good toy for children in the sensorimotor stage because there are many objects around them, and they can begin to find relationships between their bodies and the objects. Because many of the objects are colorful and contain different shapes, the child is able to exercise his/her senses by seeing, touching, and listening to the different objects on the toy. b. This helps with cognitive and physical development because the infant is able to process the information around them and perceive the different ways he/she can control and move the objects. As for physical development, the way the child “plays” with the toy is primarily by touching: twisting, pressing, and moving around. c. This toy can be improved by providing speakers that play sounds and music when certain objects are touched or moved. This will help the child find relationships between the objects and their sounds. For example, when the infant moves the little car, there is an engine sound. 2. Telephone a. A toy telephone is a good toy for children in the preoperational stage because this is when most of the child’s language development is occurring. Although they cannot understand other points of views yet, they are still able to “pretend” at this point in their lives, such as talking on the phone as they have seen their parents do. b. The telephone helps with social and cognitive development. For example, the child learns how to interact with people on the phone by observing their parents, or “pretend”-talking to their friends. The cognitive development comes in as the child learns about proper communication, such as conversations, how to talk, and how to respond. c. The toy could be better if the phone had an automated voice on the other line of the phone that could speak to the child and have a conversation with them. As well as that, if there are younger children using the phone, the toy can actually prompt the child to speak, or tell them what to say.

3. A Rubik’s Cube a. A Rubik’s cube is a good toy for children in formally operational development because it is very complicated to solve. As well as that, children in this stage can use strategy and mathematics to figure out the complex puzzle. b. This toy promotes cognitive development, as children need to imagine the changing shapes in their heads, and do not necessarily NEED to move the objects and colors in order to imagine it happening, like younger stages. As well as that, people can use specific strategies to match up the colors and eventually solve even more complex puzzles. c. This toy could be better if they are different shapes and sizes (which several of them already are!), and they can also be better for younger children if they are easier to move around. Current rubik’s cubes can only be moved horizontally and vertically. However, for younger children, they could potentially be physically moved, removed, or slid around.

BAD TOYS: 1. Jack in the Box a. The jack in the box is a bad toy for children in the sensorimotor stage. This is because they have not yet developed object permanence until the end of this stage. Object permanence is the idea that an object exists even though it is hidden from the child, and younger infants do not yet understand this. b. The jack in the box would eventually help cognitive development with object permanence, as the “jack” is hidden from the child, but pops back out when the lever is twisted. This, in turn, promotes physical development, as the child has to physically turn the level in order to provoke the jack. c. This could be better for sensorimotor development if the jack stays outside of the box for a longer amount of time, or if the jack could be released by a simple touch of a button instead of turning the level for so long, as it may be too complex.

2. Chess

a. Chess is bad example of a toy for children in the preoperational stage. Children who are in the preoperational stage are not quite told enough to perform strategy. As well as that, they are still highly egocentric, so they wouldn’t be able to predict the opponent’s move. b. This toy is good for formal operational, and maybe concrete operational development. Generally, it would be moral and cognitive development. Children who are able to play chess should have developed theory of mind, but preoperational children have not yet developed this concept. For example, those with theory of mind would understand that the other play can see a move that they can potentially not see themselves. c. Chess could be better for people in younger developmental stage if it is played with fewer or less complicated rules. 3. Hanging Mobiles a. Mobiles are a bad example of toys for children in the formal operational stage because they are way past the development of their senses. Mobiles are primarily for seeing and touching, but children in the formal operational stage are focused more on more complex aspects, such as morality and strategy. b. Mobiles are good for sensorimotor development because they promote physical and cognitive development. More specifically, infants use mobiles look at different colors and touch the different objects and shapes. In turn, this allows children to find relationships between themselves and the toy. c. Mobiles could be better if they were moved automatically or made certain sounds, music, or sounds for the child who is interacting with it. It could also use positive and negative reinforcement/punishment in order to prompt the child to touch certain objects or colors on the mobile....