You may not believe it, but a wooden building kit can both develop children’s fine motor skills and technical skills as well as support the healthy development of their self-confidence. As the child psychologist says, not only wins and achievements, but also losses belong to the healthy self-confidence that the game develops.

Self-confidence and self-esteem are the most important parts of every person’s personality, which develop during pregnancy. They represent a healthy foundation for a personality who can withstand stress and living circumstances. Without believing, one cannot solve problems, one can become ill, be eternally weakened, helpless, in the role of a victim.

Anecdote

“While showing off the toys, there was a father of a two-year-old boy standing in the doorway, while the boy was playing with our toys and not wanting to leave. The father was quite surprised, because he did not enjoy such toys as a child. He also said that when he was little, his father dumped a metal building set in front of him and forced him to build from it. He did not understand the principle and did not succeed at all. The father designed a toy for playing together, but it was not suitable for his son. And it destroyed his self-confidence for the rest of his life. The gentleman said that he considered himself clumsy, so his wife also sees him that way and asks him for help only for simple housework. “

Peter Hudák, author of the MOY TOY assembly toys

Play as a tool for building self-confidence

The child begins to realize the awareness of his own life force during the game and its successful solution. Other factors are also necessary for success, such as creativity, logical combination thinking, and the courage to look for new solutions. In a stand-alone game, the child can experiment, does not have to share his failures, and has the opportunity to use his necessary time to solve the task.

“Self-confidence is built by success in overcoming obstacles – from the smallest ones. The first steps, the first words are appreciated and the child is praised. A child should also be given tasks associated with various motor skills exercises. If the child grasps the tool correctly and manages to push the pin, if he manages to make the connection, he will realize that he has succeeded in something, and this motivates him to try again and again. When they are successful, their self-confidence grows. If they are presented with tasks gradually and age-appropriate, they will manage the tasks, “explains Peter Hudák from his experience – he used to be a teacher and invented wooden building blocks for children, with which he tried to help with the child development.”

The author of our wooden building sets, MOY TOY, also emphasizes that it is important for the child to know his / her own boundaries and go for a number of more experienced and skillful ones, ie siblings, friends and parents.

How can the parent help their child?

The child is programmed to try to improve his abilities. However, he must be given tasks appropriate to his age. If the parent supports the child’s efforts and leads them appropriately, the child will gradually handle more demanding tasks. Nervousness and possible ridicule, on the other hand, discourage the child and fix the feeling of failure and awareness of awkwardness.

“Self-confidence and self-esteem are strengthened by awards of all kinds – positive appreciation of personality, qualities, performances, ideas, attempts to solve. The child learns to accept and give positive appreciation. He can appreciate himself, which is the basis of healthy self-confidence. It is also important to separate the child’s personality from his performance and teach children that they are valuable regardless of their performance, praise them for being, not only for what they can do, “explains psychologist Lýdia Žáková from the Center for Pedagogical and Psychological Counseling and prevention BA IV.

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The example of fairy-tale heroes who overcome obstacles can nicely illustrate to children how heroes do not have great self-confidence right away, but by gradually overcoming obstacles they build it. Each hero gets to him gradually, overcomes obstacles, fights and wins. It is important to encourage the child even in case of failures and give him the courage not to be afraid to try again. Are you interested in the topics of healthy development of children at play? Don’t miss new articles and sign up for our newsletter.