AN INSIGHT INTO THE DESIRABILITY OF TOY - BASED PEDAGOGY & IT’S RELEVANCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO INDIGENOUS TOYS OF INDIA

Abstract [English]

India, a land of rich culture has been endowed with colourful crafts that distinguish it from all across the world. Toys have remained one of the most soulful cultural caravans of India’s glorious past. Toys form a part of our discussion when it comes to trade, Balance of Payments and self- reliance especially in the recent past when our focus has moved towards becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar Bhaarat’ , but there is yet another very significant dimension where toys were , are and will always remain active role players that is child development , growth and education. Since time immemorial toys have greatly facilitated in the mental and emotional development of children, exposing them to the real like externalities of the society and its various facets. Toys are appealing to youngsters owing to their colours, design, and size, as well as their tactile nature. These activities support every child's natural need for creative expression. Toys teach young minds numerous values and abilities. Toys and games help kids acquire values such as sharing, empathy, love, and caring, as well as abilities like decision making, teamwork, and problem-solving. Various researches suggest that using appropriate toys throughout the teaching-learning process promotes children's growth and development at all stages.
Teaching through interactive play is a great approach for students to have fun while learning in elementary school. Instead of traditional memorisation approaches, the focus is on employing entertaining games, amusing activities, and engaging products to make the learning process more fascinating. Even well-known educational boards, such as CBSE, value this technique since they recognise the benefits of play for both the brain and the emotions.
Hands-on learning takes the stage in this teaching style, while the traditional chalk-and-board technique takes a back seat. Teachers select engaging games and activities that are relevant to the material they want you to learn. Consider brain-teasing puzzles, inventive building materials, exciting scientific kits, and even useful digital tools. It's like finding new things and having.