Educational Games with Soft Toys

This material is suitable for both children and adults.

Most adults had a favorite soft toy during childhood. They would tuck this toy into bed, feed it porridge, and take it on walks. Fabric and plush animals became loyal friends, attentive listeners, and companions in play. Some adults still keep such toys at home as a memory of childhood, now serving as beautiful décor in a child’s room. As a child grows, a home is often filled with numerous soft toys. Parents shouldn’t question whether or not to buy soft toys for their child—of course, they should. Soft toys nurture a child’s sense of care, kindness, and sensitivity. They help children explore the world because, by preparing meals for a teddy bear or squirrel, a child imitates the same actions adults perform in the kitchen. A soft toy, like a loyal friend, helps a child cope with life situations. Children often share their feelings, disappointments, and harsh words with their favorite toy. The role of soft toys in a child’s development is significant. These toys shouldn’t gather dust on shelves or in boxes—they should actively participate in children’s play.

Playing with soft toys helps children learn to speak. For example, when an adult asks, a child points out the bunny’s, bear’s, or giraffe’s eyes and ears. Then, the child identifies their own nose or eyes. Sometimes, a child lacks the imagination to play with soft toys, and here, the help of an adult can introduce new ideas for play.

1. Feeding a soft animal or doll. The child seats their fluffy friends at a toy table and offers them tea. The adult should narrate what is needed, like taking a teapot, cups, and spoons, explaining what each item is. They can mimic the toy drinking tea, making sounds like “glug glug.” After the animals finish their tea, the toys should say “Thank you.” The child should repeat all the words and actions in the game. Gradually, the adult introduces new vocabulary. Over time, the play actions can become more complex, with dolls cooking soup or frying meat.
2. Fashion shows or theater performances. Together with the child, dress up the soft toys or dolls in fashionable outfits. Let the child decide what clothes they want to choose for their favorite toy. Create hairstyles for the toys, and put on a fashion show for an imaginary audience. You can also organize a theater with the toys and put on a play. Come up with an exciting storyline where the main characters are the toys and the children themselves.
3. Soft School. Toys become teachers or students. In this game, children learn to count, write, and read. Interesting lessons can be conducted using dolls. Through play, children project adult roles, such as teachers, caregivers, friends, parents, or relatives. Children often repeat phrases heard at school or daycare.
4. The “Hot or Cold” game. The goal of this game is for the child to find an object using clues from other children or an adult. Hide the soft toy, and the child starts looking for it. If the child is far from the hidden toy, say, “Cold! Very cold! Freezing!” indicating that the object is far away. As they get closer to the toy, say, “Warmer! Hotter!” If the toy is very close, say, “It’s boiling hot!” You can also play without words, where children clap their hands—the closer to the toy, the louder and faster the clapping. This game develops listening skills and attention.
5. Riding the toy on your back while crawling. This activity helps develop coordination. Crawling is a crucial stage for the formation of interhemispheric connections in the brain. If the adult is tired, they can still participate without leaving the couch by guiding the child’s play, for example, by saying, “Crawl with the toy under the table” or “Turn left or right.”
6. The “Worms” Game. If the adult is tired but the child doesn’t want to rest, this game can be played. The adult lies on their stomach and moves their back like a worm. The little one places soft toys on the adult’s back, and the “worm” begins to move.

Fun games with soft toys provide an excellent way to engage a small child. These games develop a child’s thinking and imagination.