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TOYS AND INDIGENOUS GAMES AS LEARNING TOOLS

At the 2003 World Forum on Early Care and Education, Omolara Otujo from Nigeria, offers these insights in the session, "Learning About the World Through Play:"

"Children learn and develop when they play.  At early childhood, education is expected to be mainly through play.  The tools with which the child will work are toys and other play materials....Educationalists in Nigeria have been able to write many books suitable for preschoolers.  Unfortunately, they did very little work on learning through play.  

"In Nigeria, the use of toys at childhood level is not new.  In the past, parents would not hesitate to buy toys which were made with wood, usually a doll popularly known as OMOLANGIDI.  But these were only used to pacify the child and to divert the child's attention so that her mother could have enough time for herself.  The educational significance of such toys was not emphasized.  Nigeria is rich in games which have educational significance but were never emphasized.  Unfortunately, present day parents discourage their children in playing these games but rather will see them always with their academic books even from early childhood."

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