"All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy"

Toys and playing are an essential part of the growing-up 1) ___________ for children. They are extremely important in helping children 2) _____________ into healthy adults - both physically and mentally. Not only do they help children develop their creative talents but their imagination as well.

For as long as there have been humans on earth, there have also been toys. Indeed. the toys that ancient Greek and Roman children played with many years ago show a distinct 3) _________________ to toys that our children play with today. Throughout history children have been playing with dolls, puppets and building blocks. Playing goes side-by-side with 4) ________________ for the developing child. Games allow parents to detect their off-spring's special talents, or even any learning problems that they might have. The more fashionable educational methods today include games in the classroom, as they are a particularly 5) _____________ way of helping children to learn. Playing is a vital part of the learning process and should never be dismissed by parents as a waste of time.

7) Read the dialogue below. Then close your books and discuss under what circumstances parents should or should not give their children toys.

Parent A: It makes children so happy when they are asked to choose the toy they like most. I think giving them the opportunity to decide actually helps make them more responsible.

Parent B: But what if they choose the most expensive toy or the one that is least suitable for their age. Surely it should be up to the parents to decide which toys to buy.

Parent A: But sometimes they don't like the ones we choose so they never play with them. And in that case, buying new toys is just a waste of money.

Parent B: This may mean that they simply don't need a new toy. I think children should be given new toys only on special occasions so they can appreciate them more.

Parent A: If only this were true! But children are so influenced by what They see advertised on TV and they keep asking for new things! It's impossible to say "no" to them because then they look so miserable. And things don't get any better when all their friends seem to have the latest toys.

Parent В: But that's exactly the point' Children must be taught to find ways of entertaining themselves with simple means such as a piece of paper and crayons. They shouldn't rely on expensive things to keep them happy.

Parent A: Personally, I am glad that there are so many sophisticated toys on the market that can teach children, without parents having to spend a lot of time entertaining them.

Parent B: No Toy can ever substitute the time parents spend with their children. It's so much more rewarding for children to be able to play with their parents.

8) Imagine that you are looking after children. They require your immediate attention. Using the list of words and the useful expressions below say what you would do and in what order to avoid accidents.

turn on the TV to keep them occupied, comfort the baby, send them to bed, cover all open sockets in the kitchen, contact their parents, remove any dangerous substances, other.