Lauren Baker

FREEPORT (WREX) — New research from the American Academy of Pediatrics says simple toys and hands-on play can help children’s development.

It’s an idea mom and teacher Yvonne Drake says she agrees with.

“I mean everything is the fine motor and without doing the play, the picking up, the coloring, they don’t get exposed to it versus sitting on a tablet which is just scrolling or pointing,” said Drake.

A place where kids can go to engage in hands-on play is the Children’s Hands-On Museum in Freeport.

“Simple toys allow for the imagination that digital toys don’t. They allow interaction, role play, pretend play,” said the executive of the museum, Sarah Flashing.

“Their imagination, cooperative play, they are able to express feelings and you can see the in’s and out’s of what they do.” said Drake.

“For years, teachers have known that kids learn through different ways. They learn through visual, they learn through tactile which is hands on, and when they are moving they are learning,” said museum volunteer Shirley Jordan.

Flashing adds that kids can learn using things like iPads and tablets, but parents should make sure they balance digital time with hands on play time.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday.