Designing Developmental Learning to Prepare the ASEAN Community in Design Toy for Early Children

Abstract

         The purposes of research were 1) to appropriately study and create content for childhood learning development for the ASEAN community by using learning toys 2) to develop and design children learning toys in preparation towards ASEAN community and 3) to evaluate prototype products for early childhood learning toys in preparation towards the ASEAN community for the transfer of knowledge in children. The sample used in this study were 398 who were the parents of children in Udon Thani Province. Questionnaires were used as a tool in asking for toy requirement. Five respondents were specialists in learning behavior and design who used appropriate appraisal forms for toy product design. The prototype was then created and evaluated by Kindergarten teachers in a case study of public and private schools in Mueang District, Udon Thani
Province.

         The results found that: the toy design must consider safety first; learning about ASEAN is appropriate for early childhood, especially the national animal; the material
chosen for making the toys would be wood from rubber trees which is simple for production, uncomplicated, and children can touch and get close to the natural material. The children can play alone or in groups of two or more; the method of play encourages creativity and practices skills of observing comparisons. 

        The conclusion of evaluating the prototype revealed that the style and durability were at an average level of importance followed by attractive packaging; learning and appropriate production materials were rated at the highest level of importance, while the safety was rated at a high level. There was a difference of opinion between public and private sector Kindergarten teachers on the different features of toys for Kindergarten children, with public sector teachers having a higher opinion about children learning from toys than those teachers from the private sector.