Developing the Skill Set of Generation Alpha through Toy Engagement: Building a Novel, Toy-Based Pedagogy (TBP)

Abstract

Toy-Based Pedagogy (TBP) is a relevant, recognized teaching approach adopted by educational institutions to enhance the learning curve of children. Toys help Generation Alpha children develop skills, and the current paper underlines the need to include these skills into India’s Toy-Based Pedagogy (TBP) and suggest revisions. The data for the current study is directly elicited from Generation Alpha which is a novel intervention in pedagogical research. Educational pedagogies should be constantly revised and updated catering to the needs of the current generation. The findings of the study are highly relevant, as they highlight what Generation Alpha seeks and values in the current Toy-Based Pedagogy (TBP). The data was collected directly from primary school children aged 6 and 7 years. The paper adopts qualitative methodology and purposive sampling technique to obtain data from children through one-on-one interviews using an interview schedule. Thematic analysis employed suggested that children developed different skills through toy engagement. Furthermore, the study gives deep insights on the revisions required for the existing TBP to better suit the educational needs of Generation Alpha.