Educational toys are intended to make learning fun. There are a wide variety of learning toys available for parents, grandparents and teachers to purchase. A child can learn about things like math, science, geology, astronomy, and the arts just by playing with a specific toy. There are also toys that teach practical skills such as telling time and money counting. Choosing the right learning toy can be a challenge because there is so much out there today. You should try to find toys that best suit your child’s educational needs based on his age, skills and abilities as well as his interests.
Depending on your child’s age and interest, you might encourage her to explore a career. You can get a real working stethoscope and/or microscope for the budding doctor or veterinarian. A child interested in medicine might also appreciate a brightly colored book about anatomy while a little vet might like an illustrated book about animals. A kid who likes to cook might like a kid’s cookbook and utensils so that she can try her hand in the kitchen. The possibilities are truly endless and you really should just use your imagination when trying to find career-themed educational toys for your child.
Creative kids (or those who might become more creative with a little prodding) might appreciate art supplies or musical instruments or even just wooden blocks. Don’t underestimate creativity as part of the learning process. When a child is challenged to create an art project or learn to play an instrument, he is learning how to follow directions and is also gaining self-confidence that can carry over in a positive way into other areas of his life. In that way, educational toys are a way to make a child’s life richer and better through the process of play.
Some experts caution against electronic toys or toys that require the use of the television to work properly. As a parent of four children, I disagree. Electronic toys sometimes engage a child in a way that other toys do not. For example, a fun computer program that asks the child to add and subtract teaches important math skills and can keep a child’s attention for a long time. Likewise, a play cash register with “real” sounds can teach a child math skills while the child plays pretend. DVD’s can be educational as well and even games played on the WII™ or Nintendo™ can teach hand-arm coordination. Thus, it appears that electronic toys are here to stay as a viable option when seeking out educational toys for our kids.
One Comment
This is really important, creative. I believe music well goes with kids’ education.