The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store or the toy section of any department store and there are shelves and tiers of toys labeled 'educational toys'. There are books, games, dolls and the list just goes on and on. It includes everything from an infant's building blocks to Leapfrog interactive games. The sheer variety is overwhelming. How does a parent or a grandparent choose the best educational toys for the children in their lives? Will the child like it? Will it hold up under the abuse of play? Will it accomplish the purposes for which it was purchased? And finally, is it a good value for the money?
The first rule that parents and grandparents should keep in mind is to buy educational toys that are age appropriate. The temptation is nearly overwhelming to buy children, especially infants, toys that reflect the interests of the giver. For example, how many times have you seen fathers who were sports enthusiasts give a child a piece of sports equipment that was way beyond the youngster's ability to use. Footballs, fishing rods and bows and arrows given to infants and toddlers are a complete waste of money. Parents, proudly convinced they are raising a child prodigy, create a frustrated youngster when they push the child into playing with toys outside the manufacturer's suggested age range. Real safety hazards are presented when children are encouraged to play with toys beyond their ability to understand or handle safely.
The second rule of buying educational toys is to keep in touch with the child's interests. Children grow and develop at rapid rates, both mentally and physically. Continually changing interests are a natural part of this development as the child explores new ideas and concepts. It is important for parents, and grandparents, to spend time playing with the child for a whole host of reasons. One of those reasons is that it helps the adult keep in touch with the child's current interests. Play is how children learn and educational toys are tools of that play. It does little good to buy a small girl jigsaw puzzles and Teletubbies when what really interests her are word games and chemistry sets.
Educational Toys Should Serve A Purpose And Stimulate The Child
Choose educational toys that stimulate the child. How often have we purchased children a toy and watched them shove the toy aside and play with the box in which it was packaged? Educational toys are of two basic types. They are those that develop physical skills and those that develop cognitive skills. Legos, for example, are great educational toys for older pre-school and elementary school aged children. Legos invite children to become creative as they assemble these interlocking blocks into an unlimited myriad of shapes and designs. The activity of assembling the Legos also helps develop fine motor skills.
Beware toys that are so highly developed that the game does all of the play. Some video games fall into this category. The child does not have to think or even be especially adept or coordinated physically to play the game. These games may be an interesting diversion for the youngster, but they contribute very little to either the youngster's creative or physical development.
When selecting educational toys, choose quality over quantity. We have discussed children's continually evolving interests. Even so, we all too often overwhelm our children at gift-giving occasions such as birthdays, Christmas and Hanukkah. Youngsters go from toy to toy and cannot decide with which to play. If this only happens a couple of times a year the child will eventually sort them out and play with all of them. The problem is that many children are continually given new toys, not only at special occasions but also throughout the year.
Some children are given so many toys that they remain overwhelmed. They do not learn to appreciate the things that they are given. They can also develop a distorted sense of values. They begin to equate parental and grandparental love with the quantity of things they are given. Their expectations of what they will be given escalate into unrealistic levels. This is a disastrous characteristic if it is carried into adulthood.
Children overwhelmed by the number of toys they are given receive little benefit from the educational toys. They cannot concentrate on any one toy long enough to let their creativity blossom. Too many toys can be damaging to a youngster.
Parents and grandparents should also concentrate on toys with build-in quality. As we have already discussed, the toy should be designed to stimulate the child's physical skills or creative abilities. The toy should also be safe and durable for the age group of children for which it was designed. The toy should be designed to hold up well under the abuse of play. It should not be constructed of potentially toxic materials such as lead-based paint. It should also be constructed in a manner where small pieces that can be swallowed will not readily be broken off and in a way that there are minimal risks of injury from sharp edges or corners.
While there are many small manufacturers of excellent toys, when in doubt choose toys made by top-rated companies with time tested brand names. Examples include Fisher Price, Disney games and Milton Bradley to name just a few.
Parents and grandparents can help their youngsters safely develop into happy, healthy and well-rounded young adults with some conscientious attention to the educational toys they choose. Just keep in mind the child's level of development and current interest and choose toys that are appropriate for that age and interest. Make sure the toy will stimulate the child either physically or creatively. You want to stretch the child's abilities, but not so much that the youngster becomes frustrated or so little that the child either becomes bored with the toy or lazy physically or mentally. Finally, if given the choice, select one or two quality toys rather than a room full of cheap toys.
About the author: Royce Armstrong is a successful freelance writer with a business and banking background who believes consumers should get the best value for their money when shopping for educational toys including: science toys, mind puzzles and other unique toys.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThroughout the year, many days of celebration are tucked capriciously... Read More
The children of Baby Boomers, the Echo Generation, are entering... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
The big yellow school bus is coming down my road... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its... Read More
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
You have two kids who are 14 months apart. How... Read More
Life is comprised of pieces of time sprinkled with pivotal... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
? Let the child choose his or her own lunch... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
Below is a copy of our eating program for Attention... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
In 1996-97 we were contracted by VAXA International of Tampa,... Read More
There may really be a real monster under your kid???s... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More
Spare the rod, spoil the child!This philosophy's been around a... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With... Read More
Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
Moms, did you ever question your value as a role... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
Here are some things that you can do to help... Read More
Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your... Read More
There has been much attention in the media of late... Read More
You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
One of the few decisions you'll make during pregnancy that... Read More
Who lives in your house? Are they driving you "crazy?"... Read More
Bedtime and children's sleep habits can cause nightmares - for... Read More
The small, lilac colored hexagonal box, with Winnie the Pooh... Read More
Courage means doing the right thing when it is hard,... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
Love, love, love. It makes the world go round. It... Read More
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
There are two methods for teaching children to read; whole... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
Parenting |