Educational Toys For Serious Fun

So much of the world today has become automated. We spend hours every day sitting passively in front of a television or staring at a computer screen. Small children are exposed from infancy to a learning environment with little hands-on experience. Yet studies prove a child’s development is absolutely dependent on their opportunity to learn through tactile experience. Simply hearing or seeing information is not enough to stimulate vital brain development and motor skills.

All children are born with certain natural abilities, but it is up to parents to nurture them and provide opportunities for learning. Skills like memory retention, eye/hand coordination, basic math and reading, and logic can be taught from a very early age; but the child does not simply learn these things on their own. They must be guided by a patient adult. While most parents adore their children, many feel daunted when they are asked to fill the role of a ‘teacher’. That is why so many of them have turned to educational toys to support their efforts.

Educational toys are more than just playthings. They are different from the colorful, noisy toys you see at most stores; rather, they are designed by educators and child psychologists so that children actually benefit from playing with them. These toys challenge the child in new ways, giving them a safe and engaging learning experience. Puzzles, blocks, and puppets may lack the blinking lights and cheesy electronic music, but they allow children to use their imaginations and become confident with their own abilities.

Educational toys are designed for different stages of development. For example, items that are made for infants are often very simple, giving the child a chance to explore colors, shapes and textures and use all five senses. For older children, there are puzzles, figures for imaginary play, and childlike replicas of adult items like cooking equipment, scales, money, and other items that facilitate role playing.

It is important to make sure you provide toys that are age and developmentally appropriate to avoid frustrating your child causing them to lose interest in the learning process. Ideally a toy will keep a child engrossed without a parent having to insist that they play with it for a certain amount of time. If your child shows resistance to playing with a particular toy, it could be that they have outgrown it–or they are not yet ready for it. Be a careful observer and ask open ended questions so that your child can express themselves and give you more clues to their developmental needs.

Obviously, educational toys can only do so much–no matter how well they are designed. The key to your child benefitting from educational toys is spending time with them, encouraging their play and rewarding them with positive comments when they learn new things.

One more thing to consider when buying toys is to look for items that are made with the highest quality standards-both in materials and manufacturing. Check for recalls before buying certain brands of toys, and look for items that are made in countries with fair labor practices and a good track record of safe and durable products.

About the Author: Find out more about high-quality educational toys at http://www.inspiredplay.com, where you can choose from hundreds of age-appropriate, well-designed items that will keep your child learning and having fun.