Camille-I
8th June 2009, 07:34
An educational toy is designed to help children learn a certain skill or set of skills as they play. In addition, an educational toy can teach children about a particular subject or help children think creatively.
How to Shop
First, don't believe all the hype. Many educational toys come in brightly colored packaging littered with phrases touting their benefits, and it isn't long before even the most independent-minded parent begins to feel they must have a certain educational toy to give their child an edge. Before you grab for your wallet, however, take a good hard look at the actual product. Most packaging, particularly when it comes to interactive electronic learning boards or laptops, has a "demo" button. Push it. You may notice that the "laptop" actually has a liquid crystal display (LCD) the size of a deck of playing cards, and that the remainder of the "screen" is actually comprised of brightly colored graphics or stickers. It's also a good way to learn if the toy's activities would challenge or bore your child.
Likewise, a handheld game for preschoolers that simply plugs into a television may offer the fun of a video game, but is it really educational? Sure, a popular cartoon character prompts your child to identify circles and squares, but flash cards or coloring pages may be just as effective while costing a fraction of the price of said electronic device.
Keep in mind that if your household is like many, there's probably already a computer (or two, or three) at hand. By the time children enter school, many already are using a parent's computer for educational games. In this case, investing in some educational software aimed at childhood learning may be a good bet.
Child-sized musical instruments can foster an early interest in music, something that can become a life-long pursuit. The key is parental interaction -- if you buy a $200 guitar and simply hand it to your child, he or she will likely have some fun pretending to be a rock star before the guitar finds a permanent home in the closet; if you take the time to help your child learn a few chords and play a simple song, however, you may create a starting point for music lessons.
Some of the simplest (and often least expensive) educational toys don't have flashy packaging or marketing hype. A fossilized dinosaur replica encased in plaster that prompts kids to use a digging tool to excavate the bones was a hit with our testers, who spent hours acting as junior archeologists. Likewise, a talking cash register can help preschoolers learn to identify coins and their respective values, as well as practice sorting skills.
It's important to note that educational toys are most valuable when used in conjunction with parent-guided learning time. Educational toys, particularly sophisticated interactive electronic toys, often require parental supervision for children to use them to their fullest potential. At least initially, plan to use an educational toy with your child.
How to Shop
First, don't believe all the hype. Many educational toys come in brightly colored packaging littered with phrases touting their benefits, and it isn't long before even the most independent-minded parent begins to feel they must have a certain educational toy to give their child an edge. Before you grab for your wallet, however, take a good hard look at the actual product. Most packaging, particularly when it comes to interactive electronic learning boards or laptops, has a "demo" button. Push it. You may notice that the "laptop" actually has a liquid crystal display (LCD) the size of a deck of playing cards, and that the remainder of the "screen" is actually comprised of brightly colored graphics or stickers. It's also a good way to learn if the toy's activities would challenge or bore your child.
Likewise, a handheld game for preschoolers that simply plugs into a television may offer the fun of a video game, but is it really educational? Sure, a popular cartoon character prompts your child to identify circles and squares, but flash cards or coloring pages may be just as effective while costing a fraction of the price of said electronic device.
Keep in mind that if your household is like many, there's probably already a computer (or two, or three) at hand. By the time children enter school, many already are using a parent's computer for educational games. In this case, investing in some educational software aimed at childhood learning may be a good bet.
Child-sized musical instruments can foster an early interest in music, something that can become a life-long pursuit. The key is parental interaction -- if you buy a $200 guitar and simply hand it to your child, he or she will likely have some fun pretending to be a rock star before the guitar finds a permanent home in the closet; if you take the time to help your child learn a few chords and play a simple song, however, you may create a starting point for music lessons.
Some of the simplest (and often least expensive) educational toys don't have flashy packaging or marketing hype. A fossilized dinosaur replica encased in plaster that prompts kids to use a digging tool to excavate the bones was a hit with our testers, who spent hours acting as junior archeologists. Likewise, a talking cash register can help preschoolers learn to identify coins and their respective values, as well as practice sorting skills.
It's important to note that educational toys are most valuable when used in conjunction with parent-guided learning time. Educational toys, particularly sophisticated interactive electronic toys, often require parental supervision for children to use them to their fullest potential. At least initially, plan to use an educational toy with your child.