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Posts Tagged ‘Toys’

Today’s parents feel pressured to use technology to begin their child’s education in utero. For example, the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System promises to “give your baby a headstart” by playing rhythmic patterns to help stimulate early learning. It is time, therefore, to step back and evaluate the true value of toys that incorporate technology to teach.

Toys that are formed from high-tech electronics embedded with semiconductor chips are generally known as edutainment toys. The quality and substance of their play may be limited by the number of buttons a child can push. Some promise to challenge a child by allowing him or her to interact with the educational content to learn it. For example, V.Smile offers a Baby Infant Development System aimed at introducing interactive learning to kids 9 months to 3 years. They can watch educational videos with this system or push buttons on a tray to influence what is happening on a television screen.

Some older toys are also adding electronic bells and whistles to appeal to the current technologically sophisticated generation of children. Dolls now interact with the Internet. Wooden Brio trains make electronic sounds and can be controlled by infrared remotes. The classic Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack now also comes in a Dance Baby Dance version whose center rod lights up and plays songs when the rings are stacked on it.

Open vs. Closed-ended Toys

An open-ended toy encourages free play with an unlimited number of outcomes. For example, a building set can be used to construct a variety of different structures. A closed-ended toy, on the other hand, has a limited and often soon exhausted number of outcomes.

Not all closed-ended toys are bad. After all, a stacker is a classic closed-ended educational toy: it can only be put together correctly in one way. However, to solve a stacker, a child must develop and use logic and fine motor skills. The child benefits from the repetition of playing with the pieces of a stacker, manipulating them with his or her fingers over and over and thinking about how they fit together until the solution is mastered and then repeated for pleasure.

A closed-ended edutainment toy, on the other hand, may only require a child to press a few buttons. Eventually, it leads to a dead end and the child grows bored and tosses the toy aside. As Martha B. Bronson notes in The Right Stuff for Children Birth to Eight, although a child can have a rich play experience with any toy, basic, open-ended toys encourage this type of experience more than rigidly programmed toys with only one or two functions do. This sort of edutainment toy is not timeless. It is meant to be replaced sooner rather than later by the next big product in edutainment that uses the latest in technological innovations.

Often people assume that toys that use new technology are more innovative and educational than non-technological educational toys. In fact, childhood specialists such as Jane Roberts (president of Young Media Australia, a consumer advocacy group), question how educational and interactive high-tech edutainment toys really are, noting that “[p]ressing buttons and having items do things for you is fairly limiting in terms of how children learn.” Furthermore, many traditional toys are themselves becoming more innovative about stimulating a child’s imagination and creativity without having electronics in them. For example, the blocks in FoxMind’s Cliko game can be used for a variety of games that are challenging to children and adults alike.

Negative Impacts of Edutainment Toys

Overall, parents might not want to encourage children, especially younger ones, to use too often edutainment toys that involve televisions and computer screens. The authors of “Effects of Preschool Television Watching on First-Grade Children,” found that preschoolers who watched more television than their peers did worse in school and were not as well socialized when they entered first grade. Researchers Frederick Zimmerman and Dr. Dimitri Christakis found that babies watching Baby Einstein DVDs and videos scored lower on language skills than babies who had never watched them at all.

In addition, Allison Sloan notes in Shopper’s Guide to Healthier, Greener Toys that computers and television sets emit EMFs, “invisible forcefields whose possible health effects, from headaches to sleep disruption to cancer, are the subject of heated debate.” Children’s developing brains are in the greatest danger from such outside influences.

A final caution about edutainment toys is that they can foster in children an acceptance of a disposable consumer culture. A timeless toy such as a set of wooden unit blocks will hold up under heavy use for generations and can be played with at the same time by children (and adults!) of a variety of ages. Edutainment toys, on the other hand, are usually played with by only one child at a time, and they generally have a shorter playtime and life span. Children quickly master and get bored of them, or their high-tech components break, rendering the toy useless, and then they are discarded, releasing toxic chemicals and metals into the environment.

What Parents Can Do

As technology and the Internet permeate society and people’s lives more and more, it does make sense to introduce children to computers and other inventions that they will need to use as they grow older. A toy is not necessarily bad or useless because it incorporates technology. That said, smart parents should examine the stated purpose of an edutainment toy, evaluate how and what it teaches, and determine if their children could receive equal or greater value from a simpler, classic toy. Roberts warns against the dangers of a parent using high-tech toys as babysitters, substituting interaction with a machine such as a single-player computer game for what should be “the best learning for young children-real-life experience when they model, create, explore, and develop their own initiatives through play.”

Kids want the best Christmas toys. There are so many that come out that you may not know which ones to buy. So, what I’m going to do is share with you some of the best Christmas toys for kids. That way, your kids will have the best gifts this year.

The best Christmas toys for kids are:

1. Transformers Optimus Prime. This is a great gift to give your kids. This is one of the best Optimus Prime toys to ever come out. Your kids will love this toy.

2. LEGO Mindstorm NXT. This is another great toy for kids. This is a popular gift that parents are buying for their children. The LEGO Mindstorm is an educational toy that kids love to play with.

3. Nintendo DS Lite. This is another one of the best Christmas toys for kids. The Nintendo Lite is a popular gift that a lot of kids want this year. There are a ton of great games that kids like to play that are also educational.

4. EyeClops Night Vision Infrared Stealth Goggles. The EyeClops Goggles is probably the coolest toy out right now. It allows you to see during the night. A lot of kids want this toy for Christmas.

5. Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House. This is a great gift for little girls that like Hannah Montana. The house is based off the hit show, Hannah Montana. Which is why a lot of kids want this toy for Christmas.

These are some of the best Christmas toys for kids. If you’re not sure what to get your children or if you really want to surprise them this year, you should get the gifts mentioned above. They will love those presents and will have the best Christmas ever.

To begin with, here are the ground rules for grown-ups. First, don’t overload your kids with toys. Too many at once will simply overwhelm them.  Second don’t take away old favourites – even if doggy, teddy, or dolly has been loved to bits. And third: suggested age ranges aren’t set in stone. Be patient if a child can’t yet cope with some particular game. She’ll soon get the knack.

As a natural, on-going part of our work as parents, teachers, early childhood specialists and others involved with children at home or elsewhere we observe children at play. This includes selecting the right products to enhance play and learning.

We can depend on the durability and versatility of such items as blocks, construction toys, games, puppets, and transportation toys. They stimulate the imagination, engage the player, have value and hold up over time.

“There. Did you see that?” a worried mother asked her friend after observing her gifted daughter stand up and walk away from two other little girls who were playing a card game.

What some parents conclude after watching their gifted children at play can be very far from the reality of the situation. Some parents, like the one from above, believe that their child isn’t being social when she doesn’t play with the other children. In fact, the issue might not be with the playmates; rather, it might be the choice of games, because gifted children learn and grow from play. Of course there are important social issues for gifted children that parents need to consider; however, since the gifted child can process at a higher level, he or she might gravitate to older children or to other children who have the same interests and abilities rather than to the boys and girls of the same age.

Children are little sponges when it comes to learning, and they are perfectly capable of doing that without toys that are described specifically as educational toys. Children’s toys are supposed to be fun, and most educational toys that children love will combine learning with having a great time.

The old classic children’s toys like Lego or Playdoh are great for stimulating child development and creative tendencies. Young children can start with the basic sets that don’t come with any complicated extras and work their way up.

Children’s educational toys are an essential component to every child’s playroom. Life would be much easier if we could just accept the fact that kids have always, and will always, spend most their time playing with toys. In the last few years, parents started getting more and more interested in choosing all sorts of educational toys for their children.

Playing with educational toys is one of the means that help children to establish contact with the world they live in, especially during the infancy stage. During the infancy stage, toys serve as educational materials to stimulate the child’s sense of sight, hearing, and touch. A rule of buying educational toys is to keep in touch with the child’s interests.

Once your kid has graduated infancy, the learning process becomes a little more complex. A year ago, they were learning how to eat solid food by chewing on a pillow. They were learning what would eventually allow them to read by staring at the mobile above their crib going around and around. Now it’s time to start thinking about reading, mathematics, basic building and organizational skills, further social development… the list goes on.

The wrong way to go about teaching these skills, and certainly you know one or two parents like this, is to treat the educative process too much like… well, academics. You don’t want to turn learning into something boring, with worksheets and assignments and so on. Learning should be fun, and if you teach that at a young age, it will remain with your child through their whole life.

But how does a parent know how much is too much to give? The dilemma is persistent though perilous when parenting pre-teen and teenage daughters when stuff and idols have their most tenacious grip.

What could be more innocent, more harmless than toys? If we were the toymakers, our products would no doubt reflect our love for children, our love for God, and our desire for holiness and purity. Unfortunately, the shelves of most toy stores are filled with toys made by those who are definitely of another mindset entirely.

Do children need toys? I would answer yes. Less affluent children have, for centuries, created their own: a piece of wood wrapped in a scrap of cloth became a doll; other bits of wood became animals, houses, tools, or weapons. Children seem to need to play almost as much as they need food, shelter, and love. Toys are the necessary props.

It’s not very hard to keep a kid entertained with something to play with. In this electronic age every toy seems to require batteries or software in order to work. However, kid’s toys don’t have to be sophisticated in order to be fun. Toys that require thinking and the imagination are the best toys that help aide the child in mental development.

Sudoku for kids and connect four both require critical thinking in order to win. This is precisely what parents should be looking for. Games that rely on chance won’t do much to benefit a child. A game of chess or checkers on the other hand can be very beneficial. I will be discussing a few kinds of toys and games that aide in stimulating children to learn more.

Puzzles

When trying to find inexpensive, fun and educational games, puzzles rank pretty high on the list. This game helps build up hand eye coordination for children and adults alike. The end result of this is a nice fully complete puzzle that you put together yourself. It’s a testament of what the human mind can develop in a short amount of time. Children will enjoy the independence that comes along with constructing a puzzle. This is very important early on in life and puzzles actually strengthen the process.

Building models

Model kits are readily available in most of the world’s toys stores. However, due to computer and video games, these types of toys are no longer as popular as they once were. In any event, kid’s can build their own cars, planes and boats from scratch using these kits.

Many of these kits are priced below $20.00 and generally don’t require adult supervision. All that’s needed is the kit and the child’s imagination in order to produce a lifelike model that will last for years. Advanced electric models have hit the market for older children approaching their teens. These models are not only for display but are meant to be played with after they are built. Walking robots, moving cars and trains can all be built.

Cards

Flash card games that incorporate math, language and/or science into the play are a good investment. Not only will your child be kept busy but they will also be learning at the same time. These card games are regularly used to teach students in school due to their effectiveness. The cost is very little or nothing at all if you make them. This would be a good afternoon activity for a child to do instead of watching television. First they could take some sheets of paper and write the questions and answers on them, then the cards can been used to test them.

Whether it is a puzzle, flash cards or models, there are plenty of educational games available for kid’s. Don’t fall into the technology trap by buying games for children that require starring at a screen. Instead, remember that no matter how much technology we develop, children can always be taught using simple old fashion toys.

Now more than ever, kids are losing their attention spans by spending countless hours in front of the television or by being on the computer. In most cases this only provides a temporary distraction that offers the child very little. Why not consider an educational toy for your child the next time you are out shopping?

During playtime, children develop learning strategies, critical thinking skills and a foundation for life-long competencies and interests. Watching your kids at play clearly reveals that learning is a developmental process. At six months or six years, childrens days are well spent, hard at work – at play.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to search for the most educational and developmentally appropriate toys for your children, in a wide range of categories. The job may be easier by looking at toys from several perspectives. From the vantage point of your children, they need to match their interests and ages. From your end, factors to consider are your values, principles – and the family budget.

When making a purchase, consider if the toy has star potentials. Take into account consistency of play value and whether the toy offers an extension of your childs creative and imaginative bent. A good toy encourages a child to experiment and explore without limit!

When looking for appropriate kids toys, it helps to keep the following things in mind:

• It is important to remember that boys and girls do differ in toy preferences and yet they can enjoy many of the same products. Playthings need to fit developing mental skills. They should foster awareness, appreciation and involvement in creative processes.

• Toys can help children better understand their neighbors. They can help understand and respect similarities and differences in todays world.

• A toy is quality and staying power is determined by its ability to withstand active use. Remember to choose toys with broad appeal and are not only worth the investment, but your child plays with them again and again.

• A company that guarantees a products safety establishes important consumer credibility. Labeling needs to be easily understood and should include age grading and valuable information. Kids toys should be technically well produced.

• There are toys that can help children understand new concept or develop new skills. Your Child is understanding of wildlife, science or the environment can be enriched. Toys which encourage and support physical activity and development contribute to a childs health and growth. Consider if the toy is innovative and original. If the toy does something familiar, but in a different way, or whether it offers something never seen before, then it is interesting.

With the variety of choices that kids have today, they have more exposure to really learn a lot and grow. You as a parent should keep your children invested in worthwhile toys. There is a lot to be gained by participating in play, imagination – and talk.

Opportunities during which your children can lead, cooperate and feel successful now become powerful vehicles for socialization. The play abilities children have formed will become the social and emotional underpinnings of school readiness, as well as contribute to behavior management and self-control. Kids toys must not only enhance a childs play experiences, but be fun, too! It is a tall order, but these tangible, yet elusive qualities are essential in all childrens playthings.

Kids normally love to play. But as a parent, you should know that when they are playing, you can also make use of this time to educate and teach them about the important matters. This is why buying educational toys would help your child in improving their knowledge and behavior while they are still able to enjoy and play.

We are past our childhood and when parenthood is reached, you should now know better about the importance of playing and how it can contribute to child’s development. Playing is the means where a child can think about things that matter in his life. He can also try assuming responsibilities and act as a grown up. During this time, you can aid them by giving the safe and educational toys.

Children can play with anything. They can make use of any material that is within their reach. When you give him toys, they can play with it in any manner that they want. Thus, if you want to hone and develop the skills of your child, then you should choose the right toys that they should play with. When you do this, you will be able to help your child’s development and you can also ensure that the time that your child spent for playing had been worthwhile.

There are many kinds of toys that a parent can buy. The market has already manufactured different types and you can make use of this option to get the best for your child. Most parents would prefer buying the educational toys over other kinds because they can be more helpful in honing the skills of their children. You should also consider this option if you aim to make your child more developed mentally and physically.

Now that you know the benefits of having educational toys, you should start finding these kinds in the market. There are many stores that sell them but you should also know more about what you are looking for. You should know that the educational toys are the ones that your children can enjoy. They are still toys but your children are not only playing since they also learn a lot of things while they are playing. Your child can learn the things that would be useful for them in the future. They can be in any form and the lessons can be so simple.

To ensure that your child is learning through the use of the toys, you will have to guide them. You should be present while they are playing so that you can also be their teacher when they want to know how their toy works. Also, you should make sure that the child is enjoying the toy so that his interest would be kept and he will continue playing with the educational toys that you bought.

When you are able to do this, your child’s development can improve in lots of ways. Thus, the benefits that you can get from the simple educational toys can be more than how much it is worth.

If you have kids (or even if you don’t), it’s relatively evident that no two children are the same. They don’t all have the same interests, they don’t all like the same toys, and they definitely don’t all learn in the same way. As adults, we need to encourage our children to enjoy learning, and it’s our job to figure out which way will work the best. One of the best means for us to encourage this striking of a creative chord is with educational toys.

First, let’s start with music. Music itself speaks to so many, and instruments help to develop necessary skills and confidence, and are a fabulous means of creative expression. Younger children will adore kazoos, maracas, and other “controllable” instruments that shake, rattle and roll. As they get older, throw in guitars, recorders and other “detailed” types of instruments that require a bit more skill.

Animals: Insect kits like ant farms, ladybug kits and butterfly environments provide children with the opportunity to learn the responsibilities necessary to care for animals and pets as well as to see what goes on in the daily life of such living things. With a butterfly habitat, the caterpillars arrive separately via mail so your kids can watch them grow, spin their chrysalides, and turn into beautiful butterflies.

Pretend Play has been a popular choice of both parents and children alike for generations. Kitchens, cooking and baking toys have continued to encourage creativity among future chefs and soccer moms and dads picking up a quick, yet somewhat healthy dinner for the family. Unfortunately many of the large corporate companies are trying their best to “brand” many of these types of toys to include their name, titles and logos throughout these pretend products, so keep your eyes open for the “unbranded” products.

Brain-teasers and multi-person board-games that make you think are once again gaining in popularity. These games help to develop critical math and logic skills. The ability to think quickly and under pressure is a large part of high school, college and the real world-working environment, so learning these skills during the elementary education years (and even earlier, if possible) will increase a child’s ability to problem-solve later in life.

Finally, electronic toys have been pouring out of the woodwork for a few decades now, but more recent advances have brought an educational focus to this genre of gadgets. Interactive play combined with learning and entertainment is a great recipe for educational toys in the new millennium.

 

Teach them Young!

Children love to explore, discover, observe and learn. Providing children with the right kind of toys will not only keep them entertained, but will also enhance their mental abilities. There are a number of such educational toys for all age groups available in the market today.

During Infancy

This is the age when children are just beginning to observe their surroundings. It helps if they are given toys that will stimulate their senses of hearing, touch, and sight. Colorful toys in different shapes help the development of hand-eye coordination. White, red and black are among the most attractive colors to a kid, and toys in these colors are sure to grasp their attention and interest them. They make the child think, and the attractive package makes it more interesting. Besides, there are special touch-and-feel books available that acquaint the child to the sensations of touch.

Early Childhood

These years are characterized by a strong sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness. Kids learn a lot by observing the different objects around them. Live habitat toys help children learn about the animals by watching them in their live habitats. There are various such toys including ant farms, frog habitats, and those of crabs, bugs, fishes, and sharks. Apart from this, puzzles, jigsaws, construction toys, arts and crafts materials, and reading and coloring books all help stimulate the child’s imagination and hone his/ her creativity and reasoning skills.

School Years

When children start attending school, their toys need to be upgraded accordingly. At this age, the games should help build social skills as well as sharpen the metal faculties. Board games, playing cards, balls, skipping ropes involve the participation of other children. Space educational toys educate the children about space and satisfy their curiosity about the galaxies, planets, moon, stars and the sun. There are different versions of this kind of a toy, even ones that allow a room to be decorated with glowing figures and create a universe-like atmosphere. Space toys also enhance the child’s interest in science and will thus make him/ her more attentive in class. Another great toy can be a digital camera. This will help the growth and development of the observational powers in a youngster. Besides, the images can be seen right away, and can also be mailed to friends and relatives. This makes the activity even more interesting to the child, as it might require the reciprocation of another individual.

So no matter how simple a child’s toy may look, it definitely plays a vital part in the overall growth and development of the child’s personality, including the social, emotional and physical aspects.

Science makes a foray into the entertainment market with electronic toys. Numerous toys and games available on the market have entertained kids and adults alike across the world. Nowadays, using state-of-the-art technology, these toys are designed to perform some truly unimaginable feats.

The most popular electronic toys available on the market would appear to be radio-controlled cars and airplanes. Offering precise maneuvering, these toys work almost like the ‘real thing’. Besides being able to be steered or flown in any direction, these toys have lights that blink and ingenious sound effects that add to the playing experience.

Besides entertaining kids, electronic toys also have the potential to educate. Kids learn the basics of science and technology from understanding how toys and video games work. You never know, those tiny tots may even be influenced to take up engineering as a career. Psychologists are of the view that all electronic toys, especially PreSchool toys, have the capacity to mold kids’ minds and contribute to a degree to building well developed mental faculties. Some electronic toys such as musical games and learning-to-read games are designed to provide valuable lessons that come in handy later in life. These learning-&-education toys are a must have in the ‘arsenal’ of toys in any kid’s room.

Great for the growing pre-teenager, these toys are also enjoyed by adults who are young at heart. A brilliant electronic toy for older children and teenagers is the GeoTrax. This innovative gaming system consists of a network of roads and rail lines that can be laid out across the floor of a room. There are varied layouts that can be chosen and the game ‘infrastructure’ includes rail cars, wagons, other vehicles and accessories. Besides being a treat for kids, the GeoTrax systems are also favored by adults and are also known to be a hit with collectors.

The splendid range of electronic toys, from the smallest video game to high-end Playstations, is a world of entertainment in itself, for people of all ages with such interests.

Parents like to see their kids happy. For them, their kids only deserve the best. In view of that, even when it comes to toys, the children ought to have only the best toys. You might think that it is quite difficult to choose toys for your kids. But, actually, it is not. With all the toys that are available in the market, there is nothing to worry about.

There is a wide variety of toddler toys to choose from. How to know which toys are best for your children? Your toddlers are at the phase wherein they are extremely active and curious about everything. For this reason, it would be best if you choose toys which motivate your kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Although there are some parents who choose toys based on the brand or manufacturer. But this should not be the case. It is not the brand or the name of the company that determines the quality of the toys and its value to children.

Even if there are toy manufacturers who produce toys that correspond to certain educational requirements, it does not mean that they always make toys that are best for kids. That’s why when selecting a toy for your kid you need to judge the toy according to its specific features. There are several characteristics that make a toy different from all the others. These can be classified according to the sense that the kid utilizes in learning. This means that you have to assess the toy based on its visual appeal as well as physical appeal to kids.

Another important thing to consider is safety. When buying a toy for babies or toddlers, make sure that it is safe. Do not purchase a toy which is hazardous for your little one. See to it that the toy that you will buy is lightweight. Also check if the toy has choking hazards. Does the toy contain small parts that have the tendency to drop easily? Always bear in mind that babies are fond of putting almost anything into their mouth. For this reason, it is important to beware of toys with choking hazards.

The next thing to consider in buying baby and toddler toys is the color. Generally speaking, it is best if you choose toys that are brightly-colored. Kids are attracted to toys with different colors. Colorful toys are known to be effective in grabbing the attention and interest of the kids. Without a doubt, most babies like brighter colors better compared to the pastel ones.

In addition, the age of the baby should also be taken into consideration. There are some parents who fail to realize that they are purchasing toys which are not yet suitable for their babies. More often than not, they tend to buy toys which are very sophisticated for their little ones. They feel that they can boost the development of their babies. But this is not right. Your babies will not be able to build up their skills in advance if their toys are very complex to meddle with. As a result, they will just pay no attention to these toys.

In view of that, it is essential that you consider the preferences of your kids. Try to consider their likes and interests. This can be a big help in finding the most suitable toy for your children. Toddler toys are available in many different features. As parents, it is your job to check the toys that your children are playing with. Make sure that they make the most of their playtime productively and safely.