It is natural for children to be curious about the world around them, which is why they continuously explore and embark on little adventures. During this stage of their life, it is best to encourage them more to learn by exploring with them, playing with them, reading to them or just engaging in a conversation with them. Keep in mind that a child’s mind is like a sponge that can absorb an immense amount of information and what a better way to enhance this by providing them with educational toys that support learning.
IQ Boost
Educational and learning toys greatly provide a boost in the intelligence quotient, or IQ, of your children. They greatly learn the alphabet and numbers through interactive toys that help them recognize letters, or through toys that help them count. This is because educational toys are designed in such a manner that it will help them improve their identification and memorization skills in a fun and engaging way.
Sensory Development
Various educational toys are meant to enhance the development of their senses. More often than not, a learning toy includes features that tickle a child’s visual and auditory senses. For instance, toys that come in different colors are usually a sight to behold. On the other hand, toys that play a certain song help children learn by listening. There are also toys that are made of different textures, shapes, and sizes, all of which help children develop their sense of touch. All of this can pave the way for a child to learn and be adept with their communication skills.
Problem Solving Skills
Another advantage that kids can get from educational and learning toys is the development of their problem-solving skills. This is because these types of toys challenge the mind of children. For instance, wooden puzzles train kids to follow a step by step sequence to be able to put together a certain image or figure. While simple puzzles are appropriate for younger children, more complicated puzzles are suitable for older kids because these require more energy and focus.
The key thing to note is that puzzles make children think of ways on how they can be solved, leading to enhanced problem-solving skills, which they can benefit from in the long run.
Emotional and Social Development
Aside from the intellectual development that is brought about by an educational toy, emotional and social development is also heightened in the process. This is because most learning toys are designed to be played with other kids, or with other adults, paving the way for social interaction. In doing so, they may encounter different emotions such as feelings of joy and excitement, as well as anger and frustration.
This can be evident as they play with other kids and this is a great learning opportunity for them to know how to express and handle their feelings, especially in a social setting. As such, they will learn how to lead, share, or patiently wait which are all important aspects of emotional and social development.
Improved Concentration and Focus
There are studies that show that children who play with educational and learning toys have improved concentration and focus. Normally, children have a very short concentration span, which is brought about by their curiosity and eagerness to explore. At some point, they are easily distracted from what they are currently doing.
Educational toys are but tools that help children keep their focus because these are designed to be engaging and fun. Ultimately, they increase the child’s interest in learning, making them focus on the task at hand such as solving a puzzle.
Age Appropriate Toys
- Babies
Educational toys for babies are those that encourage sensory learning by stimulating your child’s senses. Infant play gyms and soothers are appropriate for babies because they engage in play through what they see, hear, or touch. As soon as your baby grows, offer him or her more interactive toys which will still continue to tickle his or her visual and auditory senses through lights and sounds.
Stackers and blocks are great once your baby learns to sit on his own because these will help develop their hand to eye coordination, as well as critical thinking. For instance, they will be able to try and test what will happen should they take out one block from the stack.
- Toddlers
Walkers are great learning toys for toddlers who are very much mobile. Even striders and push cars are great educational toys because these help children with their balance and stride. Toddlers are in the phase of exploring, which is the perfect timing for you to introduce toys that have a certain theme such as the alphabet, number, shapes, or animals. These kinds of toys will help them with their recognition skills, as well as communication skills. Their creativity and imagination can also be enhanced by these age-appropriate toys.
- Grade-schoolers
As soon as your children start attending school, it is best to engage them with toys that are more interactive to enhance their social and emotional development. For instance, there are chemistry sets for kids that can help your child be more interested in science by role-playing as a scientist with other kids. Click here to view some of the best chemistry sets include a set of experiments that your child can perform individually, or with a partner. On the other hand, encourage your child’s interest in the solar system by providing them with a modeling kit of the planets. These types of toys provide children with an avenue to practice what they learn in theory.
Final Word
In this modern-day and age, there are now several toys that provide different avenues for learning. These toys often train different sets of skills. Some develop their cognitive skills, while others improve their motor skills. But apart from the benefits of education and learning toys, bear in mind that the best thing that you can do to encourage your child to learn is by being with them, ensuring them that you support them every step of the way.
