Choosing and Using Developmental and Educational Toys
by Jay Van Tussenbrook
Much has been said through the years about the value of educational or developmental toys for children, but how often have we seen it that after the child opens an expensive toy they play with it for a little while and then proceed to become enraptured with the box it came in, or it's wrapping paper for hours. Is the toy to blame for not being a good toy? Did the parent choose a toy that was too complex or uninteresting? What makes an educational or developmental toy worth having?
The truth is that there are several factors to bear in mind when selecting an educational toy for your child, not the least of which is how you as a parent are going to use the toy. What's that you say? The toy isn't for you, it's for your child? Well, we understand that the child is the one to play with the toy, but it is up to the parent to make sure their child is getting the most of their play time. Play is the natural way that children learn. Just as young animals spend their time frolicking about in the woods, learning to avoid snakes and predators, growing into adults through the gaining of experience, so too do our children grow through frolicking about with toys and other children. Unlike animals though, we can adjust the experiences our young have to help them gain the experiences that are most important to them. As a parent you should know the most about your child. What developmental level are they at? What skills do they need to work on? What are their likes and dislikes? What is most important to them? Just as we provide the proper "balanced nutrition" for their growing bodies, so too must we provide the proper nutrients for their mental, emotional, and social development. That is not to say that you have to have complete control of their play situations, but taking a more active role in your child's play time can help them be more stimulated and less frustrated. Sometimes simply turning a toy on it's side is enough to keep a toddler or infant interested and learning, other times more complex play experiences can be designed to help your child both be interested and have fun. We encourage parents to talk with and listen to their children's likes, dislikes, interests, and influences. Sometimes it is even worth it to buy a toy the child really wants but you don't really like to help them learn to make responsible decisions in the marketplace. Besides, you're only young once, and it's good to get what you want once in a while. The thing to remember is that to the child a toy is entertainment and fun, but for the parent a toy is a tool for helping enhance the growth and behavior of their child.
That said, there are several factors to consider when buying an educational or developmental toy.
First is the age-appropriateness of the toy. Children at different ages are in different stages of development and require appropriate challenges. Giving a rattle to a 12 year old is obviously not going to stimulate them in any new ways, and giving a chemistry set to a toddler is definitely a bad idea. Most toys are now labeled with age categories to show the appropriate range of children who might be interested in and gain value from those toys. Occasionally though you will have to decide for yourself if a toy is appropriate for your child. Here are some general age guidelines:
Infants and toddlers are still developing basic skill sets needed to function in life. Toys with high contrast colors and simple shapes help them form the basics of cognition by learning to distinguish between colors and shapes. The Oball is great for this age range, as it helps form the basics of coordination and manual motor skills. Children from 1-4 years old, have a much better grasp of these basic functions and can benefit from simple puzzles and more complex building blocks, like the HABA ball and track set. These toys help them learn to recognize symbols, think creatively, and learn cause and effect relationships. As a child grows beyond four through the 5-7 year range they should have the basic foundations already laid for future development. This is the time to really focus on exposing a child to different arts and sciences to help both parents and child figure out their likes, dislikes, and interests. Coloring books, simple games, arts and crafts, and active toys like Frisbees or sports balls are great ways to learn about and encourage the diverse interests of a young child. Once a child reaches the age of 8-12 they are ready to grasp more complex ideas and concepts. Their motor skills and physiology have also advanced to the level that they are capable of pretty much anything an adult could achieve. Now they are ready to advance more on their own. They have developed the patience and curiosity to want to learn more about and take part in things that interest them. Now it becomes important to choose toys that will encourage and challenge the child enough to hold their interest while not being too much for them. For those interested in science, experiment kits like the chemistry C-1000 or any of the Science Wiz kits would be great. For more active kids a Wiffle ball set, kite, or boomerang could be a lot of fun. This is also the age when it becomes possible for kids to really take an interest in building sets like Capsula and Snap Circuits. Beyond the 12-13 year old range more challenging toys are required to hold the youngsters interest and be fun. Try giving them something like Whitewings gliders, Car building kits, Books, or more complex games. If you have done your job preparing them for life with the lessons learned through play they can handle it, in fact they will love it, only a few more years and they will be off on their own, fully grown adult human beings, ready to tackle the challenges of life and someday have children of their own.
Next one should consider the cost and materials of the toy. These two factors are linked together by economics. Is it worth the extra money to buy toys that will last? Or will the child outgrow them by the time they are wasted and broken? Getting the most for your money is always an important part of life, and the old adage holds true that “you get what you pay for” . This consideration is most important for young children who don't yet know how to treat more fragile toys. Sturdy toys are surely worth more if they are going to last through the child's interest. Toys like HABA wooden blocks will last for years , and can be handed down or given away to friends or family when they are no longer needed in your household. They will never loose their educational value or usefulness. Older children learn through experience to take care of their toys, but they are not immune to the curse of poor quality materials either. Broken toys teach their own lesson, but if they are expensive it is a lesson we would rather avoid. You should also bear in mind that when you buy something like a science kit, or arts and crafts materials, these toys are basically disposable once they are used up. There are some “disposable” toys that sometimes hold their value even after being used up. The Science Wiz kits for example have detailed and fun instruction books, and use mostly household items that can be easily replenished for most of their experiments. An Origami or Kirigami set may run out of paper, but the instruction book is still useful and paper is a cheap commodity that is easy to come by. In the end, it is up to you how to spend your money, but remember to consider whether the toy can be re-used or re-filled if needed and how much it will cost to do so. Most of the time it is worth the extra bit of money to buy a quality toy that will last long enough for your child to get the full educational value out of it. Which brings us to our next consideration…
The design and actual educational value of a toy . This is probably the most important thing to consider when buying an educational toy. What do you think is important to teach your child, and what toys will teach those lessons? Good toys usually teach more than one lesson, and are versatile enough to be played with in more than one way. In fact children will often find their own ways to play with toys that were never intended by the designers. Obviously a chemistry set will concentrate on teaching a child the basics of chemistry, but besides the intricacies of chemical reactions a child will also learn many things that go along with it; patience, logic, the joy of discovery and learning, all things that contribute to a child's overall development. The same can be said of many toys: building and engineering sets, models, knitting and weaving kits, and flower presses, just to name a few. The point is that you often have to look beyond the obvious lessons of a toy to find it's actual educational value . Not only that, but you also have to place your own value on the lessons taught by a toy, as well as considering what your child will be interested in. A toy that doesn't hold a child's interest will not be an effective educational tool. As a parent it is your job to learn and encourage your child's interest. Stimulate, don't frustrate . The lessons you think are important may conflict with the child's interest. Try to find a toy that will teach those lessons you deem important while still being interesting to the child. This may not be an easy, or obvious task, but bear in mind that all toys are primarily meant to be fun and entertaining for children. If you make playtime into too much work it won't be as effective in teaching lessons . A well designed toy will be both stimulating and interesting to your child . Finally, don't forget to consider if the design of the toy is safe for your child. This relates to the age -appropriateness of the toy, as well as the design, and brings us full circle in our considerations. This is actually most important for toddlers and very young children who may choke on small parts, or eat things that aren't meant to be consumed. As a child reaches ages 5-7 this becomes less important, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a valid consideration. Nothing is worse than a child being hurt by a toy meant for fun. Besides small parts look out for materials that may be toxic or poisonous, electrical dangers, and poorly designed toys that may pinch or cut a child.
Educational toys are a great way to encourage learning and development of any child, but in the end a toy is no substitute for a well informed parent . Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends can all contribute to a child's development by providing safe, well designed toys, and educational opportunities in which to use them. The choices you make when buying an educational toy will give direction to the experiences your child learns from. Making those choices and participating in your child's play will not only help you discover their interests and talents, but will also bring you and your child closer together as they grow. Your children will only have one childhood, help them make the most of it and you will both benefit from your investment.
The Northwest Nature Shop carries a wide variety of Educational Toys and Games. We take pride in the selection we provide and spend considerable time thinking about which products we carry, and which we won't. We try to provide what we consider to be the best toys and games available. This means we consider the materials, value and safety of all our educational products. We encourage you to browse through our website and look at what we offer. We are sure there is something there for everyone, and we are always adding new products as we find them, so don't forget to check back from time to time! |
