Article title: 5 Toys That Can Also Be Educational
The main purpose of a toy is to provide babies and children with fun and entertainment. However, there are many toys that also serve an educational purpose. When choosing toys for their children, parents should take this into consideration as there are products available that will make children happy and while also supporting various aspects of their development. Here are five toys that are both fun and educational for children. 1) Play Sets There are pay sets available that depict many typical settings your child comes across in their day-to-day life. Each of these offers a different pay experience of children. A post office set is just one example of how a child’s education is supported by playing with play sets. A toy post office set is a fantastic way of introducing children to a range of mathematical concepts. Children can have fun weighing out their pretend parcels, counting out change for each other and arranging the times in the set in order on the display section. This will help them to develop skills in the areas of money, counting, numerical order, weights, addition, and subtraction. Literacy skills are also enhanced if the set has fake documents for the children to complete. Many sets include items such as birthday cards, car tax discs, and forms to complete. Furthermore, children can develop their social skills as a post office set allows them to create different role play scenarios when playing with others. They can take turns of who plays the person working in the post office and who is the customer. Scenarios can include buying a birthday card, weighing a parcel, requesting a form or sending a letter. Children can base these scenarios of their own personal experiences of shopping and going to the post office. 2) Interactive Learning Systems There is a wide range of interactive learning products available for children of all ages. One of the leaders in this section of the toy market is Leapfrog who manufacture interactive, educational toys aimed at everyone from babies to teens. Babies’ senses are stimulated when playing with such toys as they are fascinated by lights and sounds. Any interactive elements teach them the impact their actions have. For example, if they shake the toy it makes a sound or if they press a large button the toy lights up. Similarly, these actions also support the development of both gross and fine motor skills in babies. For older children, there are toys that provide a general educational experience and toys that focus on specific areas of learning. For example, a toy laptop may have a range of activities in several areas of learning with levels to suit children of different abilities. Other toys may specifically support development in either literacy or numeracy. 3) Construction Sets There is a massive choice available when it comes to buying construction kits. These come in all forms and use a variety of materials, from Lego to magnets and from metal to wooden kits. It is important to choose a construction kit that contains age-appropriate materials. Construction kits help to develop fine motor skills as children assemble the pieces to create a structure. They also enhance creativity and imagination. While assembling the item, it is possible that a child needs to follow instructions. This supports skills such as critical thinking, decision making, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving. Construction kits can also teach children about shape, size, and movement. 4) Dollhouses Another fantastic choice, if you are looking for educational toys for your child, is a dollhouse as this can enhance their learning in several ways. One of the main benefits of a dollhouse is that it helps children to develop their social skills. When children are playing with a dollhouse, they must use their creativity and imagination to devise scenarios for them to role play. This is particularly the case if they are playing with other children. Some of the skills they learn include taking turns, speaking, listening, decision making and sharing. A larger dollhouse, such as a dollhouse that fits 18-inch dolls gives more scope for different role play scenarios and allows children to interact better with both the dollhouse and the dolls. A cheap 18-inch doll house will also allow a larger group of children to play together. There is a great choice of dollhouses for 18-inch dolls for sale right now, so you can easily find one that best suits your child’s personal interests and style. 5) Flash Cards Flash cards are somewhat underrated for the element of fun but they give great scope for educational interactivity with your child. They are also a brilliant choice for people with a limited budget as they are usually cheap. There are flash cards available for all ages and abilities; many of these are specifically designed for one subject area. Therefore, you may need to buy a range of packs with different themes, but this is fine because they are inexpensive. Flash cards are a versatile tool in terms of educating your child. It is possible to use just one set of flash cards in hundreds of different ways, from simply holding up cards to teach vocabulary to playing games such as snap or matching pairs. This is something that you can do to spend time with your child or something that several children can enjoy together. Each of these different toys can provide a different learning experience for your child. While they are all fun and will keep your child entertained, there are several educational elements to each of the toys. Buying a variety of different educational toys can help your child to develop a wider range of skills.
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One problem that parents face when buying toys for their children is that they do not last. They can fork out their hard-earned cash for toys to keep their children entertained only for them to break within weeks of making the purchase.
However, not all toys are likely to break as some are designed with endurance in mind. Here are some of the best versatile toys that are built to last. Lego One of the reasons why Lego has sustained long-term popularity is that it lasts and children can play with it time and time again. Once you have bought a basic kit of Lego, children can enjoy hours of fun using it in a variety of ways to make new and interesting creations using their imagination. Many parents still have their own Lego from their childhood which is a testament to the durability of products made by this company. Wooden Toys Many traditional toys are made from wood and there is a good reason for the use of this material; the durability. Wooden toys can endure an endless amount of rough play and knocks. They are unlikely to break no matter what your children do with them. There are some fantastic toys available that are made from wood, including jigsaws, vehicles, dollhouses, characters, and play sets. Wooden toys are versatile because they are great for play and can also look fantastic as ornamental items to display in your child’s room. As there is a timeless quality about wooden toys, you can pass them from one generation to the next and they will still be relevant. A Dollhouse If you buy a dollhouse for your child, it is something that can last them from being a toddler right through to their teens. By choosing a larger dollhouse, such as an 18 doll house, this toy will be just as fun for your child when they are older as when they were a toddler. A Barbie sized dollhouse will give your child hours of fun and the opportunity to play in different ways. For example, a dollhouse for those larger sized dolls means your child can create scenarios with Barbie dolls or with any other larger dolls. The options for role play scenarios are almost limitless and your child can recreate scenes based on their own life experiences. Meccano Meccano is one of the leading brands of construction kits. With pieces made from metal, these kits are extremely durable. The fun of these toys does not end once a child has built a structure or vehicle from these kits. They can go on to play with their creation for as long as they want and in any way they wish. There are kits available that are suitable from childhood through to adulthood. It is important to note that Meccano kits are not suitable for toddlers due to the small parts included in the sets. Tonka Trucks Tonka trucks are a great choice if your child is interested in vehicles. They provide hours of fun and your child can play with them in many ways. They can use them as accessories with their play sets, hold races between the trucks, and use them in different role play scenarios. Tonka trucks are manufactured using durable materials, so they can withstand rough play. Also, they do not use batteries, so there are no worries about constantly replacing batteries to allow your child to continue having fun with these toys. Bikes, Trikes, and Scooters Every child loves the freedom to get around on their own and bikes, trikes and scooters are some of the most popular toys amongst children. These toys can last for years and can give children hours of pleasure. There are options available for all ages and many are adjustable thus giving them a longer life. For example, a bicycle with stabilizers is suitable for children from around the age of three but can last them for years to come. As they build their skills and confidence, you can remove the stabilizers and adjust the height off the seat and handlebars. There are even examples of toys that convert from one item to another. With a click of one bolt, a sit-on trike can convert into a scooter. These are just a few of examples of toys that are both versatile and durable. There are many other examples, so it is not necessary to fill your home with toys that break within weeks of purchase, Each of these toys will give your child hours of fun without the worry of them breaking quickly through rough play. |
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