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The Best Educational Toys for Kids

Children learn well and most effectively when they are having fun and fully engaged in an activity. As children vary greatly in what catches their interest it will mean that deciding on the best educational toy will depend on the child it is being bought for.

An educational toy is anything which will encourage your child to learn a new skill. This doesn’t just mean the conventional skills of numbers and letters but can include encouraging the development of motor skills, hand to eye co-ordination, new languages, the natural world and so on.

The age of the child

The age of the child will dictate choices to some degree. A parent may wish their offspring to be the next great inventor but forcing a science set meant for an 11 year old on a 4 year old will not encourage them to develop faster. It is much more likely to put them off for life.

Some children are more advanced than others at certain ages and most parents like to think this applies to their child. All educational toys will state which age group they are appropriate for. This doesn’t have to be adhered to rigidly but if you are buying a toy recommended for older children then be sure that your child is capable of using it and it isn’t just a projection of what you wish for your child.

Educational toy companies for kids

Many of the toy companies now have complete educational ranges and some companies only produce educational toys and games. Companies have come a long way from the days of the basic chemistry set and many of them now work in conjunction with education authorities and educational advisers. This ensures they are producing toys that parents will want to buy and children will want to play with whilst learning at the same time.

They will place great emphasis on the key stages of learning which often fall into the age groups 3 to 5 years, 5 to 7 years, 7 to 9 years, 9 to 11 years and 12+.

Some stores and companies are set up around a particular theme such as science discovery stores, the young naturalist or dinosaurs and prehistoric learning. These have items that are appropriate for very young children up to adults.

Pre-school educational toys for kids

Very young children will need brightly colored, oddly shaped and large piece toys to catch and hold their attention; fine motor skills are still developing at this early age. Toys that have flashing lights, that shake or buzz or make sounds will appeal to pre-school age children.

Talking story books with buttons to press or colorful books with pop-up insides will introduce your child to books and words from the very beginning even if they can’t read them.

There are literally thousands of choices of alphabet and number introduction toys which include jigsaw puzzles, magnetic boards, large play mats and bath toys.

Very young children respond well to water play and this is a good environment into which to introduce learning. Toys which float, sink, squirt water, stick to the bathroom wall etc., can all be combined with learning numbers, letters or basic science principles even at such an early age.

Building toys or any basic construction toy will encourage fine motor skill development as will jigsaws and puzzles. Make sure that these are appropriate for your child’s age and don’t contain small pieces that can be swallowed or are too little for the child to play with without frustration.

Introducing your kid to the natural world

These types of toys and kits have become very popular especially as urban populations grow and town children may have little opportunity for experiencing nature.

There are many types of the indoor ‘farm’ variety including developing your own worm farm, ant farm or a sea-monkey tank. In addition there are toys which encourage children to explore what is around them such as back yard bug safari kits or weather station kits.

Science kits for kids

These come in every science subject you can imagine and for virtually every age group. Chemistry sets, microscopes, planetariums and toys for learning about the solar system, electronic kits, build your own skeleton, educational geology such as crystal growing kits or volcano building toys, interactive CDs and DVDs, construction kits that apply principles of physics and so on.

Some of these toys are so wonderfully designed that even children who have shown no previous interest in a particular subject will have fun with them. If you are not sure where to start then ask your child what interests them and match the toy accordingly. You can also observe what your child is naturally drawn to or asks questions about – “how does our TV work?”, “why do we have thunder storms?” and “why do my eyes hurt when I look at the sun?” Children are naturally curious and enjoy discovery if it is presented to them correctly.

Many companies have cottoned onto the fact that ‘disgusting science’ seems to appeal to a particular age range and particularly boys. There are many toys now available that fall into this category especially where human anatomy and bodily functions are concerned.

Arts and crafts related toys for kids

There are many craft kits available which include painting mugs, jewelry making, designing t-shirts, mosaics, making animals and other projects from clay, felt, knitting, pipe cleaners, paper plates, lolly sticks, building aeroplanes and kites and myriad other choices.

Arts and crafts develop artistic and creative skills along with patience but also teach motor skills.

Arts and crafts are always a good option for parents where money is tight as many craft projects can be undertaken with household items, cardboard boxes, paper, glue and items form nature such as leaves, flowers and seeds.

Finding the best educational toys for your kids will require a little trial and error, noting of their interests and a lot of shopping around to find the best match. Toys vary considerably in quality and the depth of their educational value. The object is to find a toy that your child will return to again and again and gain some amount of knowledge from doing so.

Article by expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton‘