When shopping for toys, many parents today aren’t just looking for toys that will entertain their children. Parents also want to make sure kids are learning while they play. Schools today pride themselves on being rigorous and challenging students, so you want to make sure your child is keeping up in the classroom. Giving your kid the right toys is an easy way to make sure they continue learning at home. These 5 types of toys can get your kid off on the right foot in life and education.
1. Construction toys or blocks
One of the best learning toys for kids is a set of construction toys or blocks, such as Legos. These types of toys have many learning benefits and can help your child succeed in several different areas. For one thing, Legos and other blocks help kids develop spatial awareness, or a sense of what’s around them and how things can fit together. This is a crucial skill for young children and can lead to success in math, science, and engineering—three of the biggest fields for job growth today.
Blocks like Legos can also help children boost their creativity and try new things as they build whatever they can imagine with their blocks. These types of toys can also help kids learn social skills and teamwork, as they can work together to build something with their friends or siblings.
2. Puzzles
Traditional jigsaw puzzles are a great way to help kids learn. Like blocks, puzzles help to teach children about spatial awareness. They also help develop fine motor skills in younger children as they learn to fit the puzzle pieces together and figure out which pieces match up.
But there are more puzzle games out there than just traditional jigsaw puzzles. You can find shape and color matching puzzle games, 3D puzzles, and puzzles with wooden blocks or other toys that fit together. There are endless possibilities and any puzzle game will help your child learn.
3. Board games
Board games are great family activities in so many ways. They help your family bond, create lasting memories, and keep kids away from television screens and video games for a while. But board games can also help children learn.
Take the classic game Monopoly, for example. When playing Monopoly, children learn how to count and add money. But they also work on those important spatial reasoning skills and critical thinking as they devise the best strategy for winning. If games like Monopoly are a little too advanced for your younger children, don’t worry—there are tons of games designed for even the youngest children to learn.
Perhaps the most important thing children learn when playing board games is that it’s okay to lose. Board games are a safe way for children to deal with losing and disappointment without suffering any big real world consequences. Children who know it’s okay to try and fail will be more successful later in life.
4. Electronic games and toys
While some parents try to keep their kids away from the electronics and steer them towards old-fashioned games and toys, there’s no reason to be afraid of a little bit of electronic learning. There are so many great electronic toys to choose from today, and plenty of them also help kids work on crucial developmental and educational skills they need to succeed in school and life.
You can search for electronic games that help with math skills, letter recognition, shape and color matching, and more. Some multi-purpose toys come with different modes that will help children learn many different kinds of skills at once, while others are more specialized.
If you already own a tablet yourself, you can also download a few apps and games to help your children learn. There are apps out there for language-learning, math skills, and more. Tons of these apps are available completely free, too, so you don’t have to pay a dime to help your kid learn and have fun at the same time.
5. Books
While educational toys are excellent and tons of fun for kids, nothing beats good old books. Reading to your children can help them increase their vocabulary and build a solid foundation for starting school and independent reading. Plus, when you read to your kids and share that positive bonding experience, they’ll develop a love of reading that will carry throughout their entire life.
So whether you go with simple things like blocks and books or the high-tech world of electronic games and apps for kids, there are many options for ensuring your child is learning while they have fun and play!
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