Play time is not just for burning off energy. Kids also use their play time to learn new skills. Skills like learning how to cooperate with their playmates, how to take turns, how to develop stories and problem solving.

As a parent or an educator you can take advantage of play time. To do this you will need to develop learning activities that will develop specific skills. For example, you can develop a learning activity that teaches counting skills, ordering skills or communication skills.

One of the most important items in your classroom or your playroom is a toy train table. This item is the platform on which you can complete a variety of learning activities that involve play. To enhance the value of your toy wooden train table you will need a variety of educational toys.

There are a lot of educational toys that are going to work with your toy train table. Blocks, Legos, dolls, model cars, coloring books and other small manipulatives can all be used with your table. To keep these items organized you can store them in plastic totes or boxes which can be slid under your table.

Developing activities around your educational toys and your toy train table is not difficult. You will need to start by identifying a skill that you would like to teach to your students. Next you will need to devise a game or activity that involves the utilization of that skill. For example, your target skill may be ordering items based on size. The learning activity can be to arrange toy train cars based on their height or their length.

To get the most from your toy train tables it is a good idea to build one yourself. This gives you the option of selection toy train table plans that will fit your needs. Fortunately, there are hundreds of plans available to choose between.

Article contributed by: The Toy Train Table Plans Store

Most parents complain that their child does not concentrate on his/her academic pursuits, but instead whiles away the time, playing with toys. For such parents, and for all others, educational toys have come like a breath of fresh air and a ray of hope.

Purpose

As the name suggest, the purpose of educational toys, is to educate. They essentially make learning fun, and have helped many a child to grasp the basics of various subjects. Over a period of time, many teachers, education experts have also started prescribing the use of educational toys to increase the intellectual ability of the child.

Developing a child’s abilities

Educational toys are instrumental in developing the child, both emotionally, physically, as well as, intellectually. While buying an educational toy, you must take into consideration the age of the child.

For example, a baby needs an educational toy that will help it grasp concepts like stimulation and hand-eye coordination etc, toddlers might just enjoy toys that will help them indulge in various activities etc, older children need a different set of educational toys.

Target the area of development of a child, and buy a toy accordingly.

Stimulation of creativity

Educational toys also stimulate the creative pursuit of a child. There are many such toys available in the market that help a child learn the basic of drawing, crafts, or any other creative activity.

Look for toys that will give wings to the imagination of a child. In the modern world, be wary of toys that, in the guise of education, focus on the play, and not practical education. The best toys are those that make a child think and perform accordingly.

They get rid of stress

All toys de-stress children. However, these toys go one step further and not only entertain, but also mold the psychological tendencies of the child. This means that they positively affect the core of the stressful condition and try to eliminate it.

Again, at the same time, they assist the mental development of the child.

Enjoy the learning process

Such toys are getting increasingly popular because they are vibrant mix of entertainment and learning. Children get tired of studying and learning, more so, when they are forced to do the same.

With educational toys, children might never realize that they are actually gaining some valuable learning lessons from the use of educational toys. They will learn, but in a way that is natural and thus they will understand the concepts in a better way.

Educational toys make learning fun.

Building knowledge and interest

One of the most important benefits of using educational toys is that they increase the knowledge base of the children. More importantly there are various curriculum based educational toys that are specially designed to cater to particular subjects, such as science, mathematics, language etc.

If such educational toys are used at a very young age, they help in piquing the interest of the children in the subjects that they might study after a few years.

Increasing intelligence

As a general course of occurrence, educational toys also increase the general level of intelligence in a child. This is because they make a child think and then perform.

In most educational toys, there is a set of instructions that a child has to follow. This also teaches the child a certain level of discipline.

Cognition

Many of the educational toys cater to the needs of children, who have not yet started kindergarten, focus on developing their cognitive skills. There are toys that focus on the use of fine motor skills, in a child, before kindergarten.

This helps a child, to effectively help in learning how to hold a pencil and to write with it.

Helps specially challenged children

Educational toys help people with either physical or mental disability to grasp the basics of various day to day activities, which they might otherwise not be able to learn. Even at the classroom level, many teachers use educational toys to explain various subjects to disabled children.

Many a dyslexic child has learnt how to read and write through the use of various educational toys that are designed specially for their use.

Increases dexterity

Not only do they help in increasing mental dexterity, but physical dexterity as well. This is important for people who have learning difficulties or are suffering from conditions like autism etc.

Such toys, help in problem solving and at times, are so effective that even specially challenged children, learn to read better, get good test scores, and think faster then they would have done if traditional methods of teaching had been used.

Extensible toys

There are quite a few educational toys, available that have an extensible nature. Meaning, a child can use them through various stages of his/her development. Throughout this time, the toy does not lose its inherent educational value and the child can learn something new from it all the time.

All, this answers the question in our topic. Yes, educational toys are useful and will continue to be an integral part of the educational process of a child.
Leopoldo Pennington – About the Author:

Want to find out about dwarf angelfish and emperor angelfish? Get tips from the Angelfish Care website.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/is-there-any-real-benefit-from-educational-toys-1620161.html#ixzz0uAUbqX00
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Looking for simple, inexpensive toys for your child that require no batteries, assembly, and keep his or her attention for hours? Here are some ideas for simple things around the house that will entertain your children while you accomplish all the things on your to-do list.

1) Play-doh. This is easy to make and lasts for a long time if you keep it in an airtight container. Kids love things that squish and squash, so put down some wax paper and let their imaginations take over! To make play-doh, take two cups of wheat flour, two cups of water, two tablespoons of oil, one-third cup salt, and one-fourth cup cream of tarter and mix them in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir until all excess moisture has evaporated and play-doh consistency has been reached. Let cool and store in plastic containers or bags. For a little extra fun, when you mix all the ingredients in the saucepan, add some food coloring for colored play-doh!

2) Boxes. A cardboard box can be colored on, painted, and cut, and can be easily moved or disposed. An empty box can turn into a ship sailing the high seas, a cabin in the woods, or a castle on a hill. Many grocery stores have large, empty boxes that they are willing to give to anyone asking.

3) Pots and pans. When I was little, my mom would pull out her pots, pans, and metal bowls, fill some of them with water, and let my brother and I play “cooking.” We’d take cups, spoons, measuring cups—anything that could hold water—and transfer water from one pot to the other. We spent hours concocting various brews and soups, and usually ended up soaking ourselves. Because it was just water though, there were no stains to worry about and the mess was relatively easy to mop up.

4) A cheap toy. Never underestimate the power of one small toy. Another story from my childhood: my brother and I had two small action figures that we’d gotten from a kids’ meal. Those two men went everywhere with us! Outside in the dirt, in our little pool, on car rides, and so many other places. They “helped” us wash dishes, do homework, play in the yard, and kept us entertained for many afternoons. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my brother and I playing with those action figures.

5) Old clothes. Children take great delight in playing “adults.” Oversized clothes become disguises for miniature CIA agents or fancy outfits for little starlets. Ties, ribbons, shoes, dresses, sunglasses, and dress shirts are especially fun for kids.

Simple things, when seen through the eyes of a child, can become the most fun toy in the world. All you need are a few of these easily-accessible items and a health dose of imagination, and your children will be playing happily for hours!

Despite very strict toy safety regulations in the United States and the United Kingdom, some unsafe toys still do slip through the net. It is essential that all consumers are familiar with regulations and remain vigilant when buying toys for kids.

For the most part, toy safety regulations have been very successful. Very few household accidents involve toys, and when accidents do involve toys it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Accidents involving toys usually involve people tripping over them or using them inappropriately.

In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.

Safety labels

First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.

After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.

The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.

However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:

Under three years – The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.

Three to five years – Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.

Ages six to twelve – By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.

If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.

Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.

In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.

While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.

If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.

The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.

When one of my friends asked me to help him work on a guide to the best toys, I initially balked at the project. It seemed like to broad an effort. After all, how would you rate toys? Would you look for the best selling toys, the best educational toys, or the most unique and unusual toys? Are tech toys inherently better just because they seem to be selling better, or do the classics get a higher rating because they have withstood the test of time? Thinking about all of these questions, I thought the project was impossible. Nevertheless, he convinced me to persist for a while. In retrospect, I am glad he did.

You see, a best toy guide is important for many reasons. A lot of the times, parents don’t know what to get their children for presents. The right educational toy at the right time can really inspire a kid and make a huge world of difference. A kite might not seem like much, but it can be a great way to bring a family together. An electronics projects kit might not be as high tech as the latest video game system, but it can help kids understand how things work and inspire passion for a high-technology career. The best toys both amuse and inspire

One of the things that we discovered while researching the magazine is that collectors are an excellent source of information on the best toys. I had always assumed that they collected things because of their esoteric value and rarity, but it turns out that they really know what they are talking about. Some tin toys, for example, go back decades but are still as entertaining as ever. Robotic windup cars can be more fun than radio controlled cars for some people, and if something goes wrong with them they are easier to fix.

Of course, there is no reason to give short shrift to electronic gadgets. Today’s high-tech toys are some of the best toys that have ever been invented. Toy robots, video game systems, radio controlled vehicles, and virtual pets are just some of the many inventions that have made our lives more entertaining. Even better in my opinion are toys that help you to enhance your creativity through the use of high tech. People don’t think of sound recording software as a toy, but it really is to many kids. Similarly, digital cameras and digital photo editing software are considered some of the best toys by many teenagers.

When a child is under the age of five, there are often very limited options for things they can do outside. They can run and play, but they can’t ride a bike, or get on a scooter like many of the other kids they may see while out. This means that they have to find something comparable to do. My daughter always loved the kids ride on toys that my mother got for her, and I know that many other children love them as well. There are different types that go with different age groups, and many can be saved for the next child, if you are having more.

The smallest child will need kids ride on toys that allow them to sit in them without falling out. This means that there should be some means of support for them. The type that have a roof and a door might be more expensive, but they are also safer for the child that is just starting out with the kids ride on toys. These children might not be able to master pedals just yet, so these should be ones they can push with their feet. Check them over for breaks if they are passed down to you before you let the child ride.

The kids ride on toys for children who can pedal on their own come in many different sizes and colors. Some comes in the theme of television characters. These are a lot of fun for a child that is not quite ready for a bike, but wants to ride around like the other kids. When buying these, you have to be sure your child is tall enough to use it comfortably. If their legs are too short they won’t be able to reach the pedals or they won’t be able to get on and off without falling down.

You can find kids ride on toys anywhere you find toys, for the most part, and you can also ask your friends and relatives to see if they have any used ones that they don’t need anymore. Just make sure they are in good shape before you allow your child to use them. You can find them online as well, and you may find some there that you can’t find locally. Shipping can be a problem, but most of them are light and the costs for shipping them to your home won’t be as bad as you might think.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1.3 million children are entrusted to their grandparents every day. Roles of a grandparent include spoiling and enlightening their grandkids with toys they will enjoy. After all, toys are considered to be treasures of childhood. With this role comes an added responsibility to make sure that grandchildren stay safe and enjoy a toy that is age-appropriate. Grandparents make up a large percentage of toy buyers. Thousands of toys are marketed with the promise to educate and entertain kids. Unfortunately, not every toy is safe for children to play with. What can a grandparent look for when purchasing a toy for the kids that they love?

Most pediatricians and child experts believe there are a lot of hidden hazards concerning toys that people should be made aware of. Here is a guide that grandparents can use when it comes time to buy a distinctive toy for that special little person:

* Make sure the toy is age-appropriate. Labels on toy packaging should specify the age group the toy is made for. Consider that children at any age have different maturity levels. You may want to avoid buying a toy that won’t hold the child’s attention. Make sure to buy educational toys that match every child’s age group. This will make the toy effective and fun to play with.

* Read and follow all warning labels. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission or CPSC, choking is the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Warning labels are made to alert if a toy poses a choking hazard for younger children, typically under the ages of three. Federal law requires these labels. Make sure toys made for older children are kept out of the reach of younger children. Objects such as balls should not be less than 1.75″ in diameter. Avoid toys that have small parts that can potentially be pried off by tiny curious hands. Examples of toys that contain small parts are stuffed teddy bear’s eyes or a wooden car’s wheels. Stuffed and wooden toys are still very popular among children; just think BIG when checking out the “parts” attached to the toy. Toys should be larger than the child’s mouth. Tip: if a toy or toy part can fit inside an empty toilet paper roll, chances are the toy is too small. This would not be a safe toy. If a toy contains small parts, parts should be secured and guaranteed not to come off.

* Make sure toys are free from sharp and pointy edges. As an experienced mother or father, you are probably aware, small children have a tendency to put most things in their mouth. It is important toys are free from sharp edges as to avoid cuts and injuries. There may be danger of a child falling on top of a toy while playing. To avoid injuries, make sure pointy edges are buffered or eliminated,

* Avoid LOUD toys. Children’s ears are highly sensitive and hearing can easily be damaged by loud noises. In order to find out if a toy is too loud, use your own ears as a tool. If the toy is too loud for you, it’s twice as loud for the child. You can choose to take out batteries of the toy or cover speakers with tape. This method is not preferred since tape can be pulled off and the child can swallow it.

* Make sure toys are free of toxic chemicals. Toys such as art supplies, play make-up and crayons have been known to contain toxic chemicals. Before making a purchase, investigate ingredients and contents of the product by looking at the label. The same label should also provide instructions on what to do in case of accidental ingestion of any hazardous substance that the item might contain. It may be wise to consult your local poison control to use as a reference if you need one.

* Some toys come with cords or strings. If a cord or string is longer than 12 inches in length, it can pose a strangulation hazard if looped. Never cut an electrical cord! Make sure electrical cords or wires are secured and protected. Make sure to supervise if an electrical toy needs to be plugged into an outlet. Battery-operated toys are preferable to purchase, especially with young children around. However, battery doors need to be checked frequently to make sure they are secured and cannot be opened. If strings have been cut, make sure frayed edges are cut also. When purchasing crib mobiles, make sure the mobile can be safely mounted high on the crib and out of babies’ reach.

* If you choose to purchase a toy over the Internet there are a few things that you should be aware of: Internet sold toys may not comply with U.S. Toy regulations. Auction sites may sell toys that have been recalled by the CPSC. This could be due to the fact the toys were hazards to children’s safety. If you happen to come across a recalled toy, or you would like to see what toys have been recalled, there are web sites available to you. CPSC or http://Recalls.gov provides sites with helpful information.

* Supervise and be realistic about your grandchild’s abilities and maturity levels. Ask yourself the following questions: Is the child physically ready for a certain toy? Is the toy too heavy? A heavy toy can cause severe injury if the toy falls on the child. Gauge if the child can physically control a heavy toy. Teach the child the safest way recommended by the manufacturer to use the toy properly. Again, SUPERVISE!

* Follow these tips when buying video games: follow age recommendations of each game and observe a game’s ratings. Games rated T for Teen can contain violence, profanity and content not suitable for children under the age of 13. EC for early childhood or E for everyone would be the best choice of rating when buying a video game for younger children.

* Remember the days when you would buy toys for your children? How many dollars have we spent to watch our children and now our children’s children go to the kitchen cupboard, pull out all the pots and pans and wooden spoons and bang away and be happy for hours at play? Or grandparents made or bought wooden toy vehicles and wood constructed pull toys that were safe and entertaining. Maybe all the banging of pots and pans is no longer a situation we wish to experience but fun and educational wooden toys are still available.

There was a time when toys were put on the market and bought without a lot of regard for safety. Grandparents could buy any toy that surely the grandchildren would enjoy without considering if the toy was age-appropriate. It was assumed that kids were thought to have the automatic knowledge not to pick up monopoly money and put it in their mouth. Slinkys were toys made to “walk” down your closest set of stairs. Who knew kids would start to use the Slinky as a rope from which to hoist their little brothers up to the highest treetop? Times have changed. So many toy accidents have taken place, it is now important to teach kids and grandparents the importance of toy safety. The most exciting thing about being a grandparent is watching grandchildren grow up happy and healthy. By becoming vigilantly aware shoppers, grandparents have the power to protect the grandchildren they love.

A lot of people think of toys as simply a way for children to pass time. This is a shame. When parents put their children in front of a video game system or in front of the TV for hours and hours, they aren’t allowing those children to have all the full benefits of playing. Don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing wrong with video games or television in moderation. The problem is that, if young children don’t play with creative toys, they will not develop many of the skills that they will need when they are older. Creative learning toys help children develop a wide number of skills. They develop spatial reasoning, imagination, social skills, As well as dexterity, to name but a few.

When selecting creative children’s toys, a parent has to be creative themselves. Figuring out what creative toys are right for your child can be a little bit difficult. Everyone who has ever given birth to a baby or played with a young child is probably aware of the fact that they have a strong tastes as anyone else. The right creative toy for one child might be a complete wrong one for another. Some kids love complex toys that beep, flash, and buzz. Other children love simpler, creative wooden toys. Sometimes, a doll or even a pair of socks is enough to set up a whole game of make-believe. It is all a matter of providing a child the opportunity to experiment with different toys and begin to explore the world around them.

Of course, buying your child creative toys is only the first step. Much more important than what playthings your child has is whether or not they have a parent who plays along with them. Not only is playing with your child a way of bonding with him or her, but it is also a way of helping that child to learn a variety of skills. From playing, children learn how to relate socially to other people. They also learn more advanced skills. Reading to your child from picture books is a great way to bond and exercise their imagination. Then, you and your kid can make up imagination games based on the stories in the book. You can even help your kid to write his or her own stories. Engaging your children in more complex projects not only gives them new ways to use their creative toys, but also lets them develop self-confidence and patience, two valuable skills.

When I was a kid, I thought toy dinosaurs were the best. I was never interested in dinosaur toys until we went to the natural history Museum. We lived in a small town outside of Chicago, so going to the Chicago Museum of Natural History was a big excursion for us. We actually spent a weekend in town, going to several museums. I was young at the time, but I still remember the dinosaur exhibit vividly. It was one of the most impressive things I had ever seen. There is something about dinosaurs that really makes an impression on the kid. Seeing those giant skeletons towering above you is like nothing else in the world.

My parents let me get a couple dinosaur toys in the gift shop. They were nothing special – little plastic dinosaur figurines – but I loved them. I would play make-believe with them, pretending that these little, 2 inch tall dinosaur toys were big enough to eat my little sister. Of course, she would always fight back. She had a plush dinosaur toy – a stuffed animal that was a peculiar combination of a fearsome and adorable. She absolutely loved it, but then again she was at the age where kids absolutely love anything that is cute and fluffy.

Now that my own kid is getting to that dinosaur age, I have contemplated taking him to the natural history museum like my parents did for me. The other day, he asked for a t rex toy when we were in a learning toys store. I never really thought about how educational dinosaur toys were before, but now that I think about it, they really are.

Once I got interested as dinosaurs as a kid, I started studying everything I could find on them. Soon, I knew a fair amount about fossils and the different ages of geology. In some ways, it doesn’t even matter what kids get interested in. As long as they are willing to study it and become excited about it, they can learn a lot. Not only did my dinosaur toys teach me about the dinosaurs, but they taught me about learning itself. For the first time in my whole life, I was doing research on my own. My parents were willing to get me all the dinosaur books I could ask for, and so I would always give them little lectures on them. I just hope that my kid gets as excited as I did!

For children, work is play. Even as adults, we learn more when we are engaged in something in a fun and playful way. Learning isn’t meant to be serious. It is meant to be lighthearted and fun. After all, the more you enjoy something, the better you do with it. That is the thought behind science toys. A good science experiment toy can really get a kid excited about science like nothing else can.

Science toys come in all shapes and sizes. Basically, anything that kids use to interact with science in a playful way can be consider a science toy. One of my favorite science toys when I was a kid was a slinky. It is amazing how many principles of science it can be used to demonstrate. Although it is quite a simple science toy, it is very versatile. One of the most important things that they can use it for is demonstrating wave motion. By shaking a spring of any sort up and down, you can see how waves propagate through a medium. With a slinky, the demonstration is quite visual. Although theoretically you can use a jump rope, having something elastic works a lot better.

Of course, science toys don’t just come in kits for older kids. There are other toys that help teach principles of science and mechanics as well. You don’t think about it as science when you’re at that age, but it is. For example, when I was about five years old I had a Capsella kit. With these science toys, I would get to connect gears to create working motorized vehicles. Although it would have been rather simple for an older kid, for a younger kid it demonstrated some pretty complex principles of engineering.

When I got older, I had an electronic projects kit. Of all the science toys I have ever owned, I think it might have been the best. Basically, it was a big box with a couple hundred components mounted on it. Each of them had springs where you could attach wires easily from one component to another. You could build about 200 different projects, and each project would illustrate something about electronics. Through it, I got to understand how circuits work. It taught me about oscillators, logic gates, resistance, capacitance, and many other fairly advanced concepts. As a matter of fact, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with electronic engineering. If I hadn’t been able to play with it, I might not have discovered one of my greatest interests.