Tips in Choosing Learning Toys
Take a look around, we now live in world surrounded by electronics. From a computer at work and at home, a laptop, a tablet, a smart-phone, a music player, a camera and many others, these are just some of the devices we might use in a day. It's no surprise kids are interested in learning toys that imitate these electronic devices, and it's a good idea to introduce them to the types of tools that will most likely be a part of their entire life.
It happens to every parent at one time or another when the expensive piece of electronic equipment is handed to a toddler or preschooler, while excitedly watch little anxious fingers move around the touch screen, and worried sick at the same time that the electronic device might drop to the floor and become another piece of junk.
This is where learning toys for kids come in handy. These toys are designed as kid versions of electronics for grown-ups. They are not only kid-friendly, durable and also educational.
Just how do we choose the best learning toys for kids? Here are some tips before you pick the right toy:
Kid-friendly. The toys should be recommended by their respective manufacturers for preschooled-aged children. While each child will develop at his own rate and be ready for various play features at different ages, it is important to look for kid-friendly features that make these electronic learning toys suitable for preschool set. Bright color and large display areas will hold the children's attention and make it easier for them to interact with the toy. Large buttons and keys are also great for little hands that are still developing fine motor control. Another factor is to consider learning games that are appropriate to the child's age. Very simple tasks will not hold the attention, and games too complex will leave the child frustrated. It is also advisable to consider whether the kid needs to use the toy on car trip or whether you want something stationary for your child at home.
Parent-friendly. While you are considering your child's needs, the parent should also consider his own sanity when buying these electronic toys for kids. A volume control allows you to minimize the noise level when you need some quiet moments, and a durable design means you don't need to head to the toy store to get a replacement. Be sure to read the battery requirements and the warranty timeframe. Some products offer add-on software to extend the learning and play for your kid. With new game to play can make learning interested for your kid, needless to say, the cost of many add-ons can add up over time. Also, check out for parent tips and suggestions that come with the toy on how to enhance the toy's learning potential for your child. Some toy documentation includes suggestions for parents on how to use the preschool learning toys in other educationally beneficial ways.
Educational Elements. As children all develop at their own rate, it is therefore of utter importance that the parents know the child and what he is likely to find stimulating play. The toys should cater to early learning skills such as mastering the alphabet, working with numbers and identifying shapes. Many also expose children to phonics, matching, drawing and music. Electronic learning toys can also teach kids computer skills like screen navigation and mousing. A QWERTY keyboard may help preschoolers get used to the setup of keyboards for typing, but some parents prefer a keyboard in alphabetical order for kids still learning the alphabet.
Help & Support. Be on the look-out for documentation and user guides. A vast majority of the best learning toys are pretty straightforward in how they function, but others are much more complex. A quick look through the documentation that comes with the toy could save you hours of frustration learning to operate the toy. If you do come across trouble with a product, most manufacturers provide phone numbers for customer service, and some offer contact via email.
It happens to every parent at one time or another when the expensive piece of electronic equipment is handed to a toddler or preschooler, while excitedly watch little anxious fingers move around the touch screen, and worried sick at the same time that the electronic device might drop to the floor and become another piece of junk.
This is where learning toys for kids come in handy. These toys are designed as kid versions of electronics for grown-ups. They are not only kid-friendly, durable and also educational.
Just how do we choose the best learning toys for kids? Here are some tips before you pick the right toy:
Kid-friendly. The toys should be recommended by their respective manufacturers for preschooled-aged children. While each child will develop at his own rate and be ready for various play features at different ages, it is important to look for kid-friendly features that make these electronic learning toys suitable for preschool set. Bright color and large display areas will hold the children's attention and make it easier for them to interact with the toy. Large buttons and keys are also great for little hands that are still developing fine motor control. Another factor is to consider learning games that are appropriate to the child's age. Very simple tasks will not hold the attention, and games too complex will leave the child frustrated. It is also advisable to consider whether the kid needs to use the toy on car trip or whether you want something stationary for your child at home.
Parent-friendly. While you are considering your child's needs, the parent should also consider his own sanity when buying these electronic toys for kids. A volume control allows you to minimize the noise level when you need some quiet moments, and a durable design means you don't need to head to the toy store to get a replacement. Be sure to read the battery requirements and the warranty timeframe. Some products offer add-on software to extend the learning and play for your kid. With new game to play can make learning interested for your kid, needless to say, the cost of many add-ons can add up over time. Also, check out for parent tips and suggestions that come with the toy on how to enhance the toy's learning potential for your child. Some toy documentation includes suggestions for parents on how to use the preschool learning toys in other educationally beneficial ways.
Educational Elements. As children all develop at their own rate, it is therefore of utter importance that the parents know the child and what he is likely to find stimulating play. The toys should cater to early learning skills such as mastering the alphabet, working with numbers and identifying shapes. Many also expose children to phonics, matching, drawing and music. Electronic learning toys can also teach kids computer skills like screen navigation and mousing. A QWERTY keyboard may help preschoolers get used to the setup of keyboards for typing, but some parents prefer a keyboard in alphabetical order for kids still learning the alphabet.
Help & Support. Be on the look-out for documentation and user guides. A vast majority of the best learning toys are pretty straightforward in how they function, but others are much more complex. A quick look through the documentation that comes with the toy could save you hours of frustration learning to operate the toy. If you do come across trouble with a product, most manufacturers provide phone numbers for customer service, and some offer contact via email.
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