Momma Stuff

What kind of educational games for kids should I get? How much money should I spend? If you are a parent, probably you have asked these questions many times. Well, the good news is that the best toys may be the ones that are the least expensive.

“Kids benefit more from active manipulation and exploration than from passive watching, so simple toys that demand imagination are better than flashy battery-powered cars or talking dolls, which limit what your child can do,” says the book Motivated Minds—Raising Children to Love Learning. The latter toys may be “fun at first, but children usually lose interest in them quickly because they don’t allow them to experiment, explore, or create.”

Depending on a child’s age, mentally stimulating toys include things as simple as building blocks, empty boxes, paper, art materials, and even sand and water. “Small toys, like farm animals,” says Motivated Minds, “will give [a child] a chance to match, group, and compare, and to develop his language skills by making up stories.” The book also suggests simple musical instruments—if you are prepared to endure the noise—because these allow children to explore sounds and their patterns.

Children have vivid imaginations, and they are eager both to learn and to play. So why not help them in all three areas by choosing their toys wisely. There is a good website to get these kinds of toys and that is knowledgeadventure.com. They have wide variety of toys that teaches children while having fun. I specifically love the Jump Start Learning System. It teaches basic skills in key areas such as math, science, reading and art.

It even has a quiz to evaluate the learning style of your children. This is the best tool for parents to teach their children. As they say, kids learn best when they are at play.