THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING EDUCATIONAL TOYS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
If you are looking for educational toys for pre schoolers, you are in the right place. This article brings everything you need to know before buying an educational toy for your little one.
In early childhood learning, a lot of emphasis is given to the value of “Play”. Experts believe that all skills required to be a total personality can be gained through play based learning.
So we have to remember that play is not just for the entertainment of kids, it’s how they learn and acquire new skills.
The role of educational toys in fostering learning and growth.
Learning and growth defines a child’s physical growth as well as attaining cognitive, motor, social and emotional skills.
This vast range of skills can make your child a whole personality. In short, toys for kids are not just for fun. They are fundamental in their learning and growth. A necessity!
This post focuses on must-have toys for preschoolers and their benefits. It’s always best to know what to given them, when to give then and how they will benefit from them
Benefits of Educational Toys for Preschoolers
Enhancing cognitive skills
Educational toys require a lot of thinking, reasoning and problem solving from the child’s part. So much different to just pressing a button and passively watching something on TV.
The children have to actively engaged all the time be it a puzzle, shape sorter or ever so popular construction set.
But that’s the best part. Because these toys can entertain our kids while giving a myriad of stimuli to their brain cells.
Next, Educational toys do not allow you to sit still and stare at one thing without blinking. They require kids to use their fine motor skills and gross motor skills.
While playing with toys that require them to use their hands like puzzles, beads, button-press toys develop fine motor skills toys that require kids to use their legs and torso (trikes, trampoline, slide) develop their gross motor skills.
Interactive toys can build children’s language skills. And there are some toys that can be played by one or more kids.
ex: Slide, construction sets etc
Children learn to share, wait for their turn, problem-solve when they play with these toys.
Promotes Emotional skills
Toys like musical instruments ,pretend play sets let children express themselves freely.
Music can also be a relaxation and destressing method.
Types of Educational Toys for Preschoolers
Building blocks and construction sets
This is a must-have toy in any household for a reason. They promote exploration, creativity and free expression.
Building something with its dimensions, shapes and balance in mind takes a lot of of Early maths skills. Plus being able to be creative, giving life to their own imaginations is an amazing benefit of Building blocks and construction toys.
Pretend play and role-playing toys
Help them imagine, imitate, recreate social situations and improve their social and emotional skills through pretend play and role-playing toys.
Art and craft supplies
Art and craft help children express their creativity and imagination. Children learn to make their own choices and create using their decision making skills, fine motor skills, problem solving skills.
Early literacy and numeracy toys
Literacy and numeracy toys are great for teaching numbers, letters and sounds while engaging children with a lot of fun, interactive activities.
Ex: Abacus
Music and movement toys
Music is a great way to teach children free expression, emotions regulation and imagination. Also the toys involves children’s movement like skipping ropes, trikes are an ideal way to help children be active, calm down and get rid of their big emotions.
How to Choose the Right Educational Toys for Your Preschooler
Age-appropriate recommendations
Age- appropriate toys that offers a bit of challenge will keep them engaged for a longer time.
Aligning with your child's interests and learning style
Make sure you get to know what your child likes and dislikes and make choices accordingly
Ensuring safety and durability
Read instructions and always avoid toys with tiny pieces and sharp edges.
Focusing on open-ended play opportunities
You don't need to instruct the kids how to play with a certain toy. There are so many ways to play with the same toy, and maybe they can invent their own games with them.
Ex: My daughter loves to do colour sorting games with construction sets.
Top 10 Educational Toys for Preschoolers
BLOCKS, LEGOS AND CONSTRUCTION SETS
As children need to create, adjust, measure, imagine and balance when they play with blocks and legos, children's cognitive skills, fine motor skills, problem solving skills and Creativity are improved.
ART AND CRAFT TOYS
As children have to imagine, create, recreate, draw, paint, thread, cut and paste in these activities their imagination creativity and fine motor skills are improved.
PUZZLES
Puzzles require problem solving skills as they find the right shape and right piece. When they place and fix it together , their fine motor skills are also improved.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Playing a musical instrument requires fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and focus. It's a great way to express your emotions too.
BOARD GAMES
These types of toys are an excellent way to promote decision making, reasoning and problem solving skills while having fun together with other children / adults.
They build up their social skills as well as literacy and numeracy skills.
SENSORY TOYS
Sensory toys can be colurful, interactive and differently textured. Children can listen, see and touch to experience many
PRETEND PLAY TOYS
Pretend play sets like Doctor sets, Tea party sets, dress up costumes are ideal to improve kids' imagination, social skills, language learning etc.
ACTIVE PLAY EQUIPMENTS
These are must-have toys for every child to acquire gross motor skills Social skills. In addition, they improve their social skills and resilience as they play with these equipment. Ex: slide, monkey bar
Tips for Incorporating Educational Toys into Daily Play
Rotating toys to maintain interest and engagement
Playing with the same toy everyday is going to be tedious. Here’s what you can do to make it more interesting. Let them have access to only a couple of toys at a time and rotate them frequently.
Playing alongside your child to facilitate learning
You can join with them and ask questions to make it a fun learning time for your child.
Ex: Why is there a clock tower in this construction set?
I wonder why there’s a spare wheel in this truck set.
Encouraging independent play and exploration
While it’s encouraged to play alongside with your child, letting them play independently also has benefits. They learn problem solving and decision making as they play independently.
Integrating educational toys into your pre schooler’s routine
Children need to have uninterrupted time in their routine to play with their educational toys without being rushed into anything.
Conclusion
Educational toys are a necessity for every child as they help children acquire so many skills.
Picking a fun, engaging and educational toy is the key here as our little ones can learn so much fun while having a great time.
Hope this article gives you an idea what to buy for your little one next.
Share your thoughts with us and let us know what your kiddo loves best!
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