Educational Toys

Fact or Fiction?

Walk the aisles in many stores and you'll see a whole host of smart sounding toy names like Baby Einstein and IQ Baby. Read the back of boxes and you'll see claims that the products will develop your child's intellect. All of this can be very enticing for busy parents who want the best for their children. The temptation is to pop in an "educational video" or hand them an "educational toy" and release ourselves from any guilt because the product is "educational." Are children really learning from these toys? If not these toys, then which toys are best?

Toys 101

Playing is the work of children. Play is the way that children discover the world around them. Toys are the tools that they use in that work. It's not critical that your child has every toy, or the most expensive toys. "Some of our favorite toys are high quality, unique ones made of wood that allow children to use their imagination and creativity," says Yolanda McCluney co-owner of Durham's Simply Spoiled. "It has been our experience that children like toys with lots of parts and pieces that allow them to create, disassemble, and then re-create all over again! We look for toys that have received awards and ones that have been proven to stand the test of time."

Toy Shopping

Look first for toys that are age appropriate from a safety standpoint. Make sure to consider toys that captivate your child's interest. There's nothing wrong with taking your child with you as you evaluate the options. Help them understand the difference between what packaging displays and what a toy actually does. Toys that engage the two of you or toys that allow for socialized play are always a good option. "We love board games because they allow the entire family to spend time together and they help build learning skills at the same time," says Yolanda.

The Case For Open Ended Toys

Open-ended toys are toys that allow your child to dictate a variety of play uses. Most children do this naturally when they pretend that a box is a house or a fork is a rocket ship. Toys that function in multiple ways allow different uses depending on your child's developmental stage. Blocks might initially be handled and mouthed, later stacked and knocked over, then used to build a train, and later to build racing domino-style rallies. Wooden food, wagons, nesting boxes, balls, dolls, and figurines designed for play - all of these classic toys allow your child to play in diverse and multifaceted ways. "As moms of children that range in age from two to five years old, Pam and I strive to surround our children with educational toys that provide ongoing stimulation and properly balanced development," says Yolanda. "However, we try not to lose sight of the fact that children need to be able to just play - with no strings attached."

Letting Yourself (and Your Child) Off the Hook

In another day and time, parents sat in lawn chairs chatting with one another while "keeping an eye" on the kids in the yard. Today, we've put our preschoolers in developmental classes, we're teaching them foreign languages, and we're engaged in playing with them on the floor. These are all great things, but don't feel that you need to engage in them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You need some down time and your child does too. If you need a break, pop in a video. Not because it's educational, but because it allows both of you the break that you need. In moderation, that's nothing to feel guilty about.