For generations, the words ‘educational toys’ have caused children everywhere to step back with a disapprovingly raised eyebrow and the firm belief that such toys can’t possibly be fun. Luckily, finding good kids’ toys that pull double duty to be both fun and educational isn’t nearly as hard as it used to be. With all the creative and innovative learning toys out there, learning can easily be just as fun as playtime. Classics kids’ toys like card matching and flashcard games help teach young children skills like color and shape recognition and even phonics as they help improve memory skills. Magnetic letters can provide hours of play while teaching the alphabet and, with a little creativity, can last for years. For those kids just learning to read there is a wealth of fun Leapfrog and other book based kids’ toys that create an interactive experience with a kid’s favorite books and characters. Besides the obvious introductory reading skills, these kids’ toys can instill a love of books in kids as young as 2 and help prepare them for future reading. For the picky 5 and up crowd, toy personal computers and electronic games are a must. With a variety of games and levels of difficulty, these learning toys can last years and teach basic math skills and spelling in fun and exciting ways. Science kits are another great way to teach kids about the world around them. They inspire creativity and critical thinking skills that are sure to come in handy later.Good educational toys do more than just teach a certain set of skills; they can help foster a love of learning that will follow a child through school and to adulthood.

Musical toys make wonderful gifts but how do you know which ones are right for your kids? These toys offer more than just fun and entertainment; they are also one of the best kids learning toys available. But the challenge is to provide kids with age-appropriate toys that can challenge them and motivate them to engage in active play time. This article provides some facts to help you know how to buy the right musical toys for your kids from the baby years to school age years.Musical toys come in various forms. From newborn babies up to teenagers, there is something to fit every child’s needs. For young babies, simple rattles and shakers are appealing. In the early years, the best kids learning toys are the ones that meet multiple needs with the same toy. For example, a toy can provide both soft plush characters with musical features, giving kids a new friend with a smiling face and a soft cuddly body that makes musical sounds when played with. Other toys combine musical elements into teething rings, interesting textures, squeaky parts, and colorful inter-active options. Look for toys with a variety of textures, colors, sounds, moving parts or lights. Babies and toddlers get more use from these multi-faceted toys because they meet different needs. Like with any toys, there are safety considerations, especially with babies and toddlers. The ideal size is a toy that is all one piece, too big to be swallowed yet lightweight so they are easy to grasp. Avoid toys with small pieces that can pose a choking hazard. Even toys that are all one piece should be durable enough to avoid the risk of small pieces or buttons that could break off to become choking hazards. Since the little guys put everything in their mouths, the toys should have smooth surfaces. Wooden painted toys should use only lead-free paint.Kids of all ages like toys they can interact with. Some musical toys encourage interaction by playing different tunes depending on how they are touched. For babies and toddlers, musical toys are available with flashing lights and other interactive options. For added benefits, look for toys that combine musical tones with color coded buttons which can help teach color recognition. Older babies and toddlers enjoy selecting their favorite songs by recognizing the appropriate buttons.From about three years old, kids are ready to be introduced to small musical instruments. These classic kids learning toys introduce them to a variety of ways to make sounds, from rattling tambourines, clashing cymbals, clacking wood pieces, and vibrating triangles. Even though kids cannot read music, that is okay because many of these toys include color coded notes and pictures for early note recognition. Some musical toys have optional song sheets for kids who want to play music on their own. Melissa and Doug is a popular brand that offers a variety of wooden musical toys that provide excellent quality musical sounds and are specially designed for young kids.For older children, toys begin to transition into expensive musical instruments, which are the ultimate kids learning toys. While younger children might not want to pick out a tune or follow notes, school-aged kids love to play solos. They readily learn the underlying math concepts of whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and so on. Counting is also important to making the right tune. From a recorder or keyboard to guitar or violin, a lifetime of learning and enjoyment can lie ahead. To select the right instrument, parents should follow the child’s lead on taking up an instrument, as this is more likely to ensure commitment and all-important practicing.

Action figure toys have been in action for quite some time, dating as far back as the 60s. The first action figure was the G.I. Joe, a soldier toy that was basically designed to be a doll targeted at boys so that their playtime wouldn’t be labeled as “playing with dolls.” G.I. Joe functioned like a male military Barbie with changeable clothes and accessories. Since their conception, G.I. Joe action figures have been a staple of the toy line market, joined by other action figure franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Gundam, Spawn, and countless others that are often based on popular cartoons and comics.

It’s subtle, but action figure toys actually have a lot to say about cultural views of gender. For starters, they represent how even activities like playtime are segregated according to what’s seen as appropriate for girls, and what boys should do. Boys play with action figures while girls play with dolls, yet both toys are essentially the same concept. Action figure toys also represent stereotypical attitudes toward the separate roles and characteristics of girls and boys in our society. Girls participate in more domestic, passive activities, and boys take part in active endeavors-Barbie shops, cooks and takes care of her baby sister Kelly while G.I. Joe runs around with guns and shoots stuff up.

True, girls and boys gravitate towards certain activities and tend to have certain characteristics, but one wonders how much of that is attributed to biology and how much is due to cultural standards. Gender isn’t always so clean cut-there are also people who sometimes transgress the boundaries of gender roles.

Read the rest of this entry

The age of three is a vital period in a youngster’s growth process. It is during this time that a toddler starts going to school and getting ready to face the world. This is the time to do some serious learning through educational toys and games. Hence, the toys and games given to the child at this stage should also be different from that in the previous years.

Children spend a lot of time each day with toys. As such, toys play a vital role in his/her physical and emotional development. Here we provide you with a list of toys and games that are suitable for a toddler of around three-year age. Have a look.

These toys and games are ideal for a toddler of three-year age. Gift one today and watch his/her little face light up with happiness.

Read the rest of this entry

Engaging The Young Minds

As most parents would agree, young children can be quite a handful. It often proves to be quite a task keeping them engaged for long hours at a stretch. A lot of companies have come up with numerous toys that not only attract the attention of the kids, but also eggs them on to discover new things and learn in the process.

Educational toys are a particular favorite of parents as they come as the perfect foil to keep the kids busy and educate them at the same time. A wide range of quality educational toys are available for children as young as 3 months. These toys are not only fun, but can also be quite unique. Here are some suggestions that might help you choose from the different educational toys available in the market.

Wooden Toys

Read the rest of this entry