Do Smarter Toys Equal Smarter Kids?
13 November 2005
Buying a toy has become a complicated procedure. One trip down the toy aisle and you will quickly be bombarded with hundreds of products all promising to make your child smarter. They all seem to have some educational components: primary colors, numbers, letters, or a classical soundtrack. So how do these products stack up? And more importantly, do they actually do what they promise?
Not all educational toys are created equal
In today's techno-savvy world, technology = education. Or at least, that is what most toy manufacturers have led us to believe. LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc is one such manufacturer that conquers the market through microchips. Its LeapPad system is legendary, and comes with an entire library of books, games, and activities. The system brings books to life in new and exciting ways- that children really respond to. But, it is important to remember that not all learning toys need batteries. The Anatex toy line works with simple shapes and materials, but has a big impact on the way children take in the world. In fact, you may be most familiar with the Anatex line of products through your local pediatrician's office. Their wooden rollercoaster toy is considered to be "The best doctor's office toy around."
Do they work?
Depends on what you consider a success. If you want to park your child in front of a video or toy and expect them to gain a few IQ points- then no. Educational toys won't work like that. The trick is to find a product that your child enjoys playing with, and then getting down on the floor and playing with them. Douglas H. Clements, an internationally renowned expert on educational technologies and early childhood education warns about some of the so-called educational toys on the market today. "Parents shouldn't just walk into a Wal-Mart without doing a bit of research because the quality of products may range from, at best, harmless to, at worst, a waste of money for low-quality educational experiences," Clements says.
Good educational toys encourage interaction between parent and child, thus increasing your child's capacity for learning. So yes, go ahead and buy the LeapPad or other gadget, but then sit down with your child and play with it together!
Do educational toys help later in life?
While the jury is still out on some of the newest toy lines, many researchers agree that educational toys can prove beneficial in the long run, if they are used in the proper context. Babies and children learn from all different types of stimuli, and including educational toys and activities is one such way of giving them more options. Douglas H. Clements say that the best toys are those: "that coordinate with schoolwork the kids are doing, or that you can get a significant, positive, substantial and noticeable effect on kids in areas like reading, literacy and mathematics."
Bottom line
Don't expect your child to sit in front of a TV screen or computer game to learn about the world. Play together, and then go outside and experience it together.
For More Information Contact:
Chang Go,
CEO of Childs Toy Shop
http://www.childstoyshop.com
We are a toy retailer with our focus on educational toys.
For further information, please contact us at 213-820-1535
Source: 24-7Press Release.com
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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