| Parents often ask me about educational toys for | | | | handso Interacting with otherso Reading, Writing or |
| their kids. What are they? Should they get smart | | | | Math |
| toys for their kids? Will educational toys help their | | | | Most importantly, educational toys are fun and |
| kids to be smarter? | | | | involve activity. A "toy" that can't be played with |
| In fact, all toys are educational-depending on how | | | | actively simply isn't a toy. And no kid plays with toys |
| they're played with. And lots of "toys" that don't | | | | that aren't fun! |
| cost a penny are educational: "Toys" like the pots | | | | Toys you choose because you think they're fun and |
| and pans in the cupboard that babies like to play with. | | | | educational often aren't appreciated or played with if |
| "Toys" like the dirt, rocks, sticks, even bugs that so | | | | your kids don't like the toy. Get them involved |
| many little kids love. Children, from babies to teens, | | | | before you order. |
| play and learn in so many different ways that in the | | | | I always encourage parents to introduce kids to |
| broadest sense it's hard to define educational toys. | | | | smart toys from the educational toy stores. A |
| On the other hand, many toy companies specialize in | | | | sneaky way to do this is having your child browse |
| educational toys. Some call them smart toys. Most of | | | | the store catalog online with no prompting from you. |
| these smart toys are fabulous: creative, fun, unusual, | | | | Then you innocently ask: "See anything fun in that |
| and loved by kids from toddlers to teens. They're | | | | catalog?" Anything you like? Emphasize "fun," not |
| real brain boosters and help children learn. Smart toys | | | | "educational." |
| won't raise your child's IQ. But they'll certainly help | | | | Now you can point out a toy or two that you think |
| increase important skills and encourage creative | | | | would be fun. Get a conversation going about the |
| thinking. | | | | toys. It's the best way to steer your kids away |
| Educational toys should involve one or more of the | | | | from a toy they see advertised on TV that you |
| following:o Moving, outdoors and indoors.o Creatingo | | | | think will end up being neither fun nor educational and |
| Imaginingo Figuring things outo Putting things | | | | will break in 10 minutes. |
| togethero Following directionso Coordinating eyes and | | | | Happy playing. |