| When searching for a new toy for your child, you | | | | alphabet, but non-electronic toys encourage creative |
| may experience a bit of sensory overload when | | | | thinking. |
| walking through the toy department. There are all | | | | Also, although electronic educational toys are |
| kinds of colors screaming at you with huge numbers | | | | interactive, the interaction of non-electronic toys ties |
| and letters to accompany them. However, there are | | | | in with the concept of creative thinking. |
| more than just colors and numbers getting your | | | | Non-electronic toys also encourage children to |
| attention. There are also lights, sounds, and talking | | | | interact with each other, whereas electronic |
| toys. If the kids are with you, they are really excited | | | | educational toys are primarily made for individual play. |
| and decide it is time to turn on every single toy that | | | | Non-electronic toys also promote physical activity. |
| makes noise so that they can hear them chiming, | | | | But the good news is that by the age of 5, a child |
| ringing, singing, and beeping all at the same time. | | | | has developed many of these skills and can be |
| Obviously the kids know how to operate these toys, | | | | introduced to electronic educational toys to help |
| which means they have been introduced to them at | | | | them in their studies. However, it is still beneficial to |
| one time or another. So what is the right time to | | | | incorporate non-electronic toys into a child's life to |
| introduce a child to electronic educational toys? | | | | allow them to continue using their imagination. |
| We see them everywhere for all ages. We see them | | | | Although the child may have an electronic educational |
| for babies, toddlers, and school age kids. For babies, | | | | toy, it is still beneficial to use old fashioned flash |
| these toys will have very colorful buttons on them | | | | cards, alphabet blocks, refrigerator magnets, and |
| that may make animal sounds and say what the | | | | other such toys to promote imagination and learning. |
| animal is or play music for them. For toddlers, the | | | | One such way to promote imagination is through the |
| toys will say the name of an animal when the little | | | | use of building blocks that allow children to build |
| one pushes the button or will even start teaching | | | | things. |
| numbers and letters. For school age kids, they can | | | | Yes, the electronic educational toy market is huge. |
| improve their spelling and math skills in order to do | | | | There are actual consoles and so many games and |
| better in school. The possibilities are endless, but that | | | | educational programs that it can make a parent's |
| still brings up the debate of when a child is too young | | | | head spin when walking through the toy department. |
| for electronic education toys. Or are they too young? | | | | Even after leaving the store, the toys that come |
| The consensus seems to be that children who are of | | | | home continue to make a parent's head spin with all |
| school age should be the ones introduced to | | | | of the beeping, music, and other various sounds that |
| electronic educational toys. The reason for this is | | | | appeal to children. However, despite the constant |
| because children of this age are more likely to | | | | noise these toys make when the kids are playing |
| understand the different functions of the toy instead | | | | with them, when a parent hears the toy say, "Well |
| of being constantly confused as to what all it can do. | | | | done," "correct," or "good job," a parent can't help |
| For children younger than that, it is believed that | | | | but have a smile on their face because they know |
| non-electronic toys require more imagination. | | | | they have a little genius on their hands. |
| Electronic toys do teach numbers, shapes, and the | | | | |