Educational Toys and Games

The process of teaching children should never get monotonous and boring. Perhaps that is the reason for mushrooming of innovative educational games and toys that not only aid the learning process, but also make the learning process fun for the kids.

Educational Toys and Games

Here is a list of some of the best educational toys and games. Some of these are for pre-schoolers, come for teens and tweens whereas some can be enjoyed by kids of all age. Take your pick!

1.LeapFrog ClickStart My First Computer

This is a great attempt to introduce the children to computer learning. This educational set helps the children to learn basic computer skills and other fun preschool activities. It is connected to the TV to help you introduce your child to his very first computer and monitor the experience.

2. Thinkblocks

Think blocks are another great educational toy that practically teach your child how to think. The thinkblocks help to aid the thinking process can be used by children as well as adults. The four main skills that the thinkblocks help to instill four basic qualities:

• Learning to point the contrasting characters between similarities.
• Understanding the concept of systems thinking or part-whole structures.
• Promoting relational thinking which means recognizing associations, and cause-effect relationships
• Encouraging perspective thinking or teaching to eye things from multiple perspectives

3. Lego

Lego is perhaps one of the most popular toys of all times. Lego bricks which are nothing but colorful interlocking plastic bricks which also come with a variety of accessories that can be assembled in many ways. This game not only encourages the creative mind to construct various new objects but also keeps the kids occupied and interested.

4. Children’s Microscope

A children’s microscope is perhaps a very educating and engrossing toy. Although it won’t provide higher resolution like the actual microscopes, it adequately zooms into various surfaces, which helps the children to explore new things everyday. Children can also make their own samples of soil, leaved, swimming pool water and so on to examine these samples under the microscope. If you think your child is a scientist in the making, make sure to get this one!

5. Piano Made Easy

All the educational toys need not be restricted to math science or language skills. Some educational games also help the children to explore their interests in various arts like music, dance, pottery, painting and so on. The Piano made easy game that comes with an instructional CD helps children to explore their interest for music. It provides the kids an interactive and fun experience of learning the piano. A must have for children who love music.

6. Discovery Whodunit? Forensics Lab

This is an interesting game for kids to explore the field of forensics. In this game, children can actually conduct their own tests on samples of hair, blood, and fibers. This at-home forensics lab is a product offered by the Discovery Channel. In addition to this there are several other options like Discovery’s fingerprinting lab, chemical lab as well which are just as interesting as this one.

Benefits of Educational Toys and Games

• Enhancing the learning process : Educational toys enhance the overall learning process at times by visual aids, or at times by making educational concepts easier and more entertaining. Educational computer games also help to enhance the hand-eye co-ordination of kids and also help to introduce the children to technology. For example instead of teaching science concepts from the textbooks, the children can indulge in games like Mechano or Mr. Scientist.
  
  
• Keeping the children engrossed: At times when children need to be taught more complex concepts in the classroom, educational games and toys can be of great help to pique their interest. Simple as well as complex topics that might seem a little boring or monotonous can be made fun by incorporating educational toys and games. For example many children find it difficult to take interest in a math class, teachers can use fun number games to help the class make more interesting.
  
  
• Entertainment and education: Education should never seem monotonous or boring. Children should be able to explore concepts, generate ideas and discover the joy of learning. Children can grasp maximum knowledge only when they are enjoying what they are learning and educational games and toys are the best way to combine education and entertainment.