Educational Toys Promote Healthy Development

It's been well documented that young minds need stimulation to develop proper thought and reflex patterns, hand-eye coordination and crucial motor skills. That’s why educational toys are so popular with parents, grandparents and caregivers.

And the good news is that, given today’s economic climate, providing educational toys for kids doesn’t have to be expensive.

Kids like lots of noise, interaction and physical play. They want to bang on things, hear lots of sounds and see lots of color. That means that almost any object that stimulates physical or imaginative play can become an educational toy.

Leave a kitchen cupboard open and a toddler will turn ordinary pots, pans and kitchen utensils into instruments. Give a preschooler a large appliance box and some poster paints and the box will become a playhouse. Empty cereal and cracker boxes become pretend food for their play kitchens.

Simple, inexpensive supplies like crayons, construction paper, paste, scissors, and modeling clay will encourage their creativity. Sidewalk chalk and play sand are other examples of low cost supplies that will get their creative juices flowing on long summer days.

Traditional board games can be purchased both new and gently used. There are quality board games available for every age and skill level. Playing games with family and friends not only strengthens social skills, but enhances color and letter recognition in younger children while increasing strategy and sequencing skills in older kids.

Items that emulate real life will help promote imagination and allow children to express themselves. Give them some dress-up clothes, even grandma’s hand-me-downs, some costume jewelry or an old purse and watch their imaginations flourish.

Providing children with a variety of educational toys can be done inexpensively and allows them to strengthen their skills through the various forms of play that are essential to their healthy growth.

Read related articles on Educational Toys and child development.