Kids Learning

Educational toys and games, when smartly guided and supervised by adults, can be a powerful tool for early education and learning process.
For many, games and toys are simply what they seem to appear: implements of recreational activities for children. But when properly understood, and used effectively, educational toys and games can result in more emotionally stable and intelligent children.

In terms of education, the absorption of knowledge in children usually takes in the form of formal and informal learning. Formal learning constitutes enrolling in school or entry to any similar educational institutions.

Informal education on the other hand takes place outside schools and is mediated by resources and people outside the classroom. But actually, differences between the two are not that wide. For instance, activities in informal education are eventually used to strengthen formal education.

One of the activities frequently used in informal learning environment is playing games among children, and having them play certain educational toys to achieve the desired result. Since children are by nature learners, and have this capacity to absorb almost everything, a good combination of educational toys and games can really produce encouraging results.

The importance of proper educational toys and games for children is now a settled maxim that there are many literatures now which explain the importance of using educational games and toys to strengthen early learning in children. Both the reasoning power and emotional abilities of children can be developed during plays, using the right games and toys.

In using toys for re-enforcing educational games, adults should be keen in observing the children’s individual personality. This would help the children realize their potential early, and encourage them to pursue their leanings, encouraging them to play similar games and educational toys, thus, strengthening the talent.

However, it should be noted that there are differences in the development of children, in terms of their reasoning and emotional capability. Also the individual personality of children should be considered, before deciding on the appropriate educational toys and games for learning or simply, playing purposes.

It should also be noted that as children grow older, does necessarily mean the end of educational toys and games. As they are approaching the adolescent stage, children experience emotional upheavals, which can be stabilize to a certain degree, by engaging into games appropriate for their age, one of which is sports. Sports, from the most physical like boxing to more mental like chess, is just an expression of humans never-ending need to play games and toys.

By: Low Jeremy

Popularity: 2% [?]

Realized or not, computer has changed people in their daily life. It has changed the way people accomplish their jobs.
Besides for doing works, for many people computer is also a great entertainment tool that can be used to play videos, enjoy music or interact with others. In this information and electronic age many computer programs have even two different functions, as a tool for learning or improving different skills as well as entertaining the user. Such programs are often named as educational games or edutainment.

Many educational games are intended for children. By playing such games, children can learn different subject ranging from math to English. The use of games in teaching children keep them from getting bored easily. Unfortunately not all topics, especially the ones which are very complicated, can be taught successfully by using this approach. But usually limitations can be dissolved in one way or another in the future.

There are other types of educational games which are mainly intended for the adult. The variety of such games is so wide. There are games which are great for learning computer networking. For example, there is a game provided by Cisco that can help one master the binary system. The topic that was not easy for some people in the past can now be learned with fun.

For investors there are Stock Market Games whereby they can learn to invest in shares in the stock market. The Stock Market Simulation Game is very serviceable for beginners, since there is not any risk or chance of losing money when they do something wrong when playing the game. Some good Stock Market Simulation Games use real market data.

Educational games are often used to socialize important things. The one sponsored by UN-ISDR (United Nations – International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) belongs to this kind of games. By using this simulation game about tsunami people can acquire interesting knowledge of that disaster, for instance what kind of plants are suitable to prevent you from high waves. With the preventive actions stipulated as part of the game you can then find out how many people can survive the tsunami.

There are many other interesting games that can be categorized as educational games, from the ones that are useful for learning programming to the ones that contain topics that are helpful for mastering a periodic table. To most of us, learning and entertainment are two different, separate things, but with the improvement of computer technology the two activities can be combined in the form of the educational game. Turning a boring tutorial into something fun will empower our brain to absorb more easily any serious subject.

By: Heris Yunora

Popularity: 2% [?]

Video games are among the most popular toys today. Children of all ages spend a lot of time engrossed in the latest action-packed video console or computer game.
For this reason, it is important to choose video games that are educational, rather than those that contain violence or other content not suitable for children. There is a host of video games on the market perfect for children. These games incorporate education into the fun of video games, giving both parents and children lots of safe, educational options to choose from.

Though there have been serious concerns over the past few years surrounding the adverse affects of frequent video game playing on children, playing video games can have some positive effects as well. First, games can provide children a fun and social form of entertainment, especially when played in pairs or even teams. This allows children who share similar interests the opportunity to learn from each other while having fun in a pressure-free environment. This also helps to encourage teamwork and cooperation, two attributes that are essential to a child’s social education.

Video games can also make children feel more comfortable with technology. This may not be as much of an issue as it used to be, as many children are now learning basic computer skills at a young age, but it is still an important factor since technology changes so frequently. It also gives them the opportunity to share their knowledge with other children, and to learn from their experiences in a particular game or format.

Playing educational video games can also help build a child’s self-esteem as he or she masters more and more different levels in a particular game. More importantly, it can also teach children to feel good about having fun in a non-competitive environment.

However, the main goal of educational video games is, of course, to help educate. Educational video games can improve the development of math, reading, and problem-solving skills. This kind of practice –practice that your children will want to take part in– can help them with their schoolwork, as well as help them to catch onto particular subjects more quickly.

Video games can also help the improvement and development of eye-hand coordination, as well as fine motor skills. This will be very important to any child’s future, and can be instrumental in developing a child’s interests and special skills. This is also a good way to encourage your child to use different parts of his or her brain.

No matter which educational video games you choose, be sure they do not contain any features that would not be suitable for your children. Since the objective is to learn, they should help build useful skills and be thought-provoking. These games will also provide your child with hours of fun, while helping to build some of the most essential basic skills.

By: Amy Nutt

Popularity: 2% [?]

By six months of age your baby may be sitting unassisted, her coordination skills are growing in leaps and bounds, and she will soon be crawling, standing, and then walking. Six to twelve months is a fun time for parents and babies. Play a variety of games with your little one and watch her quickly master new skills, like language skills and fine and gross motor development.

Between 6 and 9 months your baby will love to experiment with simple cause and effect relationships like pressing a button to play a song. Little ones also love to explore sounds by banging spoons and toys together or on the table at this age. Give your baby an assortment of pots, coffee cans, and containers along with wooden spoons and metal spoons. Encourage her to play the drums as you sing along. The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Toy Bench is a great toy to satisfy those banging urges. It also offers a number of educational benefits, like color and letter recognition, and provides opportunities for your baby to explore cause and effect.

Games with balls are a lot of fun at this age. Use soft, squishy balls to roll back and forth across the floor with your baby. Try dropping beanbags into a wide, open container. Your little one will love taking them out just as much as watching you toss them in. Once your baby starts to crawl, set up an obstacle course for her to crawl over. Pillows, large stuffed animals, and piles of soft cloth scraps make perfect climbing obstacles to boost her crawling skills and strengthen the muscles she will soon use to walk.

Sometime between 9 months old and the first birthday, most babies will begin to walk, some earlier and some later. During this age, your baby will be developing a number of new large muscles as well as her fine motor skills. She will know how to hold her toys and can probably throw them. These soon-to-be toddlers also love to imitate and copy the things they see.

Play sound games with your baby. Make a sound or unusual noise and encourage your baby to copy it. Try this with funny faces and movements for even more fun. Stacking and arranging blocks, cups, or other toys is also a fun game to enhance fine motor development. Give your baby an assortment of toys and a big box and watch her meticulously put them in and then dump them again all over the floor.

Sing lots of silly songs with your child and read everyday. Language skills are becoming quite strong during this stage and her vocabulary of understood words is growing rapidly. Repetition of her favorite story books, nursery rhymes, and songs can give her an even better understanding of the common patterns of spoken language. Songs with movements, like the Itsy Bitsy Spider, are favorites at this age.

As your baby begins to cruise around the house, typically using furniture to aid her balance, play walking games. Hold her teddy bear or another cherished toy a few steps away and encourage your little one to walk to you to get it. Remember to praise her efforts and not to make too big of a deal when she stumbles or falls. Once your baby becomes a confident toddler, there are tons of new games to enjoy together!

Submitted By: Nicole Munoz

Popularity: 2% [?]

Little kids need the right tools to help them grow and develop. Thus, the kind of toys we get them are crucial, because, as children, the best way to impart knowledge into their fresh minds is through play.
A child’s playtime should never be dismissed as just something to pass the time; because it is during play that they absorb everything they hear, see, smell and touch. Getting him or her an educational toy or game is one of the best things you can do for him or her right now.

The educational toys below are ideal to help jump start your kid’s curiosity and sense of discovery. The next time you’re going out shopping for a new toy for your kid, or for a gift for your favorite niece or nephew, you might want to consider the suggestions below.

LeapFrog’s Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

When shopping for an educational toy, you might want to get something that is okay for even the youngest toddlers to use. Fridge Phonics features interactive alphabet figures that come with a magnetic reader, all of which you may attach to your refrigerator or any surface that accommodates magnets. Aside from its visual merit, it can also play a song while the child uses it. It will surely keep your curious baby preoccupied while you go make dinner or wash the dishes.

LeapFrog’s LeapStart Learning Table

Toddlers will definitely have a lot of fun with this educational toy because it carries a variety of games and activities in just one fajita. It can teach your child the alphabet, music, and colors, among other things. This is definitely great value for the price.

Fisher Price’s Laugh And Learn Home

Laugh And Learn Home is something every child should have. Awarded one of the best children’s educational toys some years back, this product teaches your child a host of subjects that will have him or her interested from six months old to even after he or she turns one. This is definitely an educational toy that will last a long time (provided that it doesn’t get smashed!) and bring a lot of benefits to you and your kid.

Shopping for educational toys and games is not really difficult, given the fact that toy manufacturers have effectively classified them into age levels and learning capacities.

However, with the multitude of products for every age group, getting the right game that would hold your baby’s attention could be a challenge. Ask the store attendant to give you a demonstration of the toy first before you bring it to the cash register. If it’s something you believe your child will enjoy, go for it.

By: Low Jeremy

Popularity: 4% [?]