This time of year, stores are packed with toys and games, and sometimes it's hard for parents to know what is appropriate for their children. I know what is fun for ME, may not always be fun for a 10 year old! But by selecting toys that offer a combination of fun and learning, us parents can help inspire our children's reading and math skills, as well as nurture their problem solving abilities and stimulate their imaginations!
As an educator, I'm all for giving children the opportunity to think and learn something new. And wrapping that up in engaging hours of play...that's a bonus! I encourage parents to look for toys that fit the child's age, skills, abilities and interests. Understand how the toy works and whether it's suitable for your child. I know some toys these days require a child to teach ME how to use them!
Here are some tips to help you find toys that make learning fun:
Math:
- Board games can show children how math is used beyond the classroom. Take turns playing banker in Monopoly or play a game of Yahtzee and calculate the odds of rolling specific number combinations.
- Electronic counting games offer children number and counting challenges.
- A toy cash register helps children understand math when making change with money.
- Building blocks teach children about geometry and shapes.
- Dominoes are a great game for children of all ages. Smaller children can use them to recognize similar quantities while older children can explore the concepts of probability. Playing the game can help children add quickly and learn their math families.
Reading & Writing:
- Books help children enhance their vocabulary and appreciate words and literature. See if there is a certain author whose books your child likes to read and be sure to bring home a couple favorites. http://www.bookadventure.org/ is a great resource for parents and teachers and can help parents generate reading lists according to a child's interest and ability level.
- Find a special diary or personalized writing tool for your child and encourage daily journal writing.
- Subscribe to a magazine for your child that will encourage learning about the world around us. It's exciting for a child to receive a piece of personalized mail each month!
Reasoning Skills:
- For young children, toys like building blocks, Lego's and Tinker toys actually help children acquire the reasoning necessary to learn math m ore quickly.
- Look into games like Connect Four or Yahtzee to teach your child strategy and problem solving skills.
- Science kits, chemistry sets and ant farms offer great insights into the world of science and help enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking. They also help build reasoning skills and logic as children navigate the different levels of each game.
- Project-based toys, such as model airplanes, cars, ships and rockets, help children build motor skills, teach them how to follow directions and encourage ideas about how things work.
And if you want to give the Gift of Learning, now is the time! Call today and receive $50 off testing and discounted tuition through December 31.
Don't forget, you can drop off a NEW, UNWRAPPED toy at the Phoenix, Anthem, or Glendale locations and help make Christmas good for some lucky boy or girl in Phoenix!
I sincerely hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
