Christmas is fast approaching and while parents want to give their kids toys they enjoy Hypercars they also want toys that don't dumb them down. There are a number of new electronic learning toys on the market that can offer parents both-the reassurance of a popular toy that will add to the richness of children's lives.
learning toys are great, except when they sit in the cupboard unused because your child can't stand them. Ultimately, they have to be fun and engaging before any learning can take place. Leapfrog and VTech are two of the biggest names in interactive learning toys and they both have new devices on the market, ready for Christmas in 2010, which are specifically designed to help kids learn through technology.
VTech has a long history of making toys with a learning focus and their newest device, the V. Reader is one pretty cool idea. It's basically an ebook reader for kids and combines animation with audio and reading to engage kids with the books and allows them to interact on a number of levels.
Kids can read the books but also listen to the device read to them. Using their fingers or a stylus they can also touch words and images on the screen and small animations appear, defining hard words or moving the characters. It's a great idea and at under $60 it is sure to appeal. We liked the clear protector that folds neatly over the screen and keyboard to protect it and just the idea of a kids ebook reader is one long overdue.
Playtime is one of the most vital parts of childhood development. Research has proven that all areas of development are enhanced through a child's play activities. Healthy growth and development is stimulated through play as early as birth and on into the school age years. Children play in a variety of ways with a number of different toys. Each activity has a different affect on development.
Newborns and infants enjoy a social play style that builds their trust as they prepare to explore the rest of the world. Babies interact with their parents and caregivers as they learn to bond with people and develop a basic understanding of emotions. Social games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake are common play activities for older babies and toddlers.
As young children grow, playtime is the biggest contributor to the healthy development of Learning Toys. Crawling, walking, and running all develop gross motor skills. Preschool and school age children develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically through outside play. Childhood games of tag, Red Rover, and hide and seek are great activities to encourage healthy development.
The most beneficial play is initiated by the child. During free play is when most learning takes place in young children. A child's natural curiosity leads him to explore possibilities and test each one. A child playing with blocks will begin to stack them. Through this simple activity, the child is learning basic problem solving skills while discovering the effects of gravity and exploring sizes and shapes.