| In the last few years, parents started | | | | to count to 100 at the home tree (this helps |
| getting more and more interested in choosing | | | | young children learn the numbers in a |
| all sorts of educational toys for their | | | | pleasurable way, not like in school), without |
| children. Because a parent wishes the best | | | | peeking (this educated the child to use fair |
| for his child, a toy that is labeled as | | | | play in all areas of the life). Meanwhile, |
| educational is very likely to be bought | | | | the others must find a good hiding place, one |
| easier than others. But what is an child | | | | that is both hard to discover and close to |
| educational toy? | | | | the home tree. This stimulates the child to |
| | | | think fast to the best solution to a given |
| Well, there is no definition of the term | | | | task. |
| "educational toy" from what I know. However, | | | | |
| what I do know is that an educational toy is | | | | - After he finished counting to 100, the |
| a toy that helps a child learn something | | | | child says "Ready or not, here I come" and |
| good, something that will help in the future. | | | | then he must search for the other players. He |
| Play is the most important activity of any | | | | must be very careful. Once he finds a player |
| child. | | | | hiding, he must run back to the home tree and |
| | | | shout his name. He must be vigilant so that |
| Learning thru play is a reality; it can and | | | | he can hear any sound that might indicate the |
| it is done unknowingly every time your child | | | | position of the other players. |
| plays. The parent must however control the | | | | |
| play so that it remains on an educational | | | | - The players who are already spotted must |
| course. There are also toys that aren't | | | | not tell where the others are hiding. This |
| exactly educational for children ... Toy guns | | | | too educates children to use fair play. |
| and other such toys that somehow tend to | | | | |
| violence and other bad behaviors are not | | | | - The first player spotted is the next one |
| recommended. You must avoid such toys. | | | | to count to 100. |
| Although these toys may be a good source of | | | | |
| fun for youngsters, on the long term they | | | | You'd never think that hide and seek, one of |
| will only do harm. | | | | the most common games in childhood, could be |
| | | | so educational, right? Yes, it is a very |
| How do child educational toys and games work? | | | | educational game. And it's not the only one. |
| | | | Pick any game you liked playing when you were |
| A I said above, play is a child's main | | | | a child, and analyze its rules, as I did |
| activity. During the play, a child learns | | | | above. You'll be amazed. Hide and Seek is |
| many new things. Toys and games must be | | | | oriented mainly towards developing fair play |
| integrated into the play to make their job. | | | | and physical skills. Here's another example |
| This is not hard, because play consists of | | | | of child educational game that helps |
| several games that require using toys. | | | | developing more advanced skills: Monopoly. |
| | | | |
| Any toy can be educational, as long as it | | | | I won't bore you with its rules. This game |
| does not develop a bad behavior, and it is | | | | introduces your child into the basics of |
| used in your child's play. A toy must be used | | | | modern business life. Acquiring high value |
| in order to be educational for a child. | | | | properties, negotiation, taxes. Yup! This |
| | | | game educates your child to become the |
| To be clearer about how child educational | | | | biggest businessperson on the Wall Street. |
| toys and games work, I will take one example: | | | | Monopoly has rules that are more complex and |
| Hide and seek. | | | | it requires greater concentration. |
| | | | |
| Let's take a look at Hide and Seek. You do | | | | Specific jargon and names that mean much to |
| remember this game, right? Can you remember | | | | the entrepreneurs get your child closer the |
| the rules? Ok, I will still list them here, | | | | world of business. Toys are amongst the first |
| and comment on them and explain its | | | | objects a child gets in contact. |
| educational side. | | | | Understanding how things work is a direct |
| | | | result of solving problems with toys like |
| - The first rule is that every player must | | | | "Why this fits there?", "Does that fit |
| obey the rules. I know, I know it's obvious, | | | | here?", "How big is that?". |
| but if players would not respect the rules, | | | | |
| would there be any point for the rules to | | | | Educational toys help your child learn to |
| exist? Every child must learn and obey them, | | | | grab, pull, push, synchronize the movement of |
| or else they are not allowed to play the | | | | the head with that of the hand. Toys are |
| game. The educational part of this is that | | | | indispensable when playing. Playing with a |
| the child learns to accept the fact that he | | | | great variety of child educational toys helps |
| cannot do everything he wants, that there are | | | | your child develop his imagination, |
| some limits and he must not pass them in | | | | understand that different objects have |
| order to keep his privileges. | | | | different properties, and learn how to |
| | | | combine them to create other interesting |
| - One of the children in the group is chosen | | | | objects. |