Educational Toys Buying Guide

As parents and guardians, it's important to recognise that learning isn't restricted to the classroom. What our children learn in their own homes, or when they're out and about, can not only help them to develop necessary life skills, but also to understand the concepts and theories they're taught in school better.

It's called 'experiential learning' and gives our children hands-on experiences that allow them to relate what they learn to real-life situations. Educational toys and science kits are excellent ways to introduce experiential learning, and there's so much choice. This buying guide explains some of your options:

Role Play for Kids

Role play is one of the best ways to have fun and learn at the same time. It's about encouraging young children to get creative and think outside the box a little, to come up with new and exciting scenarios to play out. Role play toys for kids make this simple, and kids' doctors' sets and veterinarian cases that contain tools and equipment provide everything your little ones need to create their own fun situations, and overcome obstacles. For even smaller children, plastic food sets and kitchen accessories are ideal. Often, they're some of the first role play toys parents buy for toddlers, who love to explore and discover.

If your children show little interest in activities such as healing sick pets or cooking up desserts, you may have found it a bit difficult to find role play toys that appeal to their passions. The good news is that the variety of role play toys has expanded significantly in recent years. If your little ones are more interested in getting their hands dirty than focusing on food presentation, why not check out some of the more modern role play toys that are available, such as compact multi-tools, workbenches and a whole lot more to choose from.

Learning Biology the Fun Way

Educational toys are a fantastic way to help improve biology knowledge, such as knowledge of the human body, and knowledge of concepts such as life cycles. One of the most interesting ways is with toy creatures such as 'Sea Monkeys' or 'Aqua Dragons'? They may have strange names, but what these little creatures are is brine shrimp, and they're a low maintenance 'pet'.

These pretend creatures teach kids about life cycles and encourage them to take responsibility, as well as to learn values such as compassion and caring.

And how about learning more about the human body? Try biology-based kids' toys like Operation. This classic surgical game of physical skill has stood the test of time, with fun elements like the buzzer, and makes a tremendous party game for kids. However, while trying to use the tweezers with precision, children are learning about the human anatomy and where the different organs are situated.

Deliciously Fun Play Sets

Have you got school aged children who are in that awkward in-between stage when they really should be starting to show more interest in learning, but still just want to play all the time? It's a very common developmental stage, and the good news is that there are a wide range of toys designed specifically for it. Smoothie makers provide you with the chance to teach your children about the importance of healthy eating. Some food-based educational toys are branded with characters such as Barbie to make the experience even more fun.

Getting Ready for School

School life and home life should go hand in hand, with children learning new ideas at home that could benefit them in the classroom. That's where science kits for kids come in. Children can learn chemistry in a fun way by growing their own crystals, or combining different liquids to make yucky, slimy solutions. Similarly, physics can be made more interesting to the younger generation with experiments, such as making a rocket out of an old film canister, or a real, working clock out of a potato. For younger kids that love everything gross, there are even science kits that appeal to this side of them — creating a wibbly-wobbly jelly brain.

Engaging Electronic Toys

Electronic toys are another terrific way for children to learn through play and can be invaluable tools in a child's education. Toys like the Leapfrog LeapReader Reading and Writing System which can help your children to learn basic skills such as reading and writing. The system reads words back to the children, and they can also listen to audio books while they're on the move. Children can trace words on mess-free paper, so that the learning is productive as well as it is clean and tidy.

Then there are other practical devices like alarm clocks, with characters like Minnie Mouse, or with themes such as the film 'Cars'. Children can learn to tell the time in a fun way, as well as have a cool piece of furniture in their bedroom.

Meanwhile, toys such as electronic cash registers can help your child to learn numeracy and how to deal with money in real-world situations. They can also learn some of the responsibilities attached to money. The pretend-play of operating a cash register and interacting with others will enable your child to learn communication skills.

Discovering the World

Kids who enjoy learning about the world will like toys such as inflatable globes. This is a particularly good way to teach children geography from an early age and trigger their curiosity for places they might like to visit when they're older or learn more about in school. The colourful design of a globe also makes it an attractive toy to have in a child's bedroom.

Visit The Toy Store online and see the wide range of toys we have available. Your children can learn communication, numeracy and a whole host of other skills that will help them in the real world.