Guide The Best Learning Toys For Toddlers

As a parent, it can be difficult to decide between the age-appropriate learning toys that are available, whether you have a newborn baby or a seven-year-old child. I know that finding the right learning toys for my daughters involved some research before running across some helpful tips about choosing the best learning toys.

The first thing is asking whether the toy is going to be fun for the child to play with. A child learns more from toys they enjoy playing with, because they will play with them longer. This might mean you need to balance the complexity of the challenge the toy presents with the fun it provides. Most interactive teaching games use interesting colors, characters or videos, which may be the most suited for your child's attention span.

It helps to match the learning toys with your child's personal interests because they will tend to play with it more. You might remember wanting to be a doctor or nurse when you were younger. On the other hand, you might have wanted to be a policeman or fireman, ballerina or princess. It can be helpful to learn what your child is most fascinated with because they will view the learning toys as a real-life tool to help them in their imaginary occupation, if they are related.

If your child is independent and patient, you can find learning toys that will keep them occupied for hours. Keep in mind that board games aren't that fun with only one player. Some of today's electronic learning games are interactive and might include computer use. On the other hand, young children might love wooden puzzles, building blocks or Legos and even coloring in a coloring book can provide creative ways to keep their mind occupied, without other children or adults around.

You want to help the child develop social skills and there are some types of toys that encourage group play. Many young girls love playing house or school, while young boys might enjoy playing with train sets or army men. While these seem a little sexist, there still seems to be a gender line for many young children. Sometimes, you might consider learning toys that develop motor skills and encourage physical exercise, even if it is a bike, trampoline or other types of physical games. These are just a few of the tips to consider, however.

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How Can You Use Learning Toys For 1 Year Old

If you are the parent of a two year old, you have probably already encountered some of the problems that parents face with teaching a curious and active child. Since two year old children are already learning their physical skill capabilities, it might be time to find ways to encourage better hand-eye coordination, along with developing their mental skills. Learning toys for toddlers can add a new dimension to their playtime because there are educational toys that are perfectly suited to stimulate their mental creativity.

Simple crafts and artwork are things that two-year olds love to do, but toys like puzzles and building blocks can help them express their creativity and learn at the same time. Finding the perfect learning toys for two year olds might seem difficult at first, but most of the major toy manufacturers have done research on those that are most effective. Through time-proven research, they have developed playthings that provide interactive education, while providing hours of fun for your toddlers.

Activity sets and educational games can be colorful, educational and provide simple fun for two-year old children. Bath toys like fishing games, preschool laptop toys and even beach play sets are learning toys that allow a toddler the opportunity to use a variety of skills in various settings. Ride-on toys, push toys and easy wooden puzzles, wooden maze toys or activity tool sets can help toddlers learn different activities that keep their minds and hands occupied. Having fun with entertaining learning toys can make teaching your child an effortless task, while keeping them from becoming bored.

There are many different learning toys to consider for this age group, but there are some children that might be more advanced physically or mentally, than others. As a parent, you just need to consider some of the age-specific toys for toddlers and you are sure to find the ones your child will enjoy playing with and learning with. The best way for parents to learn about the perfect educational playthings can be from other parents. Two year olds can be challenging, but teaching your child can be simple, when you take advantage of educational toys and games that are specifically designed for them.

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Perfect early learning toys for your children.

It is extremely important to find the perfect early learning toys for your children. Not only will it help with their development but also with how they will relate to their education experience later on in life. It is critical that when it comes to early learning toys that you have a balance. You should have the appropriate books, DVDS, games, puzzles and toys. You should also make sure that you use Mother Nature and her early learning toys. There are plenty of activities that can be educational, fun and done outside.

Worm Farms: It is a fantastic idea to create a worm farm with your child. You can teach them all the interesting facts about worms and how they have an integral part of Mother Nature. It's crucial to give your children an understanding of them while they are still young. If children start working with bugs and worms from any early age, it also prevents them from being scared of them when they are older.

Vegetable Garden: Vegetable gardens are a great way for your children to gain another educational experience. You can teach them about the important of vegetables as well as the mechanics of gardening. When you do gardening you should be creative about what exactly you want to teach. Find lessons plans surrounding gardening and how you can make it an educational experience for your child.

Bird-Watching: When you want to start teaching your child about the different types of birds and how they work, you can start doing bird-watching. This is the best way to give your children all of the information that they need. You can do some basic research about the birds in your area so you can answer any questions that your children might have. It might also be helpful to have some pictures and lessons prepared so that they can do them outside, while the images of the birds are still fresh in their memory.

Make sure that you are focusing on giving your child as much information as possible. It is important that it is entertaining. Worm Farms, Vegetable Gardens and Bird-watching are just a few of the early learning toys that Mother Nature provides. You can find hundreds of different activities that you can do outside that will provide your child with an educational experience. Make sure that you are focusing on giving your child as much information as possible. It is important that it is entertaining.

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Help Your Baby to Learn in a Fun and Easy Way

Electronic learning toys are first and foremost toys. But they are toys designed with a dual purpose. Firstly to provide your child with lots of fun. Secondly to help your child to learn about the world around them at their own speed and in a friendly environment- their own home.

There is a huge variety and range of Electronic Toys on the market today catering for children of all ages- from one month right up to early teens.

There are toys that can play music and make funny sounds especially for babies and tots. There are toys for slightly older children that help them, with the aid of their favorite characters like Sponge Bob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer, to learn the basics of reading writing and math. Then there are interactive toys for older children that can be plugged into your TV set or computer and that can also help you the parent to monitor your child's learning progress. And there are also bilingual learning toys so children can learn these subjects in English and Spanish.

Electric Learning Toy's are designed to be super child friendly. Mostly battery operated, they come with big bright and very colorful display screens and have big fat easy to operate buttons as well as control sticks. The best ones are also made of tough durable plastic with no sharp edges and designed to take all the rough treatment kids can give them.

The makers of these learning toys are very careful to design the toys to suit your child's age and their level of skill, So it is very important that before buying a toy, you read the manufactures recommendation. Otherwise you could end up with a toy that will cause your child to be frustrated (because it's pitched above you child's learning skills)or totally disinterested because it's pitched below). Either ways it will be a total waste of your money because your child will fail to learn anything with the toy.

Also it is important to actually check out a toy before you buy it. For example you don't want to buy a toy for a tiny one that has small pieces that could be swallowed!

And finally as mentioned above most toys are battery operated so make sure you have plenty of spare batteries to prevent tantrums.

With so many Electronic Learning Toy's on the market where do you start looking? Well a good place might be with two of the market leaders in learning toys. These are Leapfrog and Vtech. Both of whom make a large range of quality toys for all ages and skills.

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How to Choose Learning Toys For Toddlers

When choosing learning toys or developmental toys for your child, consider safety and each area of your child's development. Children should have access to a wide variety of toys that offer a wide array of learning experiences. Use these guidelines to choose the best learning toys for your child at their current level of development.

1) Make sure that the toy is age appropriate. Many toys will have a suggested age range on the packaging. Use your best judgment. If your child is seven and the package says for ages 7 to 9, but you think that your child will be frustrated with the complexity of the toy, then choose something that is closer to your child's level. If the package says for ages five and up, but you know that your five year old still puts small parts in their mouths, then don't buy the toy with small parts. Just evaluate why you think they labeled the package for a certain age before you buy. If you're not sure, call the manufacturer and ask.

2) Make sure that the toy is something that will hold the child's interest. It could be the most educational toy you've ever seen, but if your child is not interested, then it will go to waste. Young toddlers love bright colors, textures, sounds, and patterns. Older children get more interested in small detailed items. If there is a learning cube or something that you think your toddler may not be really interested in but you want them to be, consider letting them put stickers of their favorite character on it. Children will usually like things that they are familiar with or associate with something else that they like. Another tactic is to give it to them right after or during the time that they are playing with what they love so that they associate the two things together.

3) Choose toys that help with an array of developmental areas. Some toys will help with a few different areas. Make a check-list of developmental goals and make sure that there are toys available to the child that will help with each area. Children should get experience in each area every day to develop properly. Here are the five major areas to concentrate on:

a. Cognitive Development

b. Speech and Language Development

c. Social and Emotional Development

d. Fine Motor Skills

e. Gross Motor Skills

Making sure that you provide toys that concentrate on these five areas will help you to ensure that you are giving your child the tools that they need to succeed. A lot of preschool toys will focus on these developmental areas. You can use toys that hit multiple areas of development as staples in your child's play room or living area. An example of a toy that may help in many areas is an activity table. Keep development in mind when you shop and your child will have many developmental opportunities at hand.

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Helping Your Baby Learn the Fun Way With V-Tech Learning Toys

The education of a child begins the day they arrive! They come into the world ready and eager to absorb all that surrounds them. The lights, colors, sounds and movements around them are attention-getters that are being registered in their tiny synapses. 

Therefore, it is vitally important to surround them with the learning toys necessary for cognitive development. Age appropriate stimulation has long been a proven method of assisting children with greater intelligence. This will jump-start their growth and development by providing them with the resources for strong "brain muscles."
Learning toys have developed in leaps and bounds the last few decades.

Behind these items are numerous studies demonstrating the importance of stimulating opportunities for a child's intellectual growth. Also gleaned from the studies was the realization that children possess differing learning styles. Some are visual, some auditory and some tactile. The toys and other educational materials that benefit a child the most will be matched to their unique learning style.

Many toys on the market now cater to these differences. Laptops for children are excellent tools for the visual learner. Hands-on interactive toys where the child physically manipulates objects are just the right fit for tactile learners. These also encourage motor skill development while providing physical exercise.

Numerous brands of learning toys have taken all the style components and developed what Vtech terms as "smart play." These toys are electronic-based while providing opportunity for visual, auditory and tactile learners to stretch their minds. These information age toys combine the best of all worlds with age appropriate "games" that not only entertain but also educate. Another benefit of this new generation is the portability. They are great for trips in the car on holiday. Many companies have toys available across many age groups, extending the educational experience from infancy to teens.

Along with this brief overview, remember that all learning toys provide innumerable opportunities for math and language development, spatial relation skills, cooperative teamwork exercises, prioritizing and concept development. With this in mind, utilize as many types of toys as is feasible to encourage a well-rounded development of your child's skill levels. All these components are necessary for success in school and success in life. Make the most of this learning time with the little ones with a representative sampling of developmental toys. You will be giving your child the head start they need to pursue any goals they desire in life!

VTech are the leading brand when it comes to learning toys of any kind, from baby toys to electronic learning laptops.

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Learning Toys For 9 months to 24 months

Parents can help their children to develop all the skill needed by discovering their learning sense. Once you have discovered this you will know. What your baby will learn easily and naturally, what they may find challenging and the best way to present them with new learning materials.

They say that the best time to start learning when you're a child is at infant stage when the brain is like a sponge absorbing all the new information.

We tend to have one sense from the time we are babies; senses are Sight, Hearing and movement which is dominant?

A baby who is a visual learner tends to point and gesture, loves picture books and often uses their hand to reach for toys. A baby who is a hearing learner tends to babble early, loves music and sounds and noisy toys. A baby who is a kinaesthetic learner will love to move their bodies.

So what the best toy to get for your baby on their first Christmas? Bellow is a few toys that will help your baby with all the vital learning your child needs.

Fisher Price Ocean Wonders soothe and glow Seahorse

This is a wonderful night time friend for your little one. When the seahorse is cuddled, the belly will gently glow. This adorable little toy also plays over 5 minutes of music and ocean sounds that will ensure your little one goes off to sleep peacefully.

This toy comes in Pink and is suitable from birth.

Mamas & Papas: Tweet Chime Toy

This eye catching toy makes a fun chirping sound when it is gentle shaken. It has a handy velour strap making sure it can easy attach to a cot, pram or car seat. This toy encourages the development of sight, touch, sound and gross motor skills. This toy is suitable from birth.

Beanstalk Farm Crawl Ball

This inflatable crawl ball is made from Phthalate free PVC and is 30cm in diameter. This toy will encourage your baby to crawl at an early age. It has a weighted sandbag which provides resistance when the child is pushing the ball along. This can be used in or out doors and is compact and easy to store.

This toy is suitable for babies 6 months and over.

Leapfrog Story Block Book

This first book is interactive and combines block play with animal sounds, music and encourages exploration and discovery. This book has chunky book pages that are perfect for little hands and there is a latch to contain the block when your baby isn't enjoying this toy.

This toy is suitable for children 9 months to 24 months

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Language for Learning Infants and Toddlers

There is no escaping it. Kids are going to have a large variety of toys at their disposable while growing up. From crib to teenager many toys will pass through their hands. If you give some thought to what kind of toys you give your child you may realize that it costs no more to give him or her toys that educate rather than toys that just help them pass time. Some of the best educational toys you can give your child are language learning toys.

Early educational toys can serve several purposes. These are designed to develop the toddler's motor skills as they play with the toy and at the same time expose them to language basics. A toy such as the "LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo" is such a toy which will also introduce the child to the alphabet. Another learning toy for children from 6 months to 4 years is the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Storybook Rhymes. This imaginative battery operated toy is storybook based and teaches baby learning basics. there are lights and buttons to push which activate recordings and offers exposure to A-B-C's, 1-2-3's, Colors, and First words.

To give an older child 6 years and up an early introduction to learning a second language the "Bratz Adventures in Learning - Bilingual learning tool" is a good choice. Built as a laptop computer with a full-sized keyboard and a backlit LCD screen this exciting language tool will keep the child interested for hours. Imagine the child's pride when he or she is able to speak and understand even a few words of Spanish to other kids at school. This educational tool is available in Spanish, French, German and Dutch.

Another advanced student learning tool in paperback book form is "Second Language Learning Through Cooperative Learning". This is a serious tool that the publishers claim will have students talking a second language very quickly. The book includes sections on: co-op structures, social roles, getting to know you, making words mine, guided grammar experiences, writing skills, and lesson designs.

While this short article covers just a small portion of the language learning tools, toys and pretend learning toys I hope it will give you an incentive to spend at least a portion of your toy budget on learning toys. A healthy child needs playtime to develop properly. Why not take advantage of the learning toys available and get more value for your child and your money.

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Help Your Child Grow with Learning Toys

Every child's milestone in development is very important and the parents can enhance this by using great teaching tools such as baby learning toys. They will help them in measuring their development as well as indicate the next goal in the development process. While doing so, it will also help the child in mastering the milestones without any problem. For this reason, the parents should ensure that they have carefully selected them so that they move step by step with the process of growth. They come in wide variety ranging from stuffed dolls, Puzzles such as the Melissa and Doug Puzzles.

While selecting these toys, they should ensure that they are safe for them to use. It is recommended that the buyers select baby learning toys that are soft and huggable. They are should also be colorful as the color stimulates the interest of the child, who will then be enticed to play with them. Many of them are usually designed with the aim of developing a particular skill or a set of skill as the baby grows and the parents should then make sure that they have picked the one that is suitable for the particular milestone so that they help in developing the senses of the child in a natural setting.

Some of the older baby's can be provided with puzzles such as the Melissa and Doug Puzzles which are designed in wide variety of designs, featuring different textures, colors and entertaining sounds. The puzzles will go a long way in helping a child in growing up by enhancing abilities such as their coordination, speech and mind. They are designed with safety in mind to ensure that the child gets to learn without exposing themselves to risk.

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Using Wooden Learning Toys For Toddlers

Using wooden learning toys for children is something that has been appreciated by many since the beginning of time. There are a wide range of different types for a number of age groups. Even adults can be found in a complete and total hypnotic state when they are fascinated by the dynamics of any number of games made from nature's source; the trees that have fueled man since the beginning of time.

Change has affected a great number of things that we have both come to appreciate and take for granted. There have been a variety of manufactures' who have worked diligently to uphold the integrity between a child and their toys. It is truly a relationship of dependency and discovery as a child is coming to terms with the world around them; and it is a beautiful thing when they are able to trust the main source that generally houses them.

Discovery is the art of exploring and the creative minds within the realm of toys are constantly searching themselves for ideals that will produce the greatest level of stimulation. A child who has an appropriate level of curiosity can only attain it if their environment challenges them to do so. While there are a number of things and places we do not want them to have access to; creating a world that meets their needs is imperative.

No two children are exactly the same and one will have to pay close attention as their developing their own personality to understand their growing needs. There will undoubtedly be things that they favor over others when it comes to their learning style preference. Figuring out how to create a balance that is specific to their needs can be accomplished by the utilization of wooden educational instruments.

It is truly amazing when a little person begins to embrace the way their time is divided; they start to inquire about what is to happen next in the next minute or two of their lives. This is where their care givers have a great deal of leverage and incentive for cooperative learning experiences. Music and reading time are just the beginning of what one can accomplish throughout the course of the day with their energized smaller people. Wooden kitchen utensils are one of the most desired for young people who are wanting to explore their full capacities; especially when it comes to baking up something sweet.

Natural toys that teach on some level or another will usually come with some level of guarantee or certification that promises its non harmful make up. This must also be true for the practices the manufacturer implements to create the product. Doing some research online is one of the best ways outside of word of mouth referrals to identify trust worthy brands. There are also social networking sites that are specifically geared to help care givers and parents stick together by sharing valuable information.

When you are searching for just the right learning tools to help the development of a child; the perfect gift can be found for all ages and personality types. Having the best experience comes about when those who care make their selection with the highest level of attention to detail. There is absolutely no reason for a child during these times to be compromised by the toys the love; there are just too many natural resources to align with.

Using wooden learning toys for children is one of the most safe and effective ways to stimulate the growth of a child. This is true for their emotional, intellectual and physical growth as there is just about something for everything one can imagine. Giving them an introduction to the eco-friendly choices they have earlier in their lives will help them make environmentally friendly choices in the future.

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Using Electronic Learning Toys To Teach Toddlers

As a parent, you might not always be able to get your children to learn, but you can always get them to play. My two daughters can play with their electronic learning toys for hours, especially the ones they really are interested in. It makes a parent want to purchase the toys that kids really love to play with, but you can't always trust them to teach them anything. Pretend playtime and imaginary friends might not have any connection to the real world, but child development specialists will tell you it is important to your child's creative and problem-solving or coping mechanisms, when they get older.

Have you thought about using electronic learning toys to teach your children? Not only can they gain real-world experience they will use later, but you can teach them more than playing house or playing doctor will ever teach them, when it comes to academics. If you want to encourage their creative side, you can always consider these modern and affordable learning toys that teach them how to play the guitar or piano, learn photography or other neat hobbies they will enjoy through their adult years.

Using electronic or modern learning toys can be helpful to teach children of all ages, especially if you consider some of the learning systems, like Baby Einstein, Leap Frog, Learning Curve or eBeanstalk, for example. There are age-appropriate toys that offer all kinds of different learning toys to encourage your child's educational development, while allowing them to have fun and be entertained.

Many parents aren't sure about these types of electronic learning systems because they are so much like computers, instead of traditional toys. When you think about today's kids and the challenges they will face in school and work, electronics will certainly be part of them. For this reason, there is good argument for purchasing the electronic learning systems and the great thing is that you can use them for all of your children.

In my case, I have a younger daughter that is a few years behind her older sister, but there are electronic learning systems that can be re-used, with a variety of age levels that can be purchased in the "diskettes". If you are a parent looking for the advantages of electronic learning toys, there are advantages that will benefit your child in later years.

If you don't fully understand the world of electronic learning toys, it is nice to know you aren't alone. You can learn from other parents about the toys that can contribute to your child's development, on many different levels. Visit [http://www.learningtoys4fun.com] to learn more!

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Guide to Choosing Learning Toys for Toddlers

One of the most fun types of toys and games that your child can play with are baking and cookery sets. They not only encourage your child to learn but they also help them to act like their parents or guardians. This concept is also known as acting like grownups. 

Research shows that one of the most obvious ways that children learn is by copying others and the primary educators of children are usually their parents. It is quite natural for your child to want to behave similarly to you and this is why you must set a good example by showing them how to do a wide range of different types of tasks. Your child will then copy and begin to learn more and more as their development progresses.
Other types of creative learning toys include clay modelling and plaster kits. These types of toys are particularly great at encouraging your child with their creative side. Different objects and models can be created using clay and plaster. This type of learning activity can be extremely fun to participate in, for both parent and child. Learning can take place whilst undertaking this type of fun activity. It is well researched that children do, in fact, learn a lot of the time whilst they are having lots of fun. That is why you should always choose learning activities that are fun.
It is also a very good idea to mix up your child's learning by introducing a wide range of creative learning toys and games. Some other popular examples include:

• Fashion design toys (such as dressing up dolls)
• Girl's beauty kits (pretend makeup and other types of play beauty accessories)
• Jewellery making kits
• Paper modelling and Origami kits
• Knitting and sewing kits for children

All of the above types of creative learning toys should certainly inspire your child to learn more by completing tasks and taking part in activities that they truly love doing. It is no secret that children do, in fact, love to learn but will really only do so if they are having fun. You can, of course, encourage learning whilst completing tasks which aren't so fun if incentives are used and the overall and/or long term benefits of learning in general are imparted to your child. In other words, your child should be taught good habits which, ultimately, become a life long positive attitude towards learning.

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Creative Learning Ideas For Toddlers

Your child is much more likely to learn at both an accelerated and consistent rate when he or she is enjoying what they are doing whether it be playing with their favourite toys and games or just helping mum or dad to complete regular household tasks such as baking a cake or tidying up. 

Even drying the pots after dinner can be a learning experience for your child. Never pass up an opportunity to impart learning. Your child will certainly learn more if they are exposed to a wide range of different types of positive stimilae so don't think that the only types of learning that your child should be doing should be playing with toys and games. Even just watching mum or dad cook lunch can be a positive learning experience for your child as long as you teach them valuable safety lessons such as do not touch hot pans and don't play with sharp knives.

Learning can certainly be very fun if done in a correct and safe way there is absolutely no way that your child will learn much if he or she is not stimulated with lots of different types of learning. For one, he or she will become bored and, therefore, will not learn if they aren't stimulated with a range of different types of toys. It is very important to remember to children do learn at different rates but you should always try to find out what it is that your child really enjoys doing whether it is playing with toy boats, craft sets or drawing. Never try to provide your child with an overrepresentation of a certain type of learning or force your goals onto them. For instance, if you particularly like to paint and you aspire for your child to follow in your footsteps then try not to make painting the only thing that your child does. If you do then they will likely become bored of this particular type of activity and not do it when they get older because they've done it too much and, therefore, they've become bored of it.

It's always a good idea to mix things up and really stimilate your child with a wide variety of different learning. This is when real learning takes place and your child can begin to learn at an accelerated rate. Learning should be fun and so try not to focus your child on any one type of creative learning toy at any one time. Creative learning toys should really inspire your child's imagination and get them thinking. When they become curious about a toy, they will be fascinated with how it works and what it does. Curiosity is one of the main triggers to learning.

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Toddlers Can Be Learning Toys

Parents spend hours on end searching for the best toys for their kids. Some parents want to find the hottest toys while others want the best learning toys for their children. There is a secret to finding the best kids toys. Do you want to know what it is? Here it comes - the secret is to watch your child.

Okay, so that really isn't a huge secret, but believe it or not, many parents want to buy toys for their kids without even thinking about what their child does on a daily basis.

Choosing Kid's Toys

Let's think about this scenario for a minute - a father goes to buy his son a present. His son spends all day stacking cardboard boxes, cups, pillows, and anything else he can get his hands on. The father searches endlessly for the perfect toy and finally settles on a baseball and bat.

When he gives it to the child, the child is happy for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then, he puts the bat and ball down and never picks it up again. Instead, he goes back to stacking with his usual household objects.

Now, think hard. What kind of toys could the father have bought his son that included stacking and building? Did you guess LEGOs or other building blocks? Maybe even the new Mindcraft game would have been the perfect gift.

For some reason, parents spend thousands of dollars on toys their kids never play with. Why? It's because instead of watching their children to see what interests them, the parents want them to like the things they like now or liked as a child.

Learning Toys

For parents who only want to buy their kids learning toys, stop and think a minute. No matter what toy you buy your child, he will learn something. Dolls teach girls (and boys) how to care for a baby. They learn to feed, dress, hold, and even bath the doll. These are all life skills that every child needs to learn.

Building blocks teach kids hand-eye coordination, creativity, motor skills, problem solving, building, shapes, sizes, and much more.

Think about each toy your child has. All of them will teach your child something. If you can't think of anything, give the toy to your child and sit for a few minutes to watch him as he plays. It is guaranteed that several things will pop into your head that you can teach your child.

Learning toys don't have to be labeled as a learning toy and kid's toys don't have to be the newest most sought after toy. Kid's toys only need to be toys your kids love and love to play with.

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Making Learning Games For Toddlers

1. Don't be afraid to come up with your own learning games.
All of the learning games for toddlers that are currently available to today’s parents were originally just someone’s thoughts on how to help a toddler learn a certain concept or skill.

• The people that came up with the ideas are really no different from the average parents.
• This simply means that anyone can come up with their own games for teaching their toddler new things.

2. Look to other homemade games for inspiration. 
For example, someone came up with the idea of using a basket of various colors and styles of clean socks for teaching toddlers about colors, matching, and counting.

• Another great idea for a homemade learning game for a toddler is to buy two sets of identical magnets and store them in a metal container. The child can use the lid as a board and stick the magnets with their pairs on the lid.
• Of course, it is important that the magnets that are chosen will not pose a choking hazard.

3. Make a game using flashcards. 
If the toddler is learning his/her colors, make some flashcards using index cards and markers. Color a spot (circle, dot, square) on the front of the card. Hold it up for the child to see.

• Explain to him/her that if he/she gets four of the cards right in a row that there is a prize for it. Then, when he/she accomplishes what is asked, give him/her some free time or time on the electronics or whatever else the child may enjoy.
• The cards do not have to have anything difficult on them. They can have pictures of people, if the child is still trying to learn words like “mommy,” “daddy,” and “nana”. The cards can have colors or shapes. They can have pictures of animals. Anything that the child can look at and name (or say) can be put on cards.

4. Do some learning games outdoors. If the child is really interested in the outdoors, the parents can use that to their advantage. Go outside with the child.

• Tell the child to find something green, blue, orange, or any other color (that can be seen where you are, of course). Tell the child to point out all the green things. Make it a game by “competing” with the child to see who can say all the green/red/blue/purple/white things first.
• Make it a physical game by trying to see who can run to the “blue flower” the fastest or who can skip to the “brown tree trunk” more quickly. The child gets to learn and practice his/her colors, spend time with the parents, and get some physical activity.

5. Use your daily activities for inspiration. Just about everything that a parent does while in the company of their toddler, from grocery shopping to cleaning the house, can be turned into a learning game by using imagination.

• Aside from teaching the toddler through everyday things, it also makes these things more fun for both the child and the parent.

6. Collect items from around the home to make games with. Some parents choose to collect all sorts of previously used items in order to use them to make their own learning games or add them to a craft box for the kids to use.

• As long as the item is clean, has no sharp edges, and does not pose a choking hazard, a use for it can probably be found. Some parenting websites offer lists of common items that have been proven useful.
• Dollar stores are also a great source for inexpensive items, such as ice cube trays, that can be used in creating learning games for toddlers.

Read More: Finding Pre-Existing Games For Toddlers

Source: WikiHow

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Why do some children learn to read easily at school while others prefer to climb out the window?

How does your child learn? Do they prefer to climb, sing or draw?
Why do some children learn to read easily at school while others prefer to climb out the window? Some children love to color within the lines, whilst others become frustrated?

One of the reasons is children have different learning styles which are dictated by their dominant sense: sight, hearing or motion.

Children who are able to use their dominant sense thrive. Children who can't may have problems meeting developmental milestones. So identifying and working with your child's learning style will help them. Learning toys are tools to help children develop skills. When chosen well they complement a natural learning style, and so help the learning process.
Which learning toy should you choose?
A child will love playing with a learning toy which complements their preferred sense. A visual child will love a building set, an auditory child a musical instrument and a kinesthetic child a trampoline. However children need to be encouraged to use their non-preferred sense and this is where learning toys really come into their own.

What do you think is your child's dominate sense?
Take a step back and think about yourself.
Imagine you are at the beach. Do you mostly notice the vivid blue of the sky and the shimmer of the water? Or the crash of the waves and the high pitched call of the seabirds? Or perhaps the feeling of the warm breeze against your skin and the grittiness of the sand?

As we go through life we depend on our senses of sight, hearing and touch. But consistently you'll find you are drawn to use one particular sense. We all have a dominant sense, or occasionally a combination of two, which is stronger and that we rely on more. And it doesn't seem to be something that we can choose.

We learn through our senses, and our dominant sense determines what we prefer to learn, how we like to learn, and the tools we enjoy using. Learning, as we've always known, is not a one size fits all.

Characteristics of a Visual Learner
These children learn from what they can see and often use their hands to recreate what they've seen by drawing or modeling. Visual babies love to look at things such as mobiles. Visual learners tend to have excellent hand-eye coordination. Their fine motor skills are excellent.
Learning toys they'll like include:

• Art and crafts
• Modeling
• Picture books
• Puzzles
• Board games
• Video games
• Computers and internet
• Building toys
• Science toys

Skills that do not come naturally to visual learners:

• Speech - they may need help with learning the correct sounds.
• Social skills - often revolves around speech and communication
• Physical skills such as coordination and balance. Sports and fitness may need to be worked on.

Characteristics of an Auditory Learner These children learn by listening and are drawn to sounds and spoken words. Auditory babies love to listen to music and voices. They often speak early, love to sing and read aloud, ask a million questions, and are good at following verbal instructions. These children love to be read to. These children are often very popular, with good social skills.
Learning toys they'll enjoy include:

• Reading and singing
• Stories, rhymes and poetry
• Audio books
• Music
• Music boxes
• Musical instruments

Skills that do not come naturally to auditory learners:

• Physical skills such as coordination and balance. Sports and fitness may need to be worked on.
• Fine motor skills - they may need help with writing.

Characteristics of a Kinesthetic Learner These children learn through feeling and movement. These children often walk early. They have well developed gross motor skills; have great balance and are coordinated and so are drawn to sports and active play. They are easily distracted by having to sit still in class.
Learning toys they'll love include:

• Climbing, jumping, running, swimming
• Building
• Riding toys, scooters and bikes
• Ball play
• Kites
• Trampolines
• Sand boxes
• Swings and slides
• Pretend play
• Tactile toys

Skills that do not come naturally to kinesthetic learners:

• Fine motor skills- they may need help with writing.
• Speech - they may need help with learning the correct sounds 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3126928

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Finding Pre-Existing Games For Toddlers

1. Ask teachers and childcare providers for suggestions. 
When parents are trying to find educational games for their children, they should ask the child’s teachers and childcare providers for ideas.

• These people work with children in an educational setting on a daily basis. They should be able to help with ideas of games to play with the child or, at the least, ideas of where to look for games.
• Teachers have resources that are not readily available to parents. Parents can ask the teacher if the childcare facility has a resource room for parents. Ask if there are books or resources that can be borrowed overnight or over a weekend.

2. Look for educational books.
Go to the public library or a local bookstore. Check the education section or browse through the card catalogue, which is probably online.

• Find books that are for teachers of toddlers and preschoolers. Find books that specifically reference learning games for toddlers in the titles.
• When you have the books, check the Table of Contents in the front or the Index in the back. Look for games about the specific topics the child likes. If the child likes math, look for counting games. If the child likes building, look for games that incorporate that skill.
• If the books have something useable, check it out and take it home. Go through it more thoroughly to get the details about the games. Then play some of the games with the toddler.

3. Find an endless amount of learning games on the internet.
Many learning resources exist online. Type the words “learning games for toddlers” into Google and sort through all the results to see what kind of games can be found.

• Play around with some of the games to see if they are suitable for your child. Add more words to the search, like “free learning games for toddlers” or “math learning games for toddlers”. It will help to narrow the search a little and give more pertinent results for the child.
• Add as many descriptive words as you want, but keep in mind that the more words that are added, the more limited the search is. Yes, it is more specific; however, it is also more limiting. Search through the pages of results to find games that the child will like and can play.
• Some of the games may be physical games that do not involve electronics, but other games could be online or electronic. Find a mixture of both kinds to keep the child interested and interactive while he/she is playing the games.

4. Purchase a ready-made learning game.
For those parents that prefer to purchase ready-made learning games, there are plenty to be found at stores.

• Parents should not simply purchase the most popular educational game or the one that looks the most technologically advanced. Instead, it is a good idea to look for games that are manufactured by a company that is in the field of early education or early childhood development. LeapFrog and Fisher Price are two well-known manufacturers of learning toys and games for various age ranges.
• It is important that the parent consider the age range for the game to be sure that it is appropriate for their toddler, but they should also keep in mind the skill level that their child has already achieved. In order to keep the learning fun and beneficial, it is best to purchase learning games that are a little above the child’s skill level and build on what is already familiar to them.
• An example of a purchasable learning game is the LeapFrog Scribble n Write which can be used to teach letter recognition as well as proper pencil control while writing.

Read More: Making Learning Games For Toddlers

Source: WikiHow

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How to teach my toddler colors

Now that your toddler is reaching the age where they are talking and recognizing things, you will notice them absorbing everything around them. This is a great time to start teaching your little guy things like their numbers and colors, shapes, animals and more. Here is an easy process I used to help my daughter lean her colors in a fun way.

I started with two colors, yellow and blue. I compiled many things in the house like her toys and other things that were both yellow and blue. With the two piles of things we sat on the floor and started going through them. I pointed at the color of all of the yellow things and said "yellow, this is a yellow duck," or "banana, this banana is yellow" and so forth. After that I also did this with the blue things. After a few moments you know toddlers, she was tired with the activity so we went on about our day. When she got up again I went back through the things and pointed out all of the yellow things and all of the blue again.

Later in the evening I would continue to point things out to her telling them that they were the color yellow or the color blue. After about two days of incorporating it into our routine, she would point at both yellow and blue things and say the color. After a few days I added red in there, and then other colors. It became a game and she learned her colors fast this way. It only took her a day or two for each color and she had the hang of it. Like most memorizing and recognition patterns, repetition is key.

I pointed out colors everywhere, at the grocery store, park, toys, everything. It is easy for them to associate colors with things so make sure that you are saying "green grass" or "yellow star" , I was told that this helps them recognize and associate faster and easier. Go through their bath toys, tell them what colors their clothes are other people's clothes, just keep going and going!

After introducing them with daily things they can see touch and feel, let them go through books on their own. I used to always love watching my daughter flip through a book at tell herself the colors. Or get a DVD that is all about colors to help assist you. There are tons of them available.

Be patient, some colors are harder to associate with because of their many different shades and resemblance to other colors, but remember right now their brain is like a sponge and the more you spill out, the more they are going to soak up.

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