Games

Get the Lead Out!

Posted on December 6, 2007. Filed under: Books, Children's gifts, Games, Gifts |

We’ve been seeing a lot of gift guides out there, and thought that we’d be remiss if we didn’t toss out a few of our favorites.

We’re proposing several criteria for activities and products:
• Engages imagination and creative thinking
• Teaches an important life or learning skill
• Appeals to different styles of learning
• Helps to connect to family and friends in positive ways
• No violence, gender or racial stereotypes, or commercial tie-ins

We took a tour through the top toy websites and typed in "educational
toys" to see what we came up with. We’re going to review just a few of
them on our criteria and see what we come up with.

Colorforms:
It was a blast from the past to see these plastic shapes reappear on my
search: this toy is open-ended, creative and expressive. Not every
child will love these toys, as they are 100% self-directed: there are
no instructions to follow or goals to achieve, but are great for
inspired, creative kids (or those who are helping to develop those
skills).
4.5 out of 5 on the FHL scale!

MarbleRun Vortis:

I found this on Educational Toys Planet and immediately wanted one. This
toy stimulates reasoning and mobility skills, helps teach important
scientific principles and has MARBLES! The different "runs"
demonstrate various principles of physics without any textbook or
formula. This is a great toy for a child who can play by him or
her-self, as there is little opportunity for more than parallel play
(you try, now I try).
4 out of 5 on the FHL scale!

Leapfrog–My First LeapPad
No discussion of children’s toys is complete without a mention of the
learning giant Leapfrog. These toys are so popular because they are so
effective– in teaching reading, math and reasoning skills (as well as
computer-comfort, a life skill many of us need). Our only sticking
point with these products is the ease with which they are commerically
bound– Elmo and Disney and Spongebob all have Leapfrog deals, and
frankly, the kids we know think about Elmo quite enough without any
more encouragement. With a little diligence, you can find a full
complement of LeapFrog products that do not feature any licensed
characters, but the most prominent and easy-to-find products are
commercial.
3.5 out of 5 on the FHL scale!

Teach-me-Toddler Doll
I was delighted to find this doll (for boys and girls) on the FatBrain Toys website– this toy teaches important social interaction
skills as well as motor and language skills. Your child is encouraged
to reach important milestones (brushing teeth and going potty) as well
as motor skills (tying shoes and buttoning buttons)– building
self-esteem, independence, and a growing feeling of self-efficacy ("I
can do it!"). This "friend" can be shared with real friends and
family, and is perfect for many different kinds of learners.
5 out of 5 on the FHL scale!

GettaLetter
http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-1107-Getta-Letter/
This game from Winning Moves combines the best of game-playing– fun
competition (teaching social skills of winning and losing) while
encouraging learning the letters and words. This is a fast-paced
flipping game (flip the letters that you get) which combines cognitive
and motor skills. A great game for the whole family to play!
5 out of 5 on the FHL scale!