30 years ago, creative learning toys were far from widely recognised. After all, kids only knew a few things: school, play and sleep. Toys were usually given as rewards when a child performed well in school or at Christmas and birthday times. The words "play" and "learn" were two different concepts that could never seem to blend. But not now. Today, our kids are given the opportunity to learn whilst having fun at the same time.
These learning tools slowly surfaced; this change in how children learned was gradual - nobody really seemed to notice. All we know is that kids these days seem to be smarter than how we all were when we were young. They now have different means to learn, explore and apply the information that comes to them. It does not always have to come from books, from the teachers or from the countless homework that sometimes ends up answered by a tutor or a parent. They can now learn how to count, write, learn how to tell the time and name colours with these gadgets.
Our kids' needs are evolving; they need to have variety in order for learning to take place.
We are all very much familiar with doll's houses. It is every little girl's dream to live in one like a princess. Subconsciously, it teaches the concept of tidiness. No princess lives in a messy home, right? Moreover, via roleplay, it enables kids to begin to understand and solve the complex circumstances of day-to-day life. And, as a bonus, it helps develop social skills; it gains you playmates who share the same interests, and just might be your best friend for life.
But of course, it is not to dismiss the negative implications it might bring. True, there are - but only if we do not supervise our children. These toys are still potentially dangerous without proper guidance. What happens if the princess in the doll house refuses to share a room? What if the decisions she makes are not well thought of? We cannot completely rely on these toys to help develop our children's skills.
Kids' brains are like sponges. They take everything in with no filter, with the concept of right and wrong vaguely familiar to them. These toys are great tools to facilitate learning while keeping them interested, so utilize it well with proper guidance. After all, kids who play toy kitchens will never know the hot pots burn in real life. Use it as a supplemental tool to introduce abstract concepts that otherwise their frail minds cannot grasp yet.
There are multitudes of these toys that represent the different facets of everyday life - from doing household chores to developing your personal sense of style. There is no better way to learn but to have fun at the same time - and these creative learning toys just happen to hit the nail right in the head.
These learning tools slowly surfaced; this change in how children learned was gradual - nobody really seemed to notice. All we know is that kids these days seem to be smarter than how we all were when we were young. They now have different means to learn, explore and apply the information that comes to them. It does not always have to come from books, from the teachers or from the countless homework that sometimes ends up answered by a tutor or a parent. They can now learn how to count, write, learn how to tell the time and name colours with these gadgets.
Our kids' needs are evolving; they need to have variety in order for learning to take place.
We are all very much familiar with doll's houses. It is every little girl's dream to live in one like a princess. Subconsciously, it teaches the concept of tidiness. No princess lives in a messy home, right? Moreover, via roleplay, it enables kids to begin to understand and solve the complex circumstances of day-to-day life. And, as a bonus, it helps develop social skills; it gains you playmates who share the same interests, and just might be your best friend for life.
But of course, it is not to dismiss the negative implications it might bring. True, there are - but only if we do not supervise our children. These toys are still potentially dangerous without proper guidance. What happens if the princess in the doll house refuses to share a room? What if the decisions she makes are not well thought of? We cannot completely rely on these toys to help develop our children's skills.
Kids' brains are like sponges. They take everything in with no filter, with the concept of right and wrong vaguely familiar to them. These toys are great tools to facilitate learning while keeping them interested, so utilize it well with proper guidance. After all, kids who play toy kitchens will never know the hot pots burn in real life. Use it as a supplemental tool to introduce abstract concepts that otherwise their frail minds cannot grasp yet.
There are multitudes of these toys that represent the different facets of everyday life - from doing household chores to developing your personal sense of style. There is no better way to learn but to have fun at the same time - and these creative learning toys just happen to hit the nail right in the head.