Are You Listening?

Research has discovered that “Attention Deficit Disorder” (ADD) affects approximately 20% of Americans and is generally discovered in 8 – 10 year old children. College instructors report their frustration with college students who exhibit limited concentration, usually about 15 minutes due to what is being called “Commercial Gap Syndrome”, a modern term for Attention Deficit Disorder, derived from extensive TV time where commercials interupt programing every 10 - 15 minutes.

Knowing this information, one of the first things that a parent can do is to purposely spend more time "playing" and interacting with their children and less time sitting in front of a television. Researchers say that educational toys are a great tool for parents and caregivers to use during a child's daily play time rather than television. There are numerous resources that parents can use which promote educational play as well as various developmental activities.

As parents devote their time in the education and development of their children by introducing educational toys into their daily activities and play time, they and their children will reap the benefits for years to come. Parents must remember that their child's educational and developmental future lies in their hand. So why not make an investment as early as possible in your child's life helping them to unleash their potential to become as successful as they can possible be.

Times are Changing for the Good

It has been said, “Children are a heritage”. Heritage is defined as; something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor. (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary) By definition it is easy to understand why there are so many struggling children in our educational system today. However, there is good news in all of this. There is a new generation of women who are choosing to be homemakers. Many are choosing to quit their jobs, even influential and high salary jobs, to stay at home and raised their children. Census bureau statistics show that there has been a 15 percent increase in the number of stay-at-home moms in the last 10 years.

There is also an upward trend among parents of introducing educational toys into their children daily play time that are specifically designed to foster cognitive and social skills as well as provide a foundation for sound physical and mental health. Although virtually any toy that a child engages will aid in their developmental training, educational toys by design, challenge critical thinking, expand imagination, enhance motor skills and promote learning while having fun. 

The benefits of educational play during a child’s early years can provide the stimulation and experiences that create a foundation of learning and growing. As more parents grasp the idea of educational play as well as increased personal interaction with their children, we will all enjoy the benefits. It is much wiser and cost effective to invest into a child’s life today than to address the problems that could have possibly been avoided later in life.  

Taking Care of Business

U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that the number of stay-at-home moms is increasing each year. However, stay-at-home moms aren’t the only ones concerned. According to a 2002 report by the U.S. Census Bureau, "stay-at-home" dads numbered 189,000. Although this number does not compare to the approximate 11 million "stay-at-home moms" the trend of one parent staying at home and raising their children is on the increase. Many parents like yourself are genuinely concerned and are taking control of their children’s future.

Because there is nothing that can replace the bond between parent and child, parents need to know that a child’s brain development is most affected from infancy – 6 years of age. It is also the ages in which parents will learn and understand their child’s individual abilities and capacity for learning. By introducing educational toys into daily play time, not only will parents be making crucial investments of quality bonding time with their children, they will also be preparing their children for what lies ahead.

Research shows that educational toys are a great resourse for the development of a child's educational and developmental success. Advances of any society depends upon a parent's desire and ability to foster the health and well-being of their children, the next generation. In other words, parents have a responsibility to their children to prepare them for what lies ahead. So spend much time with your children, introduce educational toys during interactive play and you may have the Nobel Prize winner.

Food for Thought

One of the greatest mishaps that have happened in the United States especially among the “boomer” generation is the thought that more money makes for good family life. Their certainly is nothing wrong with parents pursuing a better life for themselves and their children, but money will never take the place of a parent devoting daily time interacting with their children. It is never too late to shut down the excessive television viewing or turn off the excessive video gaming and spend time interacting one on one with your children. One great way to build in loving relationship building is for parents and or caregivers to introduce educational toys into their child's play time and also not allow their child excessive television time.

According to an October 1 2007, CBS News report, researchers found that children who watched more than two hours of television per day from age 2 1/2 until age 5 1/2 were more likely to develop sleep attention, have fewer social skills and develop aggressive behavior problems than those who watched less. The report also reveals that parents need to monitor their children's television use, especially during the early childhood years. There are ways that parents can help their children become successful adults, but they must start from the time their children are born.

Educational toys act like food for the brain. Nerve cells called neurons connect to each other to make circuits that enable the brain to think, do, and experience more things. The more that a child's five senses are stimulated the more these connections in the brain are established. With the exception of tasting and smelling, educational toy are designed to provide multi-sensory stimulation through hearing, seeing and touching. So grab the educational toys and starting feed your child's brain.

The Wonderful World of the Brain

Brainstorming is defined as; a technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc.

Studies indicate that the brain region that helps children sense and interpret the world around them is dramatically affected by early childhood experiences. Most researchers agree that the early years of a child’s development are the most critical and it is during these early years that educational and developmental skills prepare children for their future.

The truth be known, any toy that a child engages during playtime as well as every experience they have does affect and develop the brain. However, educational toys because of there interactive nature, when introduced into a child’s playtime contribute to their cognitive skills.

Even babies, although they do not play very much, still need to be introduced to the world around them because their gross motor skills begin to develop as well as their senses. But toddlers are in an entirely different world. Toddlers begin to quickly learn about the world around them. Their curiosity causes their imaginations to grow, eye hand coordination develops, verbal skills increase, logic helps them with problem solving, they learn to socialize with others and accomplish individual achievement. So hand out the educational toys and let your child's brain grow!

Educational Toys do Have a Lasting Effect

From the time a child is born, parents enthusiastically wait for the day that they witness the "Developmental Milestones" of their child. The joy that parents experience the first time that their child rolls over, crawls and then begins to walk will most likely be shared with everyone they know. These milestones are all signs of a child's physical development as well as the maturation of their brain. 

A CBS News Report entitled "Baby Toys Have Lasting Effects" reveals that a Stanford University School of Medicine researchers study indicate, "the brain regions that help children sense and interpret the world are dramatically affected by early childhood experiences, and educational toys that stimulate young minds and encourage them to explore the world in a new way may help build their brain for future tasks".

With that said, we now see that educational toys can play a major role in the development of fine motor skills for children from infancy to 6 years of age. The various shapes, colors and design configurations stimulate and challenge eye-hand coordination, visual tracking, shape and color recognition, depth perception as well as language development, all while having fun.

How the Years go by

Parents using daycare facilities for there children while they work is certainly an asset in many cases. In years gone by, my wife and I on many occasions would help a single mom by having a child stay with us, some times over a weekend. Today these children have children of their own and interestingly enough after 30 years we occasionally receive comments of the impact my wife and I have had in their lives. But even relationships like these can never take the place of the unique bond between parent and child. One of the things that we did that seemed to have a lasting effect was to provide each child with the various educational toys that our children used during some of their playtime.


The benefits of introducing educational toys into a child's the playtime during their early developmental years can provide the stimulation and experiences that create a foundation of learning and growing. As more parents grasp the idea of educational play as well as increased personal interaction with their children, we will all enjoy the benefits. It is much wiser and cost effective to invest into a child’s life today than to address the problems that could have possibly been avoided later in life.  

Brainstorming

Research reveals that a child’s brain development is most affected from infancy – 6 years of age. It is also the ages in which parents will learn and understand their child’s individual abilities and capacity for learning. To be more specific, a Stanford School of Medicine researcher reported that the brain regions that help children sense and interpret the world are dramatically affected by early childhood experiences and concluded that educational toys help to provide various experiences that stimulate young minds. 


By introducing educational toys to your child during this crucial period gives your child's brain a "head start". Nerve cells called neurons connect to each other to make circuits that enable the brain to think, do and experience more things. The more that a child’s five senses are stimulated the more these connections in the brain are established. With the exception of tasting and smelling, educational toys are designed to provide multisensory stimulation through hearing, seeing and touching. So let's get started with interactive educational play and watch how educational toys will help your child begin to "brainstorm" at an early age.

Getting a Head Start

With all the pressures that school districts place on teachers who then try to motivate students to do better it seems the more stress that students tend to have. Recently I had the privilege of address high school students with their thoughts concerning the High School experience. Unfortunately the majority said that it is a stressful environment where as middle school things seemed less stressful and they were able to produce higher academic scores.

Interestingly enough when addressing childhood activities the majority of students have had very little interaction with adults on an educational level. Most spend time in front of a television watching kids programs (not that they are bad) or play video games (not that they are bad). The thing that parents should try to grasp is that from infancy to six years of age a child's brain is like a sponge taking in information which will actually prepare them for their future. This is the age group where educational toys should be introduced into a child's daily play, not to play by themselves but to have adult interaction.

Adult interaction provides a means to challenge a child to explore the world around them as adults provide comments and questions that motivate a child's thinking process. Educational toys with adult interaction can provide a venue for learning while having fun. So parents, grandparents and caregivers start your children as early as possible with continuous interactive play experiences and they will be getting a head start with their future. 

Flash in the Pan

The saying, "Flash in the pan" is believed to have originated during the California Gold Rush of the mid 19th century. As prospectors panned for gold they became excited when they saw something flashing in the pan. However, their hope was soon turned to disappointment when it proved not to be gold but only a "flash in the pan." The phrase "Flash in the pan" is defined as "something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning."

What is it that you look for when searching for products that you desire to purchase. Something of good quality or flash. Interestingly enough market researchers still draw a blank as they continue to develop advertising  strategies for the consumer to purchase various products. There is a basic pattern that consumers tend to follow in the process of making a decision to purchase...

• Problem recognition: The consumer perceives that he has a want or need
• Information search: The consumer seeks information to help determine how this want or need might be met
• Alternative evaluation: Reasoning made by the consumer as to whether they will or will not purchase a particular product
• Purchase decision: The stage of the consumers buying process when the purchase decision is actually made
• Post-purchase behavior: The activities and experiences that follow a purchase

Although consumers may follow this pattern many variables still come into play. For instance, auto dealers say that the majority of people that are serious about making a purchase spend about 10 percent of their time considering all the features and about 90 percent of their time on appearance, especially the color. However, when the same individual make a decision on purchasing an appliance almost a complete opposite may apply. Why? individual interests, understanding and attitudes become a major factor.

The consumer must be interested in the product and that the product is relevant and able to meet their need. Once interest is in a products is established, the consumer must be able to understand why and how the product meets their need. Finally, the consumer must be persuaded that the product will meet or exceed their need which is to have a positive attitude towards the product. 

So when searching for the right educational toys to purchase, quality will always supersede flash. Consumers, especially parents and caregivers should avoid spending a lot of time on considering the flashy features of an educational toy and spend more time in researching the quality and benefits that will meet the needs of their child.  A little research will go a long way and will save consumers money in the long run. Remember, "something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning" is certainly not what any parent or caregiver would want for their child. 

Don't Stop Playing

How much time do you purposefully spend playing with your six month to six year old child? Believe it or not over the last two decades child's play has decreased 50%. However, years of research has shown that during early childhood stages of growth, children develop skills that they can only get through play. Early childhood play is also crucial to the phys­i­cal, intel­lec­tual, and social-emotional devel­op­ment at all ages, especially from six months to six years of age. 

The decline of early childhood play can be linked to the pressures that have been place on educators and parents mainly through policy makers that early academics will lead to a greater success in life. Although some studies conclude that some children may benefit from a greater diet of academics than play, it is not true in most cases. Some of the problems that research has discovered in the study of academia vs play is that the lack of self-initiated forms of play, imaginative play, the development of social skills and loving interactive play have actually resulted in a higher level anx­i­ety and neg­a­tive atti­tudes in chil­dren. Research also reveals that children who have had a large portion of play time removed from their daily schedule and have had it replaced with academic studies, in most incidences, show little to no advan­tages in read­ing and math achieve­ment over children who have a fair amount of daily play time.

Another thing to consider, play is motivated by pleasure not pressure and it cannot be legislated because it is a natural response that opens the door to early childhood development. This is where educational toys play a major role in both academic and play time for children. Educational toys provide a venue for children to expand their imagination, enhance their motor shills, increase their curiosity, stimulate their creativity, and promote learning while having fun. They also promote interaction between adults and children. Research shows that learning is enhanced when adults participate in daily play with children. 

As children play, their young minds are stimulated which encourages them to interact and explore the world around them. Their play is actually preparing them for future tasks and adulthood. Another benefit of introducing educational toys into a child's daily play time during their early years is that they can provide the stimulation and experiences that create a foundation of learning and growing.

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.
--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Are Your Child's Toys Safe?

Educational toys are one of the best ways to facilitate the educational and developmental growth of a child as well as promote strong relationship building between parent and child. However, when choosing a toy(s) for a child, there are three things that consumers should keep in mind before purchasing any toy. Is the toy(s) safe, affordable and age (developmental) appropriate. 

In today's toy manufacturing market, government regulations and improved safety standards have made most toys safe when used in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. However, although regulations and standards for toy manufacturing has improved over the years, parents and caregivers need to take note that this does not mean that a toy is safe. To determine a toy safety considerations should be made as to how much uses or abuse the toy may experience as well as how the toy is to be used for its optimum enjoyment. Also keep in mind that toy safety goes beyond its basic construction. For instance, some toys may pose an emotional or social risk which also renders them unsafe, such as violence and or negative racial, ethnic, cultural or gender overtones. The toys that parents and caregivers permit their children to play with good or bad will play a part in the development of their child's value system.    

Next, children do not need expensive toys although the expense may reflect the effectiveness as well as its appealing properties to keep a child engaged over a period of time. There is no benefit for child or parent whether a toy is expensive or inexpensive if the child loses interest in a short period of time, which brings us to the toy being age appropriate.

Age appropriate toys are toys that will challenge a child without frustrating him/her or cause the child to lose interest because he/she has developed beyond the toys capability to challenge their thinking and or motor skills. They are toys that not only cause children to use their current skills, but also aid in developing additional skills. An understanding of which toys are appropriate for which age is useful when purchasing toy, so if parents and caregivers are not quite sure as to which toys are safe, affordable and age (developmental) appropriate, they can consult a pediatrician or an educator the specializes in early childhood education and development.

There is great power released for brain development through positive daily interaction with your child. Educational toys can provide children with vigorous physical activities as well as social and emotional development as parents and caregivers provide quality experiences through interaction. Creating opportunities that will challenge their imaginations and cause their creative juices to flow with toys that are safe, affordable and age appropriate will open the door for your child's future success. 


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The Technological Explosion

With the release of so many toys and videos in today's consumer market that claim to have educational and developmental qualities for children, consumers should do some research before accepting toy manufacturers claims. A little research can reveal a lot about a products potential educational and developmental benefits as well as whether it is age appropriate for a child.

Do not be surprised that even some of the television programs that your children watch as well as the numerous DVD's and video games, known as "screen media," are not educational at all but tend to only mesmerize or what is said in more modern terms, cause children to "zone out" rather than educate them. For some time now we have been experiencing great technological advances. Interestingly enough, as electronic technology advances the age of children using this technology has dropped considerably. Research reveals that the use of consumer electronics among children reaches all the way down to infancy. This is not a bad thing per se, but developmental science suggests that children from infancy to two years of age are most vulnerable to negative effects such as aggressive behavior, various fears or phobias as well as sleep disturbances due to exposure to various screen media.

Parents should keep in mind that critical brain connections are produced in children from zero to six years of age. During this age parents and caregivers should provide the necessary interaction through play to optimize the brains development. Because screen media does not provide this, researchers state that the risks of exposing children from infancy to two, to screen media far outweigh the benefits and so recommend parents and caregivers against its use. For children from age two to six, the use of screen media can be used but should be limited to one to two hours a day. However, parents and caregivers should keep a close watch for any negative behavioral reactions that their child may begin to develop.

The benefits of educational play during a child’s early years can provide the stimulation and experiences that create a foundation of learning and growing. As more parents grasp the idea of educational play as well as increased personal interaction with their children, we will all enjoy the benefits. It is much wiser and cost effective to invest into a child’s life today than to address the problems that could have possibly been avoided later in life

Let's Make Pretend

Pretend play is a very important of healthy childhood development. It is known to researchers as "Sociodramatic Play" or "Imaginative Play". It is a type of free play in which children engage in creative and imaginative social interactions. Pretend play has been shown to effectively promote the development of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills in children especially with autistic children.

Parents, teachers and or caregivers should create opportunities for children which allow their imagination to be released. It is the place where children carry out action plans, take on roles, and transform objects as they express their ideas and feelings about the world around them. Pretend play challenges children to see new solutions to life problems. Researcher believe children that do not play and use their imagination regularly when they are young may grow into anxious, socially maladjusted adults.

Educational toys provide support in the development of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills in children. They also provide a bridge for a child's interaction with parents or caregiver. According to an article by the "American Academy of Pediatrics" when adults participate in the play of children, learning is enhanced. Parents are able to observe the skills their child currently has and also help expand those skills.

When choosing educational toys that promote pretend play look for toys that reflect real life situations, such as a kitchen set, rocket ships, various vehicles, action figures, playhouses, various rockers, etc. Also be sure to check that the toy is safe for your child and that it is the right size as well as quality and durability. Be sure that they can stand up to heavy use because you don't want to restrict play in order to preserve a fragile toy. Then think about how it fits in his/her general interests. Most important, make pretend play an event for you and your child.

Look, Touch and Listen

From the labor and delivery room you may hear the weak cries of a newborn. Cries that excite and light up the world of the new parent(s). From this moment on your child begins his/her journey into the world of learning and growing. Although all of your child's senses hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling and touching stimulate their learning and developmental growth, seeing, touching and listening are three senses that manufacturers of educational toys focus upon.

Although research has determined that newborns have limited focus, they do have the ability to see colors, though black and white seems to be the most predominate. With this in mind, it is no surprise that educational toy manufacturers design toys with bright colors.

Due to the nerve ending under the skin, touch is one of the first sense that a baby develops. As your baby grows, touch becomes an important sense that furthers their development. Touch stimulates neuromuscular development, nerve cell insulation, movement coordination and perception such as soft or rough. Educational toys that are designed to stimulate a babies sense of touch will have various textures for your baby to touch and explore.

Although at birth a baby cannot define sounds, his/her hearing is nonetheless fairly developed at birth. In fact a babies sense of hearing is more keen than an adults. Educational toys that play music, have soft tones or chimes play an important role in the hearing development of a child. A child responds quickly, once they hear musical notes or melodies by trying to reach in the direction of the sounds. Musical toys are also a great way to help in the development of your child.

In short, when searching for educational toys for your baby, look for these features; bright colors to see, various textures to touch and an array of sounds to hear. All of these are a great way to start your baby on the path to success.

Watch Them Grow

It is very fascinating to watch children grow. Recently I was observing a 9 month old child scooting across the flood towards his play area where various toys were spread out for him to play with. Among the toys were a number of educational toys arrayed with wires, beads and other gadgets of various shapes, sizes and colors. For about an hour I watched him move from toy to toy engaging in the different activities that each toy provided and could tell by his movements, facial expressions and baby talk that his brain was being stimulated through playing.

Through years of research educational toys have been proven to aid in childhood development from infant to preschooler simply through play. There is a variety of educational toys for children in this age that are specifically designed and developed to stimulate and enhance your child's development through play. So one of the best ways to give your child's brain a head start when it come to healthy growth and development is by surrounding them with a variety of educational toys during their play time.

As research has discovered, start your child learning through play as an infant because the more stimulation your child has, the more connections are developed in their brain. The more connections that are developed in the brain, the better the brain develops. The better the brain develops, the smarter the child becomes.

The Incredible Imagination

As a child grows so does he or her imagination. The imagination give us the ability to form mental images of thing and events whether reality or fiction. The imagination is also responsible for fantasy, inventiveness and creativity. It stimulates thinking by helping us develop a variety of possibilities and or scenarios to accomplish a given task, but also the imagination can be used to manipulate events to produce extravagant and unrestrained thought. Basically the imagination helps us understand, relate to and make sense of the world around us.

Children generally begin to use their imagination around 18 to 24 months. This is when their playtime enters into another growth milestone. Not only is imaginative or pretend play more prevalent but they begin to recognize pretending in others. Research reveals that some of the positive attributes of a child engaging in imaginative play are…

• Their speech tends to develop at a faster pace…
• Their vocabulary is richer and more varied…
• They have an increased ability to entertain themselves…
• They tend to understand their emotions and the emotions of others at an earlier age…
• They are able to interact with their peers easier…
• They tend to be more successful in school…
• They become adults that are problem solvers, innovators and creative thinkers…

By introducing educational toys that promote imaginative play into a child’s playtime parents / caregivers are actually helping a child gain success at an early age. Children will not only share stories of fantasy, but will play act in the fashion that they interpret the world around them. Whether using a toy stove and acting like mom cooking dinner or using plastic tools and act like dad fixing the plumbing, imaginative play opens a child’s mind to the enormous realm of the “Imagine Nation”.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” (Albert Einstein)

Educational Toys: What to Look For

Toys are the tools of play for young children. The types of toys and how they are used play an important role in your child’s development. Toys can actually provide avenues for parents, caregivers and children to interact. This of course is the best way for parents and caregivers to help their children learn and grow. When parents and caregivers participate in their child’s play, learning is accelerated because it opens doors that independent play may not.

So when looking for educational toys that will promote your child’s educational and developmental skills parents / caregivers should…

• Avoid toys that promote violence…
• Avoid toys that promote negative racial, ethnical or cultural values…
• Avoid toys that discourage children from using their imagination…
• Avoid toys with parts that can be swallowed…
• Avoid toys with sharp edges…
• Avoid toys that make loud or shrill sounds…
• Choose toys that foster interaction…
• Choose toys that are age appropriate and safe…
• Choose toys that will help develop physical, social, emotional, language, creative and cognitive skills...
• Choose toys that are not beneath or too advanced for your child…

The entire purpose of providing avenues for the educational and developmental growth for your child should not only be to prepare your child for the future, but for parents / caregivers to enjoy their child now.

Purchasing Educational Toys

Most consumers can become overwhelmed when manufacturers list all of the features and benefits that their products have. For instance, when shopping for an automobile some of the features may be antilock braking system, three point automatic restraint system and power group. When shopping for shampoo the average consumer is not concerned with the features but the benefits, makes your hair silky, shiny and manageable. Either way there is a common denominator that the average consumer is motivated by when making a decision to purchase a product, their emotions.

One of the best ways to approach this is to make a list of each feature listed with the product. Then take one feature at a time and write next to it what benefits can be expected as well as what advantages the feature provides. Ultimately you are looking for what you gain from a specific feature, how that feature benefits an individual and what the benefits truly mean in the end results. This little system may prevent parents/caregivers from walking into a store or going on the internet to purchase educational toys that looks nice, may have many gadgets, may make many claims, but not have the intended benefits that you are looking for.

There is an important note for parents and caregivers to remember. When adults play an active role by participating in their child’s learning, not only will their child’s learning abilities be enhanced, but parents/caregivers will be able to observe the child’s progress and help them to expand their skills which will help prepare them for the future.

Do Educational Toys Really Educate? (Part II)

As parents and caregivers make their annual pilgrimage from toy store to toy store this holiday season looking for that one toy that according to their child, they must have, it is important for them to know that there is no greater gift for their child apart from themselves. The most successful toy is the one that engages parent – caregiver and child.

When considering which toy(s) to purchase, decide what you hope that toy will accomplish. Is it for entertainment only or is it to help stimulate your child’s educational development. If it is for educating, then there are basically two styles that parents/caregivers may want to take into consideration, curriculum base or cognitive base learning.

Curriculum base toys are directed towards a set of subjects, such as math, science, etc. with the objective of increasing knowledge in a specific area by presenting facts and understanding concepts. Cognitive base learning is associated with a broader variety of mental processing, such as, analyzing various sounds, images and information, comprehending information, recalling information from memory, organizing ideas and the development of various physical skills.

The objective behind early childhood education and development through the use of educational toys especially at this early age is for parents/caregivers to provide their child with a wide variety of experiences through play. In doing so the potential for them to learn and grow in areas of logic and analytic thinking as well as the development of physical skills are much more challenged and enhanced.

But no matter how good a toy may claim to be, keep in mind these two very important tips when purchasing toys this holiday season. The more informed a parent/caregiver is the more success they will have with their purchases and whatever toy you purchase, your child will benefit most with your loving, caring personal interaction with them