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Choosing the Right Toys this Holiday Can Help Kids Meet
Developmental Milestones
Special to The Truth
This holiday season, keep
in mind the notion that what your children play with can
have a large impact on their interests and brain
development. So when it comes to a walk down the toy aisle,
parents are becoming more discerning, leading smart
toymakers to design toys with a learning component that’s
equally as important as the fun.
VTech, a world leader in
age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic
learning products for children, works with a team of child
development experts to assess toys and provide feedback
before reaching store shelves.
The members of VTech’s
Expert Panel are offering some helpful holiday shopping
hints to parents looking to foster their child’s love of
learning:
• Add it up: “Mathematical
foundations provide the building blocks for future
mathematical success, both in school and beyond,” says Dr.
Francis (Skip) Fennell, mathematics educator.
“Toys that emphasize
numbers, counting and beginning concepts with whole number
operations will develop, support and encourage these crucial
concepts and skills.”
The Count & Chomp Dino,
for example, introduces children to numbers, colors, shapes
and foods.
• Age-appropriate:
“Children's brains are developing at a remarkable speed,”
says Dr. Lise Eliot, an early childhood development expert.
“Their toys should keep up with that growth.”
Keep kids challenged with
educational toys that are age-appropriate, so they are never
bored or frustrated. Consider child-sized, kid-friendly
tablets, such as the InnoTab MAX, that are packed with
educational, stage-based learning content.
• Full STEAM ahead:
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(collectively known as STEM) have gained more visibility in
schools, along with the addition of arts to form STEAM.
However, says Dr. Carla C.
Johnson, science and STEM expert, “It is still crucial to
cultivate skills in these subjects and implement them in
everyday learning. Educational toys can help kids develop
self-confidence in the use and application of these
important disciplines.”
• Build vocabulary:
“Children absorb new information like sponges. Take
advantage of their blossoming interests with interactive
toys that highlight letters of the alphabet, the sounds
letters make and vocabulary,” says Dr. Deborah Sharp Libby,
early childhood language and reading expert. “Above all,
don't forget the importance of reading to and with your
children often!”
• Choose wisely: “Don’t
get carried away with the bells and whistles. You and your
kids will quickly look past those. Instead, look for toys
that actively engage your kids through technology, by deeply
integrating games and learning,” says Dr. Eric Klopfer,
platform learning expert.
Remember, each child grows
at his or her own pace, and there are few hard and fast
deadlines when it comes to a child’s milestones. For a
detailed guideline, sorted by age group and area of
development, along with other free parenting resources,
visit www.vtechkids.com/milestones.
With toys as tools for
learning, you can help children as they reach their
educational and developmental milestones.
Courtesy StatePoint
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