| Back to School and it's Time to Think About New | | | | off the shelf. As an after thought - it is also a |
| Toys for Preschool and Kindergarten Children. | | | | good idea to rotate toys so children always feel |
| Excitement is in the air - its Back to School time | | | | there is something new to play with. |
| and parents and educators will once again begin | | | | As you select educational preschool and |
| searching for new quality educational learning toys | | | | kindergarten toys that are safe, easy to clean |
| for their toddlers and preschoolers. | | | | and age-appropriate remember that all children |
| Whether you are a parent or an educator | | | | have different methods of learning. Children do |
| selecting new toys for your preschool and | | | | not need to be sitting at a desk to learn. You will |
| kindergarten age children is something to take | | | | need a variety of toys in a wide selection of |
| seriously. There are three important things I | | | | shapes and colors to keep all your children from |
| believe we need to consider when selecting | | | | getting bored. If you notice a child getting bored |
| toddler and preschool toys. | | | | with a certain toy it might be a good time to |
| In this article I will briefly define just what makes | | | | consider pulling out a more advanced toy to see if |
| a toy an "educational toy", suggest three things to | | | | he is ready for it. |
| consider in the selection of such toys and offer | | | | Several types of toys that are very popular with |
| three toy categories that I believe are of utmost | | | | young children and create stimulation include |
| importance as a choice for preschool toys. | | | | cardboard building blocks, 3d wood puzzles and |
| To the point, an educational toy is any toy that | | | | wooden play sets. Not only are these toys safe |
| will "teach a child something good." Allowing | | | | and easy to clean they are reliable, and children of |
| children to play creatively, alone or in a group | | | | several age groups can play alone or together to |
| setting, with a variety of carefully selected toys | | | | develop eye-hand coordination, social skills and |
| will greatly benefit your child. Children's "work" is | | | | muscle strength. |
| play and selecting toys that spur their creativity | | | | ImagiBRICKS is the trade name of some of the |
| and imagination will make a variety of toys | | | | toys that I personally believe in and sell. These |
| "educational." | | | | giant "brick" block toys that have a drool-proof |
| Imaginative children do not need fancy or | | | | coating. These brick blocks have smooth, tight |
| necessarily expensive toys but their toys do need | | | | fitting seams and are easy to clean. A safe, |
| to be safe. Safely is one of the most common | | | | quality cardboard set of blocks such as these will |
| things overlooked when selecting new toys for | | | | hold up well for many years of tough play. They |
| young children. Remember to read the labels and | | | | also happen to be crush-proof making them a |
| be aware of the type of material the toy is made | | | | block I would recommend for preschools whose |
| of. If you are shopping online make sure you are | | | | toys get a lot of use and misuse. |
| provided information about the durability of the | | | | Wooden play sets such as A Day at the Zoo, |
| material, especially when selecting wood products. | | | | African Safari and Arctic Circle, sold at All I Can |
| The best type of wood for wooden puzzles and | | | | Imagine - offer quality built toys for children 3up |
| play sets comes from the Rubberwood tree. Its | | | | and are geared for creative imaginative play that |
| wood is very hard, non-splintering and very | | | | will encourage your children to play together and |
| durable. Toys made from this wood are not going | | | | increase their social skills. Play sets make good |
| to break or splinter when dropped or chewed. If | | | | toys for preschools because there are lots of |
| the toy puzzle is painted make sure the | | | | pieces allowing several children to play together. |
| manufacture tells you that child safe paint was | | | | As they "work" together to create their own |
| used. It is also a good idea to make sure the | | | | "drama" they will learn to work together and |
| individual puzzle pieces have smoothly sanded | | | | problem solve while, at the same time, you as a |
| edges so that there are no rough edges to hurt | | | | teacher or parent will have opportunities to guide |
| your child. | | | | their play to correlate with a new lesson. |
| Making sure a toy does or does not (depending | | | | My third and final toy category suggestion is the |
| on your child's age requirement) have small pieces | | | | ever-popular 3d wooden puzzles. Providing a |
| that can be easily swallowed is another important | | | | variety of puzzles, a child's favorite toy, will meet |
| safety issue you must consider. Some pieces that | | | | their need for a variety of shapes and colors. |
| come with a particular toy or play set might need | | | | When playing with puzzles children - |
| to be pulled out and put away until your child is a | | | | - acquire eye-hand coordination |
| little older. | | | | - expand fine motor skills |
| Besides safety it is imperative we remember to | | | | - reinforce paying attention to detail |
| think about sanitation. This is especially important | | | | - foster your child's self-esteem |
| for preschool and kindergarten classrooms | | | | 3d puzzles are intricately interlocked and are one |
| because many different children will be handling | | | | of the best toys I can think of for helping a child |
| the toys. Consider whether or not the toy can be | | | | learn to stick to a task until it is finished. Even as |
| cleaned and sanitized without destroying the toy. | | | | adults we find it difficult to get up from a puzzle. |
| If there are many nooks and crannies that can't | | | | When a child finishes his puzzle they will often tear |
| be gotten at you may want to select another | | | | it apart and begin all over. Because there are only |
| toy that has straighter edges. | | | | three - ten or so pieces in a 3d puzzle it is a wise |
| Wood is a popular material for lots of children's | | | | idea to have several puzzles from a variety of |
| toys such as puzzles, trucks, and play sets. Again, | | | | categories so that your child will not become |
| a well-made wood toy, painted with child safe | | | | bored. |
| paint, can easily be cleaned without any harm to | | | | Presenting puzzles to your toddlers is an |
| the wood. Another thing I especially like about | | | | interesting teaching method to use when beginning |
| wood toys is that they have a "feel - good" | | | | a new lesson series; such as when introducing |
| texture everyone loves. Any time I pick up a | | | | children to underwater life it is a good idea to |
| wooden toy I remember the joys of my youth. | | | | have many fish and sea life puzzles handy. Even |
| This is a good feeling to pass on to the next | | | | quality 3d wood puzzles are affordable so it will be |
| generation. | | | | easy for all schools or parents to have a plentiful |
| The third and last attribute of a day care toy that | | | | supply on hand. |
| I'd like to present is that the children's ages be | | | | Providing many colorful visual "displays" in your |
| taken into consideration. No one wants his or her | | | | preschool, kindergarten and at home will make |
| children to get injured from a toy that is too | | | | learning fun and aide in your children's learning |
| advanced for their age or developmental stage. I | | | | development. Lesson planning will be enhanced for |
| think it is better to stay on the safe side and give | | | | teachers and parents with the addition of several |
| a toy that is at or below his age to your child. | | | | new toys every month or so. Back to School - |
| In a preschool and kindergarten setting you will | | | | the doors are open to another exciting year of |
| need toys of varying age groups so as younger | | | | learning fun. And, remember to think of safety, |
| children develop you will already have more | | | | sanitation and age appropriateness. |
| advanced toys in your inventory that you can pull | | | | |