Toys are an important part of your preschooler’s learning and development, but not all toys are created equal. If you truly want to foster a lifetime love of learning, then you will need to choose toys that spark your child’s imagination and give him or her the opportunity to be creative. Here are five of the best toys to help your child do just that.
#1 – The Moodsters Feelings Flashlight
Small children often have difficulty expressing their emotions. In fact, that’s why they often have what is known as “temper tantrums”. The Moodsters Feelings Flashlight is a great toy for kids because it fosters emotional intelligence and healthy means for getting his or her feelings across. The Feelings Flashlight offers lights and activities designed to help your little one face his fears, and it also comes with a storybook that you can both enjoy at bedtime.
#2 – The Vtech Count and Learn Turtle
Introducing your child to numbers at a young age can help him or her succeed all throughout life. The sooner he or she understands the basics, the better. The Vtech Count and Learn Turtle is an excellent toy for preschoolers in this regard. He or she can push the light-up buttons to hear the turtle say each number aloud. There’s even an additional activity that will help your little ones practice simple mathematics. The best part? It’s perfect for multilingual households because you can switch everything to Spanish and do it all again.
#3 – Educational Insights Microscope
Fostering a love for science early on is wonderful. All children are small scientists; they enjoy taking things apart, putting things together, seeing how things fit together and just experimenting in general. The Educational Insights Microscope is a real microscope, but it’s designed to fit youngsters’ hands perfectly. Your little one can put whatever he or she likes under the magnifier, turn the dial to focus in, and enjoy the wonders.
#4 – The Leapfrog Number Lovin’ Oven
If your little one is interested in cooking and food, then the Leapfrog Number Lovin’ Oven is a fantastic choice. The cute little oven comes with a variety of play food, and as your kids “cook” their favorites, they will learn how long it takes to actually bake food based on the temperature they choose. Plus, they can even divide the foods into servings so everyone else can play along. Pizza, bread, cupcakes, and even eggs make the joy of counting even more fun.
#5 – Smart Anatomy Interactive Human Body
“Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes” is a song that most parents and preschoolers know by heart. If your child enjoys pointing out his or her different body parts, then this toy is a perfect choice. The toy comes with a wireless pen that your child can use to touch any of 16 different body parts to learn the name of that body part, what it does, and how it works.
It’s never too early for your child to start learning, and with today’s research and technology, there are plenty of toys from which to choose. The five listed here are among the most popular with today’s families, and there’s a little something for every child, regardless of his or her interests.