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