What do you think of all those educational toys?

Question

Do you think that they are just a way of making money by making parents insecure? Or do you think they really help? Or, do you prefer spending a lot of time with your kids outside and showing them things?
I personaly can see the point of those toys and would buy my kids some of them, but I also think it is important to spend active quality time with kids. What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree with you. I have some educational toys for my daughter, but we also go out every day to mix with other children and spend time together all the time.
I think that it is unfair though, that the way they are marketed preys upon our fears that we would be branded bad parents if we don't by this and that for our children.

Answer 2

I'm against them. I think that toys that aren't trying to be educational are more educational. Blocks, simple dolls, simple toy cars, toy kitchen or food, etc, are actually building very important parts of a child's brain. If you get into the academic-type learning too early, you might miss some of that. If a child expresses an interest in something like the alphabet, a parent teaching the child himself can appropriately gauge how much is enough but the toys don't know that and just repeat the same stuff over and over. Most of the educational toys are battery-operated and if kids always get accustomed to a toy "doing" something then the other stuff seems boring, but it's the basic toys (and adult interaction) that build their brains. A lot of people seem to like them because their children have learned so much from them, but first of all they can learn all that from their parents. My daughter has not owned one educational toy but knows colors, shapes, numbers, and the alphabet because she felt like learning them so we taught them to her when she expressed interest. Also the educational toys develop a kind of learning that parents can actually see, but the way the brain develops when kids play with more basic toys is not as visible but much more important than raw facts like numbers or the alphabet.

Answer 3

I think they are mostly a waste of time and money. Why is it so important that little johnny learns the color red from a toy 3 months before Little Brian does? Even that's a big maybe. Anything a child plays with can be educational is some way but it does not have to cost $50.

Answer 4

As an adult who was raised on almost nothing but educational toys, coupled with parental attention, I can tell you they work. When given a non-educational toy I would become bored of it in 10 minutes because it did not give me as much pleasure as the more challenging puzzles and creative games. To this day, I love brain teasers, various puzzles, and actually use crosswords and sudoku as a way to unwind so I can get to sleep. More practically, I can generally think up 10 different ways to solve any problem I am thrown in life or professionally in about 5 minutes.

Answer 5

I see nothing wrong in toys that help your kids' development
In my own opinion its proven they do work. But they should never be a substitue for quality time, ever.

I would like to buy some of those toys myself.
Am having some trouble with memory and math lately.
Like that new nintendo thing with a smalll touchscreen?
And this software for the nntendo that helps you train your math and memory skill?
If I had the money I would defnitely give it a try.

Any experiences with it in here?

Answer 6

I think the educational toys are great but the time spent with your child is even better really i think what makes those toys work is that the parent is actually taking the time to play and teach the child so that's why they work . ...

Answer 7

Life has so many interesting things for children to learn about and explore in everyday objects and nature, experiences and reactions. Children view 'learning' in different ways to adults. for example we see nuisance dandelions they see flowers that you can blow and scatter wishes, we hear music thats not how we like it they hear music and think its a new tune to dance to. A child's opinion is always more precious and unique than that of a calculated adult. Children find ways to learn with whatever they are presented with be that homemade toys, leaves, or educational toys. I agree with you and others who say the most important thing is that we share experiences with our children and aid learning through whatever activities we have.

Answer 8

They increase the amount of money parents are forced to spend on toys. Also makes them compete with their friends on whose kids do things first in life. Quite sad. We didn't have that many in our day and there's nothing wrong with us.

Answer 9

i wouldnt mind buying maybe one or two but it is the job of the parent to teach them not let it be to a toy..what fun is that if you cant interact and take pride in the fact that you are the teacher not some $40 toy

Answer 10

i agree toys which help with colours and counting ect are good for them, but so is feeding ducks ,kicking a ball round a park ,rolling about the floor with them .i know my son loves running about bonkers with me much more than me playing with any toy , they all want attention from us.when thats not possible sure give them toys and if they learn something from them all the better ,but i wouldnt use as a substitute for crazy time!!