Can Children Learn Through Toys?

Toys are just for fun, right? Though it might seem like it on the surface, in fact it's not just "educational toys" - designed and marketed as such - that offer something for your child's development. Even though educational toys seem to represent a large part of the toy market, in fact many different types of toys aid in your child's development, even if they aren't marketed as "educational." Nearly every toy designed for a toddler has some sort of educational value, whether it's a puzzle, a set of wooden building blocks, or a pedal car. There are many toys out there that provide a source of learning in addition to hours of entertainment.

As a parent, you undoubtedly want your child to have the best start in life. Research consistently shows that a child's first five years are crucial to their development. As parents, we try our best to nurture children, providing them with the same values and experiences we remember from our own childhoods. That is why it is so important for parents to promote children's early developmental stages, not only with "educational toys" but also a varied play experience to enhance their imagination, coordination, and motor skills.

Many toys and games seem to incorporate fairly specific educational goals. Toys that encourage children to reason by solving simple problems or puzzles are one of the common varieties of educational toys. Other toys promote literacy by encouraging children to identify letters and words, colors or animals. Most games and toys take advantage of a child's natural curiosity and playfulness in order to combine learning with engaging activities.

Toys don't just have to promote the development of a child's mind, however, and they don't have to be strictly "educational toys" to aid in a child's development. Outdoor toys are a great way to encourage exercise, the growth of your child's imagination, and improved coordination. Soccer balls, swing sets, and ride-on toys are just a few of the ways you can encourage your child's muscular development and coordination.

The market for educational toys seems to grow more and more each year, as toy companies and child psychologists seek out new ways to optimize the learning of young children, but often it's the classic toys that are the best. Too often, battery-operated toys tell children exactly how to interact with them, leaving little room for imagination. On the other hand, the classics that you probably remember as a child - pedal cars, hula hoops, and wooden blocks, to name a few - inspire children to make up games and story lines, enhancing their imagination.

If you're a parent and want to purchase toys that will have a great educational value for your child or children, stick to the classics. Whether you want your child to learn letters, numbers, colors or animals, or work on their balance and coordination, there is no doubt a toy that will be the perfect fit. Toys can be both amazingly fun and incredibly educational, allowing you to easily take advantage of your child's natural curiosity to reinforce learning habits.

How Video Games Prepare Your Child For the Real World

Video Games have been controversial since graphic technology evolved enough to display human shapes. The first generation of video games, like Pong were so graphically void they portrayed zero violence. Modern counterparts such as Grand Theft Auto are much more advanced graphically and in terms of violent content. And although parents fear the effects of violent video games, violence in video games is similar to violence in movies; the characteristics of a sub-genre do not define the whole spectrum. In fact, the positive potential of video games has just recently been tapped by the development of the Wii-which urges people to be physically active-and other games that promote brain development and have been used to fight memory loss in Alzheimer's patients.

So for all the skeptical parents, here is a list of the positive effects video games can have on your child:

- Improved Hand-Eye Coordination and Reflex.

Independent studies have shown that gamers' reflexes are on average 100 milliseconds faster than non-gamers. Several video games demand precision and extreme mental nimbleness from the player, which through constant exposure leads to superior reflexes.

- Improved Memory

Do you know who Charizard is? Chances are your child does. Your child probably also knows at what level it evolved from a Charmeleon, at what level it will learn the fire-blast move, and what elements it is strong and weak against. Furthermore, your child likely knows this data about hundreds of other Pokemon and actively uses this information while playing the game. And while none of this may seem useful in the real world, the fact that your child is developing neuron connections and the ability to store and manage massive amount of data is.

- Develop Strategic Thinking, Planning, and Research Skills

But managing data is not enough to be successful at playing video games. Thorough analysis and careful application of data is key to a gamer's success. Developers fill their games with puzzles and other mentally engaging elements in order to make the game more rewarding and enjoyable to the gamer; because an easy game isn't usually all that fun. And since challenges are the assets of games, gamers become strategic masters. Take Civilization for example, a game in which you have to manage your people, your limited resources (which includes time), and your armies. Games often require you to make choices and hold you responsible to your decision. Thus planning and research (often conducted online) is another asset that any successful gamer must posses.

- Foster Determination, Discipline and Persistence.

The one thing games don't teach you is to give up. Save points exist before any hard challenge giving the user the opportunity (and quite frankly encouraging them) to go back and try again. This teaches discipline and determination, as any obstacle is conquerable with enough training and practice. Several boss fights, races and game matches are played several times until finally the player is able to reach his goal through strategic thinking and practice.

- Adapt to New technologies and Environments

Game consoles are constantly getting more technologically advanced, and games are getting proportionally harder and more complex. This forces kids to become accustomed to an environment in which technology is constantly changing, and urges them to develop an adaptive personality to keep up with all the changes and the increasing difficulty of game play.

But Beware...

Like anything in life, there is the good and the bad. There are several video games that promote violence, and even if they don't explicitly promote it, they make it seem like a viable way of solving your problems.

Also equally pernicious are games that urge the player to constantly play in order to get rewards. Most of these games are online, and they are designed to be addictive (and they are extremely addictive). World of Warcraft and Maple Story are well known for this tactic.

There are however some kid friendly online games out there which allow your child to play online kids games in a safe environment.

There are several educational video games out there for your child to benefit from. The key, as with everything else in life, is to make an informed decision.