What Are The Best Toys And Gifts To Make Kids Smart?

A kid's eyes shine bright while opening his present. When he sees that his presents are clothes, his bright eyes suddenly turn dim. Kids are not known for hiding their disappointment. But give them a toy as a gift, and you'll see a display of appreciation that could warm the cockles of any gift-giver. It seems that instinctively, kids prefer something that will engage his mind, not just something that will make him look good. But not all toys or gifts are equal. There are those that engages him for a long time, and those that amuse him for just a few hours, and then forgotten.

Educational gifts get your child's attention for a longer time, as they feed his or her stimulation-hungry brain. More importantly, the impact of the best educational gifts lasts a lifetime. These gifts give him a head start in reading, math and science. They develop his love for learning, the most important attitude to make your kid grow up smart. A great educational gift even triggers what will be your kid's lifelong passion.

Because of the internet, you do not have to waste time and energy going through the mall looking for the best educational gifts. You could shop right in your bedroom in your pajamas!

The following are the top 10 educational toy and other unique educational gift ideas that you can find on the internet:

1. Educational Toys
The best toys and gifts are those that make your child learn while he is having fun. This way, learning happens while he plays. And the more he plays, the more he learns! Make sure that the toy you give is appropriate for his age and gender, and that it is safe. Avoid toys that can only be played with one or two ways. The more activities a kid can do with a toy, the better it is. For younger kids, find one that can be opened, closed, twisted, pulled, dragged, formed, changed, preferably all at the same time. For older kids, the best toys are those that stimulate the imagination.

2. Hobby and Science Toys
Brilliant engineers, inventors and mechanics get their beginnings from tinkering with toys when they were kids. Chemists begin by mixing stuff and biologists play with their ant farms.

Hobby toys catches your kid's interest and this could lead to a lifetime passion. Examples of hobby toys are science projects, electronic kits, Lego Mindstorms and robot projects, chemistry, biology, anatomy and physics sets, stamp, coin, and other collections.

3. Nature Toys and Pets
Nature toys make your child explore the wonder and mystery of the world around him. These can make him eternally curious and thus be a lifelong learner. Examples are microscopes, telescopes, planetariums, and globes.

Pets are also great gifts. An aquarium can teach your kid about aquatic life, and kittens and puppies can be a great way to introduce your kid to love for animals. Seeds will fascinate your kid when he sees them grow into a plant. Who knows, your kid's appreciation of nature may be key to his being able to help save the planet in the future.

4. Personalized Gifts
Studies show that children learn when their activities are personalized. When they are a character on a book they read, they are fascinated and their minds open up. Personalized books, music, and toys also improve your child's self-confidence and positive view of himself. Babies and kids will love hearing their OWN name sung in songs, printed in books, built with trains, or just hanging on the wall.

5. Computer Software and Games
The best educational software and fun and entertaining and helps your kid achieve success in school. They help build math, reading, and critical skills, as well as instill confidence, joy and excitement around learning. With the best educational software, your kid will beg to learn!

The best computer games are those that teaches him strategy and problem-solving, and not merely "fragging" the enemy. Although "fragging" the enemy is said to develop hand-eye coordination, some psychologist are concerned that the violent nature of these games can desensitize your child to hurt in others.

6. Magazine Subscriptions
Aside from books, magazines can be a great way to start kids off on a life-long passion for reading. Since magazines feature what is current and up-to-date, it is always interesting to your kid.

7. Puzzles and Board Games
Puzzles and games exercise the brain. And like any part of the body, the more exercise your kid's brain gets, the more powerful and tougher it becomes when faced with challenges. The best puzzles and board games teach your kid how to plan, decide, think and think through a difficulty. Board games, when played with friends or family, enhance social skills. He learns about taking turns, following rules and cooperating with teammates or opponents.

8. Musical Instruments
Many studies have proven that learning music has a profound effect on your kid's brain. Music is shown to increase IQ, improve school grades, and prepare your kid to learn the advanced concepts of math and science.

Most kids are interested in learning to play guitar, the drums, and the keyboard, although they may also want to take up the violin and brass instruments.

9. Educational Videos
Educational videos have proven beneficial to preschool and above kids. (Videos for kids aged 2 and below are more harmful than helpful) Kids who watch informative and educational shows as preschoolers tend to watch more informative and educational shows when they get older. They use TV effectively as a complement to school learning. On the other hand, kids who watch more entertainment program watch fewer informative programs as they get older. There are educational movies on the internet where kids of the "You Tube" generation not only watch, but also interact for a great learning experience.

10. Books
This list will not be complete without books! Books are and will always be your kid's brain's best friend. Among other benefits, reading builds the language neural connections in your kid's brain and expands his chain of knowledge.


Chacha Tumbokon studied Psychology and Early Childhood Development. Her expertise, experience and interest inspired her to create RaiseSmartKid.com where she shares all kinds of information on raising smart kids based on key findings on brain research and child psychology.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/807386

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Raising Smart Kids

As parents, we sometimes forget what a profound effect we can have on our child's development. Too often we relegate the education of our children to the school system without giving a moment's thought to our role in preparing them for that education or in providing then with much needed support.

We know the importance of spending time with our children and yet we delegate that responsibility to the world of electronics in the form of television programming, video movies, and video games. As they grow older, we are now allowing them to stunt their socializing skills with cell phones, text messages, tweets and Facebook posts.

Of course we have high expectations when it comes to education and socialization. We expect our children to get good grades and to become involved in school activities and to become socialized to the extent that they can stay out of trouble and show politeness and respect towards our friends.

But we must do more if we really expect them to excel. I can remember, as a child, how much time my mother and father spent with me and my sisters. They were both busy people, my father a military man, frequently gone on assignment, my mother a stay-at-home mom with three children. Yet we never felt deprived of their time or of time spent as a family. We ate dinner together whenever possible and it was always an enjoyable time. No one was allowed to sit silently and eat, rather, each was expected to recount the details of their day, after which there was some discussion followed by word games or a time when someone would pose a question for common discussion. Dinner was a time spent in communicating, learning, understanding and enjoyment.

But that was decades ago. Today, a concerned parent must take into account hectic schedules, diverse activities, the demands of a two-income household and a host of other modern problems that our parents didn't have. But the need for parental involvement in the child's development is still there.

Parents must find the time, prior to school age, to help their children prepare for the educational opportunities that will be coming, and during the school years, to provide the encouragement and support that is often desperately needed. They can lead their children to success in the following ways.

Lead by example, demonstrating the acts of learning, reading, and exploring ideas. Let the child see you in action as one who questions, who thinks, who learns and understands.

Lead by explanation, by offering explanations to your child when they don't understand or ask questions about actions you take or decisions you make. Help them understand in a kind and patient way.

Lead by encouragement to help your child feel good about accomplishments. Avoid telling them they are intelligent, smarter than others, or destined for greatness. Instead, praise their work ethic, their determination, their clever solution, or the kind way that they handle conflict.

Lead by engagement, by finding the time to spend with your children, listening to their problems, offering suggestions, telling them stories, and being their parent and loving mentor. Take advantage of those brief moments to smile, to share a joke, to tousle, to pat them on the back and help your children feel good about themselves.

Lead by enrichment, by providing them with an environment that is conducive to learning. Surround them with books, craft equipment and toys that lend themselves to exploration, imagination creativity and curiosity.

Any quality time that you can give them will be greatly appreciated, perhaps not right away, but when as adults, they look back on their childhood and they can say, "You know, we had a pretty good life, growing up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Alexander

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