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.


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Kids' Learning Game - Educating Your Child Through Fun Games and Toys

When trying to please their kids, most parents would give toys or games as presents. The most common of these toys include stuffed animals, cute dolls for girls, toy cars, and balls for boys. But while these toys can make children happy, child experts are encouraging all parents to purchase toys that would not only pique their child's interest but would also hone his skills. These playthings come in different forms and varieties, and they are shelved under the "kids' learning games" or "educational" category.

The obvious importance of educational games and playthings is their role in a child's development. During the early stages of a child's life, there are certain developmental milestones or skills that he must acquire for him to grow into a mature and fully developed adult. Some of these skills include crawling, speaking, walking, and logical thinking. To make sure that a child perfects them, he must be given two things: first, all the tools he needs; and second, enough opportunities to use these tools for his development.

Since a child does not have enough experience in life, parents can sometimes have difficulty trying to impart learning. Thankfully, with educational toys, this difficulty is addressed. Many playthings these days target a specific skill that a child must hone. For instance, to teach logical thinking, parents can give their child a ball that contains puzzling shapes and figures. Aside from that, these toys are also specific to certain age groups. And as a child becomes older, the toys and games become more complex, but they are still fun to play with.

When a child is less than 3 years old, toys are usually geared towards the development of their fine and gross motor skills. Examples of playthings targeting these skills include the following: soft or stuffed balls, stackers, and soft puzzles.

For toddlers, most educational toys are visually stimulating. Most of them contain pictures, bright colors, and bold letters to catch and maintain a child's attention. These playthings are usually geared towards the development of a child's creative thinking skills. Examples include the following: shape sorters, building blocks, and mix-and-match playthings.

For children with ages 10 and up, they can be given advanced puzzles, word games, and board games of all sorts. There are even games that you can find online. If you know where to look, you can find free online educational games that you can download and install anytime. All of these are geared towards complicated tasks.

To learn more about kids' learning games, go to http://www.kidslearninggames.net/.

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

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Why My Son Loves His Toy Restaurant

From the time our son was about one year old, he loved to be in the kitchen when we were making dinner. We would give him a bowl and a spoon and he would sit on the floor and play while we made dinner. As he got a little older the bowl and spoon was no longer keeping his attention.

For our son's third birthday we wanted to get him a cooking toy. That's when my husband and I found an awesome toy restaurant. This cute little set has all of the kitchen supplies for a short order cook. A cute little window allows my son to view his friends while he is cooking for them. The Step 2 Play Restaurant also includes a cute little booth with a jukebox that really plays songs. This is our son's favorite toy. While his other toys get rotated and he uses them for a few weeks and then we switch them up, however this toy is played with every day.

We added to his fun recently and got him a chef's apron and hat. He is so proud and wears it all the time. We were also able to find some receipt pads on Amazon, so he has a pad to take his orders. His friends love to take turns with him being the short order cook, waiter, and the customer.

It came with some accessories and there is plenty of space to store all of them. It is made of durable plastic, so it has held up beautifully to my rough and tough boy! It also cleans up beautifully with a little soap and water. This was a really great purchase for our son. I can tell he really enjoys playing with in his Step 2 Restaurant. Not only our son, but his cousins and friends also get great enjoyment out of this great toy.

If you have a little one and are not sure what to get them for the next special occasion, I highly recommend a toy restaurant. Not only does it entertain our son, but it also helps him build some motor skills and develop his imagination. This toy was more than we normally spend on toy purchases, but it is worth every penny. My husband and I enjoy watching our son play and it also entertains him when we are trying to get a few chores done around the house.

Find out more about toy restaurant sets including the Step 2 Diner by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/play-restaurants today!

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

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