Educational Play

Episode 240

Educational play is a great tool to not only teach children but to encourage them to think. Children who think, create! Besides, let’s face it parents enjoy giving gifts that encourage learning. In this episode, we explore the criteria I use for purchasing educational gifts as well as the best and most long-lasting toys that will give your children years of enjoyment. The best news? You can pass these down to others or save them for generations to come.

Show Notes: Educational Play

Educational play is not just for little kids, but the younger you begin the better your children will enjoy toys that do something. The more interactive the better, and encouraging the children to be part of the experience makes it longer lasting. This is why blocks evolved into “Legos®” and they have built an entire industry and even a theme park here in Florida.

What is your pre-requisite for educational toys or educational play?

Fun
- If a toy isn’t fun they won’t play with it.
- Education doesn’t mean boring.
Sturdy
- Wood is my favorite type of material for toys.
- A toy that won’t break easily.
Colorful
- Let’s face it, kids love color.
- Not all toys are colorful, however, if they attract your attention they will attract your kids as well.
Teaches
- Some of the best learning comes from self-discovery.
- Open-ended is better than only one solution.
Long lasting
- Similar to sturdy, you want something that isn’t just for one time.
- My goals are to give it away or pass it down to a sibling.
No batteries
- Battery toys are great for a one-time thing. These types of gifts often break quickly.
- If you find a battery toy (I found one that played classical music and was different depending on the way the cubes were inserted in the sturdy plastic case), be sure it will last.
No one way to do it
- Open-ended outcomes are my favorite.
- Ideas that come to mind are blocks or Lego(r)
Encourages creativity
- No one way to do it, but more — it lends itself to engaging the child to think.
- Something you can build again and again, but differently
- Artistic or musical
- Dramatic play
Interactive and engaging
- Building blocks, etc.
- Causes the child to input ideas
Kits for building or putting together
- Favorites include tinker toys, Lego(r)
- Art – origami, 3-D projects

Categories for Educational Play:

These categories are ones that lend themselves to educational play. My favorites are dramatic play, physical play, cooking, musical, artistic and of course outdoor activities. I’m sure I’ve left out other ideas so if you have any, post them below. Use these as a springboard and I’m sure you’ll think of more ideas on your own.

Dramatic Play

Theatre sets
Puppet shows
Dress-up clothes
Old jewelry/ shoes

Physical Play

Vintage toys – jump rope
Sporting equipment
Swimming pool/ toys for pool
Slip and slide – water toys
Scooters, skates, bikes
Playhouse

Cooking:

Cooking lessons
Kid size utensils
Kid sized cookware
Plastic or wooden food
Tea sets
Kid-sized aprons
Raddish Kids Kits
Cookbooks for kids

Science:

Science kits
Science supplies
Field Trips – (backpack kits)
Kiwi-Crate – building sets
Experiment books
Nature Center/ Museum season passes

Outdoor Play

Swing sets
Rock wall/ climbing
Tunnels
Bird feeders
Obstacle course
Balance beams
Trampoline
Sand and water play

Musical Play

Bells, symbols, drums, drumsticks
Recorder
Guitar
Xylophone
Trumpet
Flute
Musical kits

Artistic Play

Easel
Good paper
Art Supplies
Paper
Kiwi-Crate kits
Scissors – fancy
Chalkboard/ Markerboard

Special Thanks to our Network Sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

KiwiCo has monthly subscriptions of hands-on projects that make learning fun! Their core offering is projects that make learning about STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art, and math — accessible and are designed to spark creativity, tinkering, and learning. Some recent favorite crates are the Slime Lab, Physics Carnival, and Paper Circuits.

Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network is excited to be able to offer you the chance to try them for FREE. To learn more about their projects for kids ages 2 to 16 AND to redeem this exclusive offer, click here to get your first month free today (just pay $4.95 for shipping)