If you have preschool-age children you know that they love to play and learn and that they learn from their play! You want to provide them with the most stimulus you can in the most engaging and enjoyable ways possible, and of course, that means toys! When choosing toys and games for preschoolers, sometimes less is more, so look for simple, durable, and open-ended materials that invite little ones to create, imagine, explore, and stretch their developing language and reasoning skills.
Preschool is a very important time in a child’s life, forming the transition from being a mostly stay-at-home infant to becoming a socialised student. Finding nurturing and engaging health care like that offered by preschool in Penrith is critical to your child’s growth. Attending preschool gives children opportunities to interact with new people, both their peers and their adult teachers, helping them to explore and better understand the greater world beyond their home. It’s a sure bet that their preschool is going to have a selection of great age-appropriate toys on hand, be sure to ask the professional educators there for their recommendations on quality toys you can purchase for your child’s at-home playtime.
For some more great inspiration, think about the toys that you loved best when you were a wee waif. Wooden building blocks and toy animals are always a win, no matter what decade you are in, and brand-new versions of those toys are still available today, and they are just as wonderful as ever.
Now let’s take a look at a few of the most popular modern educational kids for preschoolers:
Wooden Blocks – We have already mentioned them, but they are so good we will do it again! There should be a selection of blocks in various shapes and sizes, with round and flat edges. Playing with blocks helps develop cognitive skills, fine and gross motor skills, and problem-solving skills, all whilst stimulating the imagination!
Memory Card Games – There are two copies of every card. All the cards are placed face down and you take turns flipping them over trying to find a match. The one who gets the most matches wins! This game is great for building memorization skills and encourages social skills and the ability to cooperate and follow a set of rules.
Puzzles – Another classic that never goes out of style, puzzles build multiple skills like fine motor and hand-eye coordination, and teach children to concentrate and persevere on a task until it is complete. Puzzles are also excellent for developing visual perception – a critical pre-reading skill. The challenge of puzzles also encourages thinking and problem-solving as your child works to finish them.
If you are looking for more information on early childhood education, be sure to check out the Australian Government’s website, it’s a great resource. Now, get out that toy box, sit down with your toddler, and have some fun playtime with all the great toys you have chosen!
