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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
I don't have a lot of time to do research and revies, but I will make time if I need to...
I often see parents requesting certain toys on groups or posts like "ISO xyz puzzle with sounds"
do you just choose what you think you like, or do you read and learn about which skills they should know by a certain age?
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Posted 11/13/14 11:42 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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iluvmynutty
Mom to E&M
Member since 12/08 1762 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
What are the ages of your kids? I can give you some suggestions for toys/games. When I select toys/games, I think about the skill set it will target, the complexity of it and safety. I also consider the age of the child now , the skills they have now, the skills they are next to acquire and I also consider when the next big gift giving holiday will be. For example, my DDs Bday is in May so our big gift months are May and December. I make a list of toys/games that will get her though 6 months of developmental skill acquisition until Christmas in December. Then I do the same for Christmas.
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| Posted 11/14/14 5:54 AM |
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
Posted by LIRascal
I don't have a lot of time to do research and revies, but I will make time if I need to...
I often see parents requesting certain toys on groups or posts like "ISO xyz puzzle with sounds"
do you just choose what you think you like, or do you read and learn about which skills they should know by a certain age?
I'm an education fanatic (being a teacher and all)... and I research every single toy. I feel like a toy expert! I def. pick things I think DD will like but it is always based on her age level or skills I want her to practice or enjoy, etc. You don't need to spend a lot of time on it but I feel it is important to not just pick toys in general but to pick specific toys geared towards your child that have some value and meaning.
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| Posted 11/14/14 7:10 AM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
I get a lot of ideas just by seeing what DD plays with when we're out and she has access to different toys. Educational toys are great but if they're not interested then what good is it? Last year DD was obsessed with the alphabet so we got her some things to build on that interest, this year she could care less.
I also have concerns about DD's fine motor skills so I tried to choose things that will help her with that. She has friends that are way better than her at puzzles so I got some 12 and 24 piece puzzles for her. She loves a button game my SIL has from Alex toys so I got her a similar one from M&D for home. She loved playing with Lego Duplos on vacation so I asked for some of those sets for her. My other big concern is choosing things she can play with independently while I'm occupied with the new baby. SIL wanted to get her a play dough set which she'd love but I'd rather wait a few months for her birthday when I'll be able to help her with that more.
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| Posted 11/14/14 9:03 AM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
Posted by BaysideForever
Posted by LIRascal
I don't have a lot of time to do research and revies, but I will make time if I need to...
I often see parents requesting certain toys on groups or posts like "ISO xyz puzzle with sounds"
do you just choose what you think you like, or do you read and learn about which skills they should know by a certain age?
I'm an education fanatic (being a teacher and all)... and I research every single toy. I feel like a toy expert! I def. pick things I think DD will like but it is always based on her age level or skills I want her to practice or enjoy, etc. You don't need to spend a lot of time on it but I feel it is important to not just pick toys in general but to pick specific toys geared towards your child that have some value and meaning.
I'm a teacher, too! I think this is why it piqued my interest, and I'm curious to see where I should be researching and looking for these things. I think I would like to get them into learning functions of things, like "I SEE with my eyes, HEAR with my ears, etc"
They know their body parts, but need to now move on up to the functions. The same with fine motor skills. I think they need to start stringing beads and threading things, etc. They've been great with a fork for a long time, but we need to sharpen those skills. Whatever you can suggest in terms of websites or standard places to look, I'd appreciate.
My Daughters just turned 2. They're quite verbal, can recite numbers to 15 (one of them can county objects to 4) and they recognize some of their letters.
thanks everyone!!
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| Posted 11/14/14 3:11 PM |
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
Posted by LIRascal
I'm a teacher, too! I think this is why it piqued my interest, and I'm curious to see where I should be researching and looking for these things. I think I would like to get them into learning functions of things, like "I SEE with my eyes, HEAR with my ears, etc"
They know their body parts, but need to now move on up to the functions. The same with fine motor skills. I think they need to start stringing beads and threading things, etc. They've been great with a fork for a long time, but we need to sharpen those skills. Whatever you can suggest in terms of websites or standard places to look, I'd appreciate.
My Daughters just turned 2. They're quite verbal, can recite numbers to 15 (one of them can county objects to 4) and they recognize some of their letters.
thanks everyone!!
My DD is a little over 2. We have the Melissa & Doug beading sets. I started with the big chunky ones and have already requested the older sets for the holidays because she has mastered the big ones. Just a 2-3 days playing with that set and she picked it up. It's all she wanted to do for a week or two. Now she doesn't touch it much though (thats the problematic part). I've also been looking for something that covers the function of the 5 senses, but I haven't seen anything. I just pick one and work on it with her, like I always say "look with you eyes no touching" or then one day I do texture art and touch and feel books, another day I do music (you can hide something musical and ask them to "hear" where it is hidden) and when I cook I have her use her nose to "smell" my ingredients. Things like that. I use the ASQ milestone charts to see what skills she should have mastered (as well as some educational textbooks) and then look for toys, well everywhere. But I read reviews, like to stick to educational stores like Lakeshore. Do you get the lakeshore catalogs? You can just use their website actually and they break down toys good for ages. Other websites break down toys by age/skill set too. For the past 2 years the majority of our toys have only come from fisher price (laugh and learn line mostly), lakeshore learning, the bookstore, and melissa and doug.
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| Posted 11/14/14 3:52 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
I find a lot of educational toys are there to sell. Pure and simple. Its the next biggest, best and most expensive thing. If it costs more is probably better, right?
I hate it
I search, find, research, think about practical use and then make a determination. I have yet to find a TRULY must have educational toy that we can't duplicate. They are all frivolous excess.
Do I buy some of it? SURE because I can. Do I regret it? nope. Does she need them? Nope. Have they helped her? Meh. Most educational useful thing I've ever had was the Pre-school prep and letter factory videos. Toy wise? The Goldie Blox toys. Otherwise it's all been fluff.
Just my honest opinion.
That said: I've been eyeing this for two years now:
Little Bits
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| Posted 11/14/14 5:47 PM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
Thanks everyone! I will check out lakeshore and some of the sites you've mentioned. I think the beading/stringing toys will be great. See, I never even heard of the ASQ milestone charts before! Thank you!
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| Posted 11/15/14 6:16 AM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: how do you know which educational toy to buy DC?
We like building toys, magnets, mosaic sticker sets, board games and puzzles.
We literally have every leap frog educational toy out there. Now that my older DS started kindergarten, we are focusing on the basics using paper and books mostly. Nothing electronic.
Of all the gadgets we have bought over the years, I like the leap frog laptop and the scribble and write.
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| Posted 11/15/14 7:58 AM |
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