Every eight seconds, more and more babies are being born all over the world. Every minute, more and more parents are thinking of ways to make their children the best among the rest. These parents are more likely to explore the whole world just to be able to give everything to their kids to make them grow smarter and wiser. They believe that educational toys are absolutely their partners in raising smarter babies. Hence, most, if not all, these parents will look for every educational toy they can grab in the market today.

But what makes an educational toy different from an ordinary toy? Essentially, these toys, just like other toys, are simply invented for and to be used by children. Any person can argue that an educational toy is in fact any toy. The only difference they have is how the children perceive these toys or the reality of their significance.

Ideally, an educational toy, which is believe to be our partners in raising smarter babies advances intellectuality and imagination, and promotes the emotional, physical, and social development of children. These toys pave ways to faster learning of children with new skills. Therefore, what really makes this toy different from other usual toys is the child’s learning and development associated with playing with them.

Simple wooden blocks are actually a good start for preschool children to instigate learning the elementary principles of science and causal relationships, as well as patience and basic hand-eye coordination. Elementary children can be encouraged to play with interlocking manipulative toys like Legos or puzzles to further improve their mind-body coordination, virtue of patience, and appreciation of spatial relationships.

All educators hold the same opinion that is, the most effective, most natural, and the best method of educating children is through play. Among the most important elements in teaching children are educational toys, developmental games, and learning materials. But there are really no rules in deciding the right choice of toys and games for your children. You can try experimenting from simple books and educational toys moving gradually to more intricate educational games, science activities, and puzzles.

If there is actually a rule, it can only be one that is, to go after your child’s interests. You can tag along your kid’s interests be it play dough clays or electronic keyboard or pirate games as you will never go wrong with these. For sure, they will inspire your children’s imagination, senses, and cleverness. Let them express themselves either through academic subjects (i.e., music, art, history, language) or sports (i.e., ball games, skating, ballet).

There are indeed so many ways to raise our children to be smarter and wiser people. We have all kinds of educational toys available in the market. We just have to know well what are outside there and learn how to listen and support our children’s interests. We can give them heaps of educational toys but if the child has no interest, then it cannot serve its function to educate the child.

Make sure you will introduce your children to variety of educational toys and when they already choose one or two, you just have to guide them along the way. Remember, these educational toys are just our partners in raising smarter babies but they are not the sole key to success. As the saying goes, Nine tenths of education is Encouragement. Parents as well as educators just have to make these children realize that learning is not so boring after all, but rather a fun development of themselves.