In this category, we will discuss and suggest resources for educational toys, sometimes known as instructive toys.
Educational toys have been part of the learning experiences of children for centuries. Artifacts suggest that in Ancient Greece and Rome, children played with rattles, clay animals, and dolls, as well as toy bows and arrows, which helped them to develop their imagination and fine motor skills. While toys similar to these ancient toys are still used today, many new products have been developed, reflecting changing values, educational theories, and technological advancements.
John Locke advocated for greater use of educational toys, such as alphabet blocks, to teach the alphabet to children, and jigsaw puzzles were introduced by John Spilsbury in the 18th century to teach geography.
In the early 19th century, Friedrich Wilhelm August Fröbel laid the foundation for modern education with the recognition that children have unique needs and capabilities. He created the concept of kindergarten and developed the educational toys known as Froebel gifts, a series of educational play materials for children of various ages, designed to help children understand the concepts of shape, form, and structure through hands-on play.
Jean William Fritz Piaget, a Swiss psychologist specializing in child development, developed a theory of cognitive development that emphasized the importance of play in learning to solve problems and develop cognitive skills. Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, emphasized the social aspects of play, including its role in developing language, social skills, and the ability to understand various perceptions.
Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, developed the Montessori method of education, in use today, which emphasizes the use of manipulatives, such as blocks and puzzles, to promote independent learning, concentration, and fine motor skills.
Today, the market offers a wide range of educational toys, catering to various age groups and learning needs.
Building and construction toys, such as LEGO, wooden blocks, and miniature log building kits, promote spatial awareness, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. Erector Sets took this to another level. Now owned by Meccano, they are still manufactured and marketed under the name "Erector by Meccano."
Puzzles and brain teasers enhance a child's cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and patience. Jigsaw puzzles and Rubik's cubes fall into this grouping, although we have another category for Puzzles & Mazes.
Science and exploration kits encourage scientific thinking and curiosity about the natural world, while there are also games and toys that teach concepts related to math and language.
Other toys, such as kitchen sets, doctor kits, and dollhouses, use role play to foster the child's imagination, social skills, and empathy.
Sensory toys, like Playdough, sensory balls, and texture mats, stimulate the child's senses, promoting exploration and discovery.
Relatively new on the market, electronic toys, app-enabled toys, and various digital toys offer a range of educational content, from teaching academic subjects to digital literacy and learning computer programming.
While it might be possible to identify an educational component to any toy, this category is for those that are specifically designed to promote education, learning, and development. Websites reviewing or making comparisons of these products may be listed here, along with those representing manufacturers or retailers who focus on producing or distributing educational toys.
Recommended Resources
ELC was established in 1974, acquired by Mothercare in 2007, and by The Entertainer in 2019. The company's products are available from Entertainer stores worldwide or from its online shopping area. The company produces toys designed to stimulate creativity and imagination, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, confidence, physical development, social skills, the senses, and learning to count, read, and write. A store finder is available, and an affiliate program is in place.
https://www.elc.co.uk/
The website and blog focus on researching and recommending educational toys to parents, guardians, and other family members looking to improve the skills and knowledge of children, from birth to the teen years, Authors who have the skills and qualifications to write about pregnancy and parenting are encouraged to contact the site owners. Featured toys are listed by age, from 0-12 months to 10+ years, and every year in between. An informational blog is included.
https://educationaltoysplanet.com/
LeapFrog Enterprises is an educational entertainment and electronics company in Emeryville, California that designs, develops, and markets technology-based learning products for the educational of children from infancy through grade school. Its product portfolio focuses on three categories of products: reading solutions, educational gaming, and grade school products and learning tools. LeapFrog Academy is an interactive learning program with more than 2,000 games and activities.
https://www.leapfrog.com/
Manufactured by the Lego Group, LEGOs are a line of plastic construction toys that consist of variously colored interlocking plastic bricks that accompany an array of gears, figurines (minifigures), and other parts. Its pieces can be assembled and connected in many ways to construct objects, such as buildings, vehicles, and working robots. Assembled bricks can be taken apart and the pieces can be reused to create new constructions. An online product catalog is included.
https://www.lego.com/
Montessori Toys - by Montessori Generation
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Montessori Generation is an online educational toy store that offers learning toys and educational materials for children, including a range of products designed to support the self-directed, hands-on learning and exploration that follows the principles of the Montessori method of education, created by Dr. Maria Montessori. The collection includes toys for children of various age groups, a well as puzzles and furniture. Shoppers may browse products by age or category.
https://montessorigeneration.com/
Montessori Toys - by Project Montessori
Project Montessori is an online store specializing in Montessori toys and learning materials. They offer a range of products designed to support self-directed, hands-on learning and exploration, following the principles of the Montessori educational method. Included are toys for different age groups, puzzles, educational books, and furniture designed to facilitate a conducive learning environment. Products may be found by age, category, special needs, bestsellers, and wooden toys.
http://projectmontessori.com
The online toy store is based in the United Kingdom, where it specializes in educational toys, wooden toys, puzzles, and games for children of all ages. They offer a wide range of products designed to promote learning and development through play, marketed for babies, toddlers, and older children. Kids gifts, early learning products, puzzles, discovery toys, wooden toys, and creative toys may be browed, gift vouchers are also available, and free UK delivery is offered on orders over £60.
https://www.smartstart-toys.co.uk/
