Toys that teach

Like to give toys that teach something? Travel writer – and mom of three – Natalie Preddie shared a few ideas with us this morning.

Preddie says the following gifts are perfect for Christmas this year, or for a birthday. She says she always tries to incorporate learning into the toys she gets for her children. 

Mission: Emotions

This game is for children aged between three to seven-years-old and teaches social development, feelings and empathy.

Preddie says the game is about aliens coming to earth and the players have to teach them about feelings. She says it is perfect for children to recognize the feelings of others and how to read them. 

Blue’s Clues Tickety Tock

This toy helps children not only learn how to tell time, but also teaches them about numbers in general. 

Preddie says it also uses sounds to teach kids about routines and scheduling. 

“It has lots of songs, some by Josh who is the host of Blue’s Clues,” said Preddie. “I think [telling time] is something all kids should know…I put analog clocks in all of my children’s rooms.”

Monster Math Scale

Preddie says this game is for three-year-olds and has lots of small monster toys that make learning math fun.

The whole point of the game is to balance the scale using monster toys labelled different numbers. 

“Not only do [the kids] get to play with cute little monsters, but they also have to figure out which numbers should go on either side to make the scale completely flat,” said Preddie. 

Dino Fossil Dig Kit

“My five-year-old is in a dinosaur mood and he absolutely loves this toy,” said Preddie.  

She says it comes with an educational book about dinosaurs and a miniature dig site. Kids can use a child-friendly hammer and pick to find fossils and learn about them. 

Leap Reader

“This is one of my absolute favourites,” said Preddie. “It helps everywhere from learning about letters, to being completely comfortable with reading.”

The Leap Reader comes with a pen and 10 books. Kids place the pen on any word and a speaker will teach them how to pronounce each one.

“It has helped kids in my family learn how to read and it’s something they are going to continue to grow with,” said Preddie. “It’s fun, interactive and a perfect gift.”