Educational toys?

Rebekah1021

There is a mom in our play group that will only buy her DS educational toys. Which is fine, he's her kid. We were talking about what we were buying our kids for christmas. I fired off my list: cash register, puzzles, blocks, aquadoodle, Candyland Castle, dress up clothes, tea set, digital camera, and clothes. So she asked where the educational stuff is. I was like the cash register and puzzles are educational, and she can learn about colors and shapes from the candyland game.

Can't regular toys be educational as well? When I was growing up, we didn't have leapster or vtech and somehow we managed to learn things.

jen8/9/03

I think a child's imagination is also really important.  I encourage DD to play with things like blocks or shapes and make her own choo-choo out of them.  I think a major problem with toys today is that they are very structured so there's very little creativity involved.  My list is very similar to yours for Christmas. 

Amy H

So does she consider the leapster/kids video games as educational?  I am really curious.  I've been debating wthat lately with myself...

I agree with you though- DS doesn't have all wooden toys which don't require batteries, but we still manage to be creative and have fun while learning.  We listen to music, dance around, jump on pillows, whatever.  And our list is really similar to yours for DS for Christmas this year too!

JOEBunny

Everything you bought is educational.  I have one in my playgroup who only buys wooden toys.  I don't get it.  The most enviromentally concious thing to do is buy used toys, especially those made of recycled plastic or to not buy toys at all (most kids here, mine included, have way too many).  

Not sure what she is buying?   Leapster and vtech talking type toys are not very good for learning other than maybe a few songs.  DD pretty much only plays with those toys on road trips when she is too confined to play with dolls, stuffed animials, blocks, ect.

amanda&rob

I think all toys are educational because I feel like all types of play is a form of  learning. 

VivaAmore

jen8/9/03:

I think a child's imagination is also really important.  I encourage DD to play with things like blocks or shapes and make her own choo-choo out of them.  I think a major problem with toys today is that they are very structured so there's very little creativity involved.  My list is very similar to yours for Christmas. 

I could not agree more.