Science Toys are Educational Toys
by: Ted Moryto
My son Jack had been quietly playing with his
Meccano set when we heard him scream, sweet!
What a cool toy, my friend Dave said, it's
a ferris wheel. It's a solar powered ferris wheel, said Jack.
Dave asked me, How did you get him to play
with educational toys, my son only wants to play video games.
I asked Dave whether he had ever played educational games or built
rockets or space toys with his son. I'm not really a hands on
guy was his answer. So I proceeded to demonstrate to Dave that
educational toys teach skills that all successful adults use in
everyday life. I told him that construction toys require imagination
and planning. Robots require the use of logic. Strategy games
require competitiveness and forethought. And of course crafts
require creativity.
I think that's a bit too technical for my son,
said Dave. Well, why don't you start with some magic. Most tricks
are scientific illusions that require planning and practice. Or
how about simply building a plane,train or automobile with him,
a real mechanical toy. This way he can see how all the pieces
interconnect to achieve a common goal, like a team of components.
My son likes to collect baseball cards, said
Dave. Well how about starting a bug collection or rock collection.
It just might inspire him to be a geologist or entomologist. Of
course you could always get him some anatomy models, so he can
be a surgeon like his dad.
About The Author
Ted Moryto is a professional engineer and
proprietor of Brain Waves Toys.
http://www.brainwavestoys.com
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