Articles on Toys | Topics: toys, toy
by Nathanial Wagner
Let's face it, kids love to explore and get some hands on experience. To children, this world is an amazing playground full or tastes, smells, sights, and sounds that all beg to be explored. For adults, this curiosity is the vehicle needed to interest children to embark on a lifetime of enthusiastic learning. Science, with all its various shapes and sizes, is the one field of learning that can never be exhausted, and the sooner a child will travel down the road of discovery, the sooner they will be set on a course to a lifetime of exploring and learning. Many parents, however, fret at the idea of purchasing a science kit for junior; they are most often concerned that either the substances are not safe, or the child is too young to truly appreciate the things that can be done with them. Additionally, if a substance is used up, it is very hard to find a replacement, and so a rather expensive toy is sooner rather than later relegated into the forgotten corner of the closet with the other toys that are either broken or missing pieces. Is this truly necessary? The answer is a resounding "no" because there are four great toys on the market that help kids love science!
The first toy is not so much a toy as it is a living, breathing science marvel. Anyone who has ever heard about electric fish will remember the times that they went to an aquarium and listened to the slightly distorted sounding clicks and impulses. You can now bring this marvel into the comfort of your child's own bedroom! The answer is the Elephant Nose fish! An easy to keep pet fish, this animal does emit the electric charges that can be heard with a device called a piezoelectric earphone which may be purchased at Radio Shack or other electronics stores. The fish themselves are easy to keep and feed, but it is important to note that they need to be kept in groups of three or five, and the top of the aquarium must be sealed tight as they tend to jump out of the tank otherwise. What a wonderful way to interact with this amazing animal and listen in on its "conversations"!
The second toy is the good old standby that probably you as the parent have already enjoyed when you were younger; we are of course referring to the crystal growing kit! They are now incredibly inexpensive and are available for each age group and education level.
| Bit of History |
The world-spirit is a good swimmer, and storms and waves can not drown him. He snaps his fingers at laws; and so, throughout history, heaven seems to affect low and poor means. Through the years and the centuries, through evil agents, through toys and atoms, a great and beneficent tendency irresistibly streams.
| —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) |
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A third toy is of course the good old chemistry set. Fortunately for parents of younger children, the manufacturers have wised up to the needs of these young children and have put together some colorful kits with easy to replenish supplies that will permit the younger set to explore and learn for hours on end. This makes it easy for junior scientists as young as four years old to get to know the wonders of science. Of course, for the more mature kids there are the state of the art kits that will teach them to make their own hydrochloric acid, which might be a bit nerve racking for mom and dad, but great fun for the kids.
Last but not least is the classic favorite: the ant farm. Mothers everywhere have kept a worried eye on these contraptions for generations, and so far children have always enjoyed these little critters. And yes, some will indeed escape. Yet for the hours of fun and learning excitement this toy has to offer, this risk may be well worth taking! How else can junior learn up close and personal about this fascinating animal that seems to adapt to almost anything Mother Nature and humankind will throw their way?
As you can see, science toys are indeed the way to go when it comes to introducing kids to the wonderful world of science. For children, learning should be tied to playing so as to avoid tedious memorization and boredom. If you have the time to invest, why not sit with your child as she or he explores? It is safe to assume that you, too, will become enthralled in this amazing learning process.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Science Rules! Four Great Toys that Help Kids Love Science" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by ToysGiftsPresents.com. |
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