| There was a time when getting kids really educational | | | | your family. I still have memories of sitting in our back |
| toys was something that every family did. Each year | | | | yard when I was a kid staring up at the moon through |
| around Christmas or on my birthday I could always | | | | my dads telescope. |
| expect presents of books and science toys of some | | | | So you're not limited in the type of science toy you |
| kind. It's rare to see kids getting presents like that now | | | | can get for your kids (or your nieces or nephews for |
| - even though they'd have great fun with them and | | | | that matter) Remember most children have different |
| learn so much. | | | | learning styles. For a kinesthetic learning (hands on) |
| So what actually makes a science toy a science toy? | | | | science toys are ideal because they'll actually get to |
| Anything that leads a kid to discovering new for the | | | | see the experiment taking place in real life. This is the |
| first time or seeing a law of nature of the Universe | | | | type of learning that stays with most children forever - |
| play itself out in front of them would be a good way to | | | | text based lessons can be forgotten very quickly and |
| define it. This type of tends to make kids more curious | | | | most students only remember about 30 - 40% of |
| about other aspects of science and nature so you'll | | | | what they hear in class. |
| educating them without them even knowing it. This is | | | | Science toys really are a great choice as presents for |
| something you really want to encourage with your kids | | | | kids. Obviously you want to find some balance |
| - the idea of active learning. Making their learning | | | | between educational toys and the ones they'll play |
| interesting is a huge key to success. | | | | with purely for fun - everything in moderation folks. |
| So what kind of science toys are there to choose | | | | You might find a little of resistance from your kids first |
| from? You can start with something simple like a slinky | | | | when it comes to these educational types of toy but |
| spring or a basic chemistry set (child safe), then you | | | | once they start experimenting with them and seeing |
| have the option of a junior microscope or a robotics | | | | the results you'll have a new fan of scientific toys for |
| kit. If they're more biology inclined kids then you could | | | | good. Plus they'll thank you in years to come for |
| get them an anatomy kit. Or how about an ant farm? | | | | helping them along - even when they didn't know it |
| Or one of those volcanoes that actually erupts. The | | | | themselves. |
| really big one is telescope for the little star gazer in | | | | |