Anyone Else Substituting Educational Things for Toys This Year?
By JaLuvYa
@JaLuvYa (175)
United States
November 6, 2007 8:18pm CST
In light of all the toy recalls and since "No Child Left Behind" is really dumbing down my daughters public/charter school I have decided that we are going to substitute fun educational things for toys this year.
My daughter is seven going on eight. I already purchased a few cool computer math games and a few games for her Leapster.
Is anyone else doing that this year? Any cool suggestions for things to buy?
2 people like this
5 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Board games, puzzles, legos, building toys, consider things like cookbooks. Cookbooks are great..it is bonding time, learning - what a fun and useful way to learn fractions.
Play-doh is a great creative toy. Start a hobby - scrapbooking or sewing. If you use a sewing machine - teach her to use to sew..I started when I was 9..by 14 I was making fully lined jackets.
Go to michaels and AC Moore - beading..she can make jewelry, gimp - my son made a fortune in middle school - he was using gimp - that plastic string stuff and beads and pompoms in school colors to make key rings...We figured it cost him about 12 cents per keyring - he sold 100s for $2.00 each. Also, he got to know almost each of the 1000 kids in his class, this proved to be a real asset, he was never alone in class, gym or lunch - someone knew him.
What about those cool coloring books.
Craft stores are great places to shop for activites for kids.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
7 Nov 07
BTW It does not have to scream educational to be educational...any craft that can teach concentration and organization or planning skills is great.
Have you considered gift certificates to an activity to try - skating, piano or even karate lessons?
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Cookbooks- what a great idea! I might have to keep that in mind for my daughter. There are all sorts of new "kids" cookbooks coming out.
My daughter got her first scrapbooking kit when she was 5. She does the page layouts and now that she can write I have her do journaling, too. That's a good point that a craft can be very educational!
That reminded me of an idea that I have been doing for other kids' birthdays. I've been giving gift certificates to places like the museum, science center, etc. I usually give enough to cover the whole family's admission so no one gets left out.
@shannonnotestine (274)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Even though my son is not yet two years old I am getting toys that are also educational. Last Christmas he received one of those V-Smiles and this year will get games according to his agel level. aI think this is a great idea for anyone who has a child no matter what age. I think that Leapster and V-Tech lead the way in educational toys.
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
7 Nov 07
I am actually planning to give boys some board games and the girls some cute stuff to use on their hair... wit the recent toy recalls... i feel that it is not safe to give out toys... i am also thinking ko giving away candies... even if holoween is already over... holoween is not a big thing in my country and Christmas is the most likely season we give out candies...
@JaLuvYa (175)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Hmmm... I like the board game idea too- we did a few last year but her level of understanding has grown so much this year that I can start teaching her how to play games for older kids/adults. She actually pulled out my old monopoly game... maybe I'll buy her a new one with all the pieces-lol.
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I always try to sneak in a few educational things for gifts on holidays for my daughters. I LOVE the Leapster and will probably get my girls a couple of games. That is one neat toy that they don't even realize they are learning on! How about a couple of "Illustrated Classics" books? Those are really neat. They are the classics like "Black Beauty" but put in a more child friendly language and illustrated. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
@JaLuvYa (175)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Books are a great idea. My daughter loves Junie B. Jones.
She has the Disney Princess Collection along with tons of books that I remember reading when I was little. But I actually don't think she has Black Beauty. She loves to read so I do think books will be a great addition this Christmas. Thanks for responding :)
1 person likes this
@blueunicorn (2401)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Junie B. Jones is a great series. Now that you mention that I might have to get my daughter a couple of those for her stocking! We've always gotten them from the library before, but my daughter does enjoy reading them over and over.
@successmode1101 (172)
•
10 Dec 07
That is a good idea that would enlighten her education and be fun also. When my daughter was younger, I used to buy educational games for her and she liked them. I don't have any significant ideas right now, but the computer games I found are always the best.
