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Educational Toys for Preschoolers
http://forum.homeschoolchristian.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=257
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Author:  Neesa in FL [ Tue Jul 17, 2012 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Educational Toys for Preschoolers

A friend (a teacher by trade) is now home with her almost 3yo son. She wants to get some educational type of toys for him. Not toys for the sake of having toys, but things that will help with development skills. She's not into having new things so she'll be shopping the thrift stores or from teachers looking to unload things.

What would you say is a great developmental "toy" for a 3yo boy? She's thinking water play/sandplay, letters/sounds, shapes/colors, fine motor, etc.

Author:  Anna1111 [ Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

I got the following at thrift stores (except when otherwise specified), and find them very helpful:

Alphabet refrigerator magnets (we have a fridge phonics by Leapfrog).

A dry erase board on an easel.

Games that teach basic skills - esp. Hi Ho Cherry O for counting skills & turn taking skills.

Super Why's ABC Letter Game. I cannot recommend this one highly enough : )
http://www.amazon.com/University-Games- ... B001SOZDFO
(even tho it may have to be bought new, I considered it worthy of inclusion - we got it as a gift)

Sidewalk Chalk, crayons (gift).

An "Indoor Sandbox" (I mentioned this on the old board - cornmeal inside a box that can be used at a table indoors) (homemade & ultra-cheap)

A cash register that says the name of the number when you push the button with the number written on it (ours is a Fisher Price fun to learn)

Measuring cups - to learn beginning fractions.

Lots & Lots of books - esp. Bible story books & alphabet books.

Those were my first thoughts. I may chime in again later.

Author:  StacyinTN [ Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Neesa in FL wrote:
A friend (a teacher by trade) is now home with her almost 3yo son. She wants to get some educational type of toys for him. Not toys for the sake of having toys, but things that will help with development skills. She's not into having new things so she'll be shopping the thrift stores or from teachers looking to unload things.

What would you say is a great developmental "toy" for a 3yo boy? She's thinking water play/sandplay, letters/sounds, shapes/colors, fine motor, etc.



Discovery Toys has a ton of that "stuff." She may even want to consider becoming a Home Sales Consultant.

Author:  Tory [ Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Wooden blocks,
A large box or boxes he can climb inside of, or stack, etc.
Tents. The ones my dc had were the folding kind that also had tubes for all kinds of imaginative play.They can be costly new but shouldn't cost too much used. My sister has been trying to get mine from me for years, lol! I won't part with them because they last forever.)
Or make a tent out of throwing a blanket over the table.. teach him how to not bump his head, though!
A dolls, the kind you can dress and undress easily. (not one that cries or "goes"... )
ANYTHING that incourages pretend play.. not just a 'push the button' and it "plays" for you toy.
Large legos, the regular ones are too small for his age.
BOOKS! Can't go wrong with hard bound books.

Author:  Martha R. [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Great ideas! Definitely blocks. If he's past the stage of putting stuff in this mouth -- pattern blocks.

Author:  Briva [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

When I wanted to keep my youngest dd busy while homeschooling my oldest dd I made up 'centers' as they call them in school. I bought some inexpensive sterilite containers, each contained a different activity: clean play sand with beach toys-a rake, funnel, shovel, etc.; one with water toys-small plastic boats, turkey baster to squirt water with, and dont forget the bubbles; one with crayola water colors and paper and brushes, chubby colored pencils and crayons; one with counters and colored bowls for sorting, knock-off uniflex cubes that connect and a hundreds board with plastic markers.

Dont neglect music makers, we still own these they were inexpensive but durable

http://www.kaplanco.com/store/trans/pro ... 0&PID=0488
http://www.kaplanco.com/store/trans/pro ... 0&PID=0323
http://www.kaplanco.com/store/trans/pro ... 0&PID=1131
http://www.kaplanco.com/store/trans/pro ... 0&PID=1384
http://www.kaplanco.com/store/trans/pro ... &PID=89544

Author:  Anna1111 [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Don't forget the joys of good, old-fashioned "Bubble Soaps" - a sinkful of sudsy water with some cups, funnels, etc : )

Author:  Anna1111 [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Oh, I consider most electronic toys useless. but I like this one if she's able to find it

http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_US/alphie/

Since it's been around for decades, it may well be available on the second-hand market.

Author:  Tory [ Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

OH.. and those board puzzles. My nephew is 2 1/2 and he loves puzzles. Get the kind that have the wooden shapes cut out, that you fit back into the correct space, not the regular picture cut up into 50 pieces kind.

Author:  Ketty1234 [ Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Educational Toys for Preschoolers

Hi Neesa,

You should suggest her Lego toys or jumbled puzzles these are the very good educational toys for kids.

My 4 year old nephew loves to play with these toys.

Thanks

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