Nowadays, parents need to devote much time and attention to their kids, as apart from building good values, it is also vital to build imagination, concentration, self-confidence and sociability skills. Learning games and toys open a fascinating plethora of possibilities that cater to the skill levels of children of different ages.
They broaden experiences and make a conscious effort to boost learning while the kids are at home, school or even travelling. Vikas Sharma of Eupheus Learning, an ed-tech startup based out of Delhi that provides Curriculum and Technology led learning solutions suggests a curated list of some fun mindful educational kits that you can guiltlessly splurge on to kickstart the imagination of your kids and to excite as well as encourage them to participate in their all-around developmental cycle.
Check it out:
Smartivity Edge
Age Group: 3 years and older
Availability: Smartivity Edge Jungle Safari
It is also available for free on the Android and IOS App.
The global market for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based educational toys is valued at $29 billion and is expected to grow to $35 billion by 2020. But, today’s educational system is marred by rote learning and so there is a major need for learning-based and engagement driven activities that not only initiate problem-solving but also push your child towards a technology-driven future.
How it Works: This learning game engages your kids and enables them to learn through a variety of STEM-based learning kits that contain around 100-200 supremely interactive activities that young minds need to assemble referring to the manual and then play with them.
Benefit: Promote learning and exploring by doing by helping children understand the practical applications of STEM concepts through Smartivity Edge. This exciting game employs Augmented Reality (AR) and STEM principles to diversify your child’s experience as they get to learn about a variety of themes. A child’s imagination and social skill thrive when they play with toys that provide them with an opportunity to express their own thinking.
Price: Price Range – ₹ 179 to ₹ 300 varies as per age group.
Cubetto (Primo Toys)
Age Group – 3 and above
Availability: Primo Toys Coding Kit
Programming is indisputably the new literacy that is leading to a growing emphasis on computers and use of other digital utilities in our educational system. Therefore, parents who are looking for toys that nurture the basics of computer programming through adventure and hands-on play into their kids learning regime will find the apt solution through Primo’s Cubetto. This product has been brought in India by Eupheus Learning, an Ed-Tech company with curriculum and technology led learning solutions for the K-12 segment.
How it Works: A friendly wooden robot, a physical programming board, and a set of colourful coding blocks make up a programming language or code, your child can touch. Offering a fun and engaging way of learning the principles of coding through a myriad of themes and subjects, it teaches Literacy, Numeracy, Math’s, Science and many more. Apart from that it also helps them to develop important proficiencies such as spatial awareness, teamwork, and storytelling.
Benefit: Screenless, friendly and ready to play; this is literally your child’s first coding set. Cubetto is the most crowd-funded educational technology invention in Kick starter’s history, and Primo Toys is a Highway 1 alumnus and the winner of numerous prizes worldwide.
Price: ₹ 24,340.18
Step & Learn (Wizefloor)
Age Group: 3 to 12 years and also with special needs
Availability: Kinaesthetic Tools
The key to the best kinesthetic mode of learning for kids is though Step & Learn (Wizefloor). Formulate a hands-on learning experience and strengthen your child’s basic concepts through this award-winning interactive learning game. Recipient of the Red Dot Design Award as “Best of the Best in Education”, Step & Learn (Wizefloor) applies break-through tracking technology to it improve your child’s learning by activating their gross motor functions. It combines play, learning, and movement in the most interesting way. This product has been brought in India by Eupheus Learning, an Ed-Tech company with curriculum and technology led learning solutions for the K-12 segment.
How it Works: From a projector in the ceiling, different learning-games are projected onto the floor. The children use their hands and feet to interact with the floor and solve the games.
Benefit: It is an interactive floor that promotes collective and differentiated learning styles and needs through play and physical activity. It also stimulates the sensory system by staging a playful atmosphere along with improving learning by activating the gross motor functions. Step & Learn also develop collaboration and teamwork amongst children from a young age.
Price: Price on Request
Laugh & Learn Touch Screen Tablet
Age Group: 12-36 Months
Availability: Fisher Price Laugh And Learn
Trust us; your child is way more accustomed to digital tools than he/she is to pen and paper even in their nascent stage. Umpteen brands have come up with creative escapades that augment listening skills, attention skills and overall social skill development within your toddler. Laugh & Learn Touch Screen Tablet is one such item.
How it Works: Built with Smart Stages technology, this exciting item helps babies develop at their own pace owing to its variety of developmentally appropriate songs, phrases and sounds within three levels of play. The baby can press any one of 28 app buttons to activate sounds with music and unlock learning about letters, first words, animals and more. As far as the noise levels go, brands make sure their tablets are manufactured and tested to not damage children’s hearing ability.
Benefit: Hands-on exploration, imitation, and imagination through early role play introduce a myriad of new experiences to the baby.
Price: ₹ 1,403.04
Flintobox
Age Group: 2- 12 years
Availability: Flintobox also available on Google Play
Promoting early child development in a fun and explorative way is the Flintobox. Catering to the 12 developmental areas of a child, Flintobox incorporates play-based activities into the basic development of habits and the overall skill development of your child. These easy learning activities are age-appropriate and have multiple benefits attached to it.
How it Works: Receive fun and creative activity age-appropriate play-based activities and worksheets through the subscription box on your smart-phone with a new theme every month.
Benefits: From overall brain development to enhancing cognitive, sensory and motor skills of your child; the activity kits introduce fresh concepts, easy learning for just about any interest. Additionally, this research-based box has been crafted by Montessori experts and child psychologists.
Price: Subscription-based for 3 months and 6 months.
