| With so many toys on the market today, it is | | | | language skills and social growth, and helps children |
| sometimes hard to choose the best educational toys | | | | gain a better understanding of their personal feelings |
| for your child. Educational toys are toys that help a | | | | and ideas as well as the world around them. |
| child develop essential skills needed for success in life, | | | | Dolls, action figures, and their props are usually |
| including, but not limited to, thinking skills, social and | | | | popular pretend toys for young elementary schoolers. |
| emotional development, and the tools needed to | | | | Take care to select dolls and play sets that reflect |
| learn math, reading, and writing. Something as simple | | | | your personal family values. While many of today's |
| as a cardboard box can be an educational toy if your | | | | "popular" toys portray pop culture looks and |
| child plays with it in a creative way. | | | | attitudes, there are still wholesome dolls available that |
| When your child reaches the elementary school age, | | | | teach modesty and kindness. |
| he has a strong grip on many basic skills and has | | | | Early elementary age children enjoy using their |
| begun to develop many specific interests. Friends and | | | | still-developing fine motor skills as well as their |
| relationship gain extreme importance during these | | | | cognitive understanding to master new crafts, |
| years as well, so our child will engage in lots of social | | | | develop new creations, and to master fun games. |
| play. Early elementary age children still love to play, | | | | Remote control cars and planes are great choices for |
| but the best toys and games for this age are more | | | | this age. Young elementary agers may enjoy building |
| detailed and more advanced than those they played | | | | and painting models as well, but many may still need |
| with as preschoolers and babies. | | | | guidance as they work on these projects. |
| Early elementary age children have mastered most | | | | Continue to provide your young elementary age child |
| large motor skills like running and jumping and enjoy | | | | with a wide selection of books. Encourage him to |
| sharpening those skills with lots of physical play. Their | | | | read to himself and invite him to read aloud to you |
| social behavior and strong value of friends means | | | | and younger siblings. This is a good age to begin |
| many of these games and physical activities are | | | | selecting short chapter books to use during your daily |
| designed for group play. Team sports and backyard | | | | story time. Make puppets with your child and act out |
| games of baseball or tag are increasingly popular | | | | his favorite stories to make reading and |
| during these years. | | | | comprehension even more interesting. |
| Bicycles, jump ropes, and even skates are ideal | | | | Social board games are also great choices at this age. |
| outdoor toys at this age. Encourage your early | | | | Games like classic Battleship are not just fun, they |
| elementary age child to spend lots of time playing | | | | increase logical thinking and problem solving skills as |
| outside, especially with his friends. Outdoor play sets | | | | well as promote good sportsmanship and social |
| with swings and climbing features promote healthy | | | | development. Multi-piece jigsaw puzzles are also great |
| physical development and benefit your child with | | | | activities at this age. Puzzles enhance mechanical and |
| fresh air and exercise. Social skills continue to develop | | | | fine motor skills, concentration, and perseverance. |
| as well as children play together and follow rules for | | | | Young elementary age children also enjoy fun, |
| outside games like Hide and Seek. | | | | educational computer games. Educational software |
| Young elementary age children still learn about their | | | | appropriate for this age are available in several |
| world through pretend play. Outdoor forts or play | | | | specific interest areas and are designed to develop a |
| houses can provide hours of new adventures as | | | | number of various skills, including math, creative |
| children expand their imaginations with new and | | | | thinking, and logic. |
| unusual play scenarios. Pretend play enhances | | | | |