Electronic Learning Toys - for children of all ages

These days Electronic Learning Toys have developed to such an extent that they offer a fantastic resource for parents in their wish to help their children develop important skills.

If you are a parent then please consider choosing relevant learning toys to help your child's essential development.

I am not talking about the Electronic Toys that involve sitting for hours playing silly games. It is the games and toys that have been expertly designed to educate that I am recommending.

Of course, in proper educational games, a lot of the learning is encouraged through playing games, but the content is expertly directed towards the child's education. Usually there is a problem solving component which leads the children to learn in order to make progress.

You could say that any toy will help learning to a certain degree. But there is no doubt that the toys available today provide a proper structure for an increased level of learning. Also some of the electronic learning toys, due to connections to a computer, allow parents to oversee the child's progress.

It is important that children are not just presented with these toys and left completely to their own devices. The opposite is also true; that you should not 'interfere' too much! Children need to discover for themselves to a certain extent, but also parental support and encouragement is vital.

VTech produce some fantastic learning toys and the VTech VSmile Learning System is one of their main products.

The VSmile Learning System includes a console, joystick and a game cartridge. The main positives are:-

• Interactive - child must get involved completely to make progress
• Easy to set up
• Lots of extra games available
• Adjustable joystick for right and left-handers
• All games are age-specific and designed to teach appropriate curriculum-based skills
• Can be connected easily to TV

One negative, as with a lot of learning toys requiring continuous power, is that batteries keep need replacing. So it is advisable to purchase re-chargeable batteries.

Leapfrog is the main competitor for production of the console-based learning toys. I think the Leapfrog Learning System is the better one.

Main differences to note are:-

• Compact design means that children can easily play on the go
• USB connection provides online resources for child and parent
• Parents can follow progress through online connection
• Children obtain rewards when connecting online
• Online creativity studio allows children to upload art that they have created, amend it and publish it
• Tutorials adapt to children's rate of learning

The Leapfrog Learning System helps children from ages 4 to improve their skills in various subjects, including language arts, reading, mathematics and science.