Toys and Activities that can Help Your Child Learn to Write

In the early stages of life, your child begins learning to make sounds that slowly turn into what we refer to as "baby talk". During these early months, your child is learning to mimic your speech, so it is best to speak normally and not in a "baby" voice. In another few months, your child begins scribbling โ€" all activities that eventually help your child learn to write. Here are some other activities and tools you can use to help progress this learning.

Introduce Letters

The magnetic alphabet

One of the most popular toys for introducing your child to writing is the magnetic alphabet. There are also alphabet puzzles with larger letters that easily fit into a wooden puzzle. Learning to identify letters will soon have your child spelling simple words.

When you child has learned all of the alphabet, this is also a great time to start spelling simple words and even your child's name. The letter pieces are always brightly colored to keep your child engaged.

Introduce Phonics

Phonics cd rom

There are educational systems that skip phonics and go straight to sight words. What has been seen with this approach is that children don't improve quickly in their spelling and writing. There are CDs or computer downloads that you can purchase with flash cards to teach your child the basics of learning the sounds of letter and letter combinations.

This is important for your child to learn how to sound out words correctly, so when he or she does begin to write, the ability to sound out the words means fewer spelling errors. If your child is learning only sight words, he or she may even experience the difficulty in putting words together to form sentences.

Writing Pads

Writing pads designed for children can be great activities. They come with rows of particular letters, where your child can then join the dots to write the specific letter. This is fantastic practice, guiding them enough so that they won't get totally confused. There are some electronic toys and tablet games that do the same thing, but if you're on a budget then writing pads are all you really need to begin with.

Once your child gets through the alphabet, teaching them how to spell his or her name is very exciting and builds confidence. You can then help them have fun and practice by letting them sign their name on cards for relatives. This is a great motivator to help your child learn to write!

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The Benefits of Buying Tablet Computers for Children

Children these days are so at one with technology, even toddlers seem to want to play on smartphones! By sheer observance, your child will be keen to do what you do and play with any gadget they can get their hands on. We all know how much a tablet can add to an adult's life, but are they right for children?

There are a number of negatives associated with the use of tablet computers by children, such as decreased attention span and less imaginative games. However, there are certainly positives that come with this technology too.

Education

At the ages between three and five, specially designed kids tablets are made to be very durable, and incorporate large buttons for small hands. These devices focus on the beginning stages of learning with games for shapes, numbers, and letters.

As a child grows, he or she will be ready for the same tablets that adults use. You may want to pick one with Internet browsing protection, plus a shutoff timer to prevent your child from sitting for hours using this device. That way, your child can benefit from learning games and reading digital books, but without spending entire days glued to the screen.

Entertainment

All study and no playtime does not allow your child to be well-rounded in this life. Your child needs to have that flexible time to enjoy entertaining games. And of course, pretty much any child would love to have a tablet computer to play on!

There is nothing wrong with having some time for fun, which you still have the authority to control. And these games can really come in handy when your child is waiting for you at an appointment that is taking longer than expected, or on long car rides. The key is not to always rely on the tablet to entertain your child.

Freedom

As your child develops, they will need more access to technology from which to research their school assignments. You may have one computer in the house that you need for work, making it unavailable to your child.

As schools are demanding more use of technology from your child, there needs to be the freedom of information available. As parents, some of us may feel this is wrong, but it is something we can't change and need to be flexible with.

It's important to weigh up all the pros and cons, and only you can decide at which age it will be appropriate for a child to own a tablet of their own. And remember, you don't necessarily need to spend a lot on a tablet.

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The Pros and Cons of Wooden vs. Plastic Toys

For years there has been much debate about plastic toys whether they're eco friendly enough or safe enough for our children. But plastic toys are still hugely popular in comparison to wooden toys. Despite differing opinions, there is one thing that parents will always agree on, and that is the safety of toys.

Wooden toys

Advantages of Wooden Toys

The most recognized advantage of purchasing wooden toys is durability. Wooden toys seem to last for what seems like an eternity, being passed down from generation to generation. Wooden toys are environmentally friendly, and if they do break it is safe for landfills and will break down without hazard toxins. (Although you must be careful when buying second hand that they weren't coated in lead paint.)

Many parents also see wooden toys as more traditional representing the past. This was a past when children didn't have technology to distract them, so they needed to use their imaginations to have fun.

Disadvantages of Wooden Toys

Wooden toys are harder than plastic toys, which might make it easier for children to hurt themselves. Chewing wooden toys can also lead to splinters in a child's mouth or swallowing of pieces of wood. However, if you purchase wisely then you can find wooden toys designed with all these factors in mind

Plastic toys

Advantages of Plastic Toys

Plastic toys are often less expensive than wooden toys, making them a great option for those unable to afford different types of toys. Plastic toys are washable; therefore, easier to disinfect and keep clean. They can also be exciting for a child to play with, due to the different colors and ability to bend and twist into different shapes and even into gadgets like tablet computers. Most plastic toys have also become BPA free, making them healthier for kids.

Disadvantages of Plastic Toys

Plastic toys are not as durable as wooden toys and tend to break easily, especially when smashed and bitten by young children. If small pieces break off from the plastic, they can easily be swallowed by children and become a chocking hazard. Plastics are also known to put off harmful chemicals into the environment, and many parents don't like those electronic, noisy toys!

The best choice that you can make for your child is to select toys that you can afford and that are the safest for your child at his or her appropriate age. As children get older, more choices become available as the stage of teething subsides. Always read what the toys are made of, and avoid any painted toys for a young child.

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The Drawbacks of Buying Tablet Computers for Children

Tablet Computers for Children

While the potential benefits to your child's mental growth are many, there are also multiple drawbacks of buying tablet computers for kids and teens. Depending on the age of your children, they may treat the versatile and powerful minicomputer in their hands in a rough-and-tumble manner. And for parents of multiple children, the idea of spending several hundred dollars each to purchase their children their own tablet PCs is daunting by itself, especially if the devices will be mistreated.

One of the most concerning drawbacks of buying tablet computers for children concerns how the child will use the device. Though a parent may have the best of intentions, without strict monitoring the powerful computer may simply turn into an all-day movie or music player. To address those concerns, some tablet manufacturers have included child monitoring applications and software, which allow you to set limits on the content your child accesses, as well as limiting exactly how long they can spend enjoying different activities such as web surfing and viewing videos.

And in a day and age where child obesity is rampant, many parents may think twice before supplying their children with yet another mobile PC which might contribute to less exercise and poor physical fitness. There are of course multiple fitness applications and games your child can interact with which are available for download to the most popular tablet computers, but will your child use them?

Another major drawback which parents run up against when they are shopping for tablet computers for their tween, teen and college aged children concerns features. A shopping parent has to compare screen size, resolution, processing power, RAM memory and a ton of other features, to make sure they are purchasing the right product for their child's end-use. With literally hundreds of tablet PCs to choose from, this can be difficult for even a tech savvy parent.

And of course there is the child's short attention span which must be taken into account. Today's kids demand instant gratification, and while a tablet PC may be a well-received gift when presented, it may simply end up battling for your child's attention along with his smartphone, laptop, hand-held gaming devices and other well intended gifts and toys.

Parents wanting the best for their kids need to thoroughly consider the many drawbacks of buying tablet computers for children. Cost and content accessibility are among the primary concerns, and rightfully so. You should also consider whether your child is old enough to properly care for a tablet PC. And don't forget that your best intentions may simply see a tablet computer collecting dust and unused shortly after purchase. As long as you bear these factors in mind, you may be able to leapfrog the many drawbacks of a tablet PC purchase for children and teens, and score the perfect gift.

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