You can’t have all work and no play! Our favorite learning toys.
This post contains affiliate links.
You can’t have all work and no play!
I’m the first to say that I think kids learn an incomparable number of things through hands on work. But play is where they get to use their imagination and imagination is where magic happens! Especially with open ended learning toys. Kids come up with new ideas, learn problem-solving, and find their true interests.Â
What about electronics as learning toys?
I think electronics can be wonderful tools for learning and entertainment. However, we are what I call a “low electronic family”. I don’t monitor their electronic time with a timer or anything very regimented at all. We have a TV with a ton of streaming services, we have tablets, we have some video games and once the kids reach their teens, they get cell phones. Where I feel like we are different is that we limit these electronics through setting an example, tangible limits, and guidance. This isn’t a perfect system (there isn’t one). But we decided that we wanted the kids to learn how to regulate their electronic time with more self-regulation that will be sustainable through adulthood. I will write more on this topic in the future.
Let’s skip to the good part
My favorite toys are opened ended play items. I don’t think that the electronic educational toys are helpful as they are credited to be. If you have time to sit with the kids regularly and walk them through proper play, otherwise I think that you just have a noisy expensive toy. My style probably leans a little towards Montessori in this aspect.
All our favorite learning toys!
Many of these items have many options and I only listed our favorites or the best deal at the time of this post.
There are always more!
I am constantly finding more toys as my kids get older and hit new milestones. Be sure to subscribe for emails with new favorites and a notice when my affiliate store goes live this year!
Homestead Alphabet Coloring Book
The Homestead Alphabet associates farming facts with the alphabet using coloring pages and a variety of homestead activities. This is a great preschool through 2nd grade curriculum. The Homestead Alphabet purchase give you access to the Little Learner’s Library that is full of activities and pintables that make learning about homesteading fun and interactive.
This is a professional quality workbook, perfect for homeschool, preschool, after school, and on breaks from school! The paper is great for all coloring products and markers do not bleed through. There are multiple projects and free activities included in the workbook.
This is is an independent unit associated with the Build Your Own Homestead – Little Learner’s Edition. The alphabet workbook can be purchased on its own or it is embedded with the full curriculum. What to print yourself? Check out the printable version.
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