Electronic Games for Children
For parents who grew up playing outside, the overwhelming number of electronic toys for your child may seem daunting. Some parents even try to avoid electronic toys, afraid it will hamper their child's natural creativity or intellectual growth. While the Parenting Institute does caution against overuse of electronic games, it also states that moderate use can be advantageous. With a bit of preparation, you can find electronic toys for your child that are both enjoyable and stimulating.
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0 to 2 Year-Olds
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Even babies have electronic games to choose from. Some, like the Baby Einstein Touch and Explore Discovery Book and the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Kitchen, are even recommended by Parents Magazine as among the best toys for babies and toddlers. In the Baby Einstein book, children can push buttons to learn shapes, colors and animal sounds. In addition, the book asks the child questions to enhance understanding. Other valuable learning games include the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Piano and the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Counting Machine. In both toys, your child can explore music while also learning numbers.
3 to 5 Year-Olds
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Kids in this group have an even greater assortment of electronic learning toys. Some of the more popular ones include those made by VTech Learning Systems and LeapFrog. The VTech laptop teaches children letters, numbers and shapes, as well as basic phonetics. The LeapFrog Tag Reading System goes one step further by allowing your child to hold an electronic pen, and read along with a book's text. In addition, LeapFrog sells a library full of extra book cartridges so your child won't tire of the books. Smaller children can begin to learn letters with the LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set, then practice consonants, vowels and word recognition with the LeapFrog Tag book of their choosing. Popular titles range from Toy Story to Cars.
Other games for this age group are electronic, but have value beyond learning academically. One popular toy, lauded by Parents Magazine for combining "educational video games with physical activity" is the Smart Cycle. With this toy, your child rides a bike while playing an assorting of educational electronic games. The other toy craze of the year involves Zhu Zhu Pets, electronic hamsters that make dozens of sounds and help with tracking.
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5-7 Year-Olds
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As well as more advanced LeapFrog learning books, kids of this age can enjoy a more diverse range of electronic games and toys. A traditionally popular toy is the Remote Control vehicle, which now is available in the form of airplanes, boats and helicopters. Another toy recommended by Parents Magazine is Twist and Shout Multiplication, a light-saber shaped toy that kids twist and turn to learn basic arithmetic.
Your child can also play with you or his or her siblings with an electronic board game. Popular games include Pogo Scrabble, Yahtzee, Chess, 20 Questions and Catch Phrase. In addition, your child can sing and improve her reading speed by playing the Carly Portable Karaoke machine.
In the age of robotics, your child can also experience his own robot with the RoboQuad, a remote-control robot that sees in the dark, walks, makes sounds and even does a funky little dance.
7 and up
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As children begin to learn more at this age, electronic games help solidify their understanding. The GeoSafari Talking Globe has been a popular choice in learning countries, geography and water bodies. Snap Circuits Extreme and other circuit board activities introduce your child to the science behind electronics.
Parents Magazine placed the Spy Gear Spy Video TRAKR among its toy toys of the year. The Spy Gear TRAKR is one of the only toys to keep up with the new fad of downloading apps. Your child can download adds for the toy and direct the remote controlled vehicle into other rooms, where an electronic screen and microphone project their image and voice to other family members.
For family time, your child can play Scene It? Disney Edition. In this game, you and your child watch Disney clips and answer questions based on the clip or Disney trivia.
Video Games
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Video games are a favorite for older teens, but should be used in moderation. For the past several decades, video games haven been a favorite activity among children. Popular Video game systems include the Sony Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and Microsoft XBox. Each gaming system features age-appropriate games such as the Mario series, Dora Learning and sports games. In addition, your child can play games while doing physical activity when playing the Wii and Xbox Kinect. In these gaming systems, your child can dance, box, play tennis or run. Wii even has a WiiFit game specifically meant to encourage physical activity.
While your child may enjoy these games, the Parenting Institute reminds parents to use video games in moderation. The Institute states that videos games can hurt a child's academics and cause some desensitization to violence, but in moderation they can have the positive effects of enhanced hand-eye and motor coordination and stress relief.
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References
- Photo Credit rc - modell image by andreas from Fotolia.com Video game controller image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
