The Preschool Homeschool

When some people think of learning toys they picture mini-toy computers and electronic learning games. Although these toys do have a place in the educational spectrum, they aren’t the best choice for preschoolers. My daughter received a mini-laptop for Christmas. While she likes playing with the small mouse and having a kid-sized computer, it’s not her favorite toy. Her favorite toys are ones that require no batteries, don’t make any funny sounds or have a computerized voice saying “Bye-bye!” every minute and a half. Her favorite toys are her kid-sized pots and pans set, her apron set and her beauty salon.

These toys are her favorite because they require imagination and imitate real-life. She cooks everything from soup with ice cream in it to pancakes and ketchup. She gathers all her makeup and pretends to be a famous stylist with her pretend curling iron, blow dryer and scissors. Granted, she makes me look more like a KISS band member than a movie star, but she’s proud of what she’s done. So the best learning toys aren’t always the ones that make the most noise, have bright colors, scream at you in a computerized language, or require you to sit in front of the TV.  Here’s my daughter enjoying some of her toys - we’ll keep it a secret that she’s actually learning!