This right here is one of the most popular education-based toy around. And it's a video game system.

If I were pressed to defend the educational value of video games, I probably couldn’t do much other than say they can teach reading, math, problem solving, community interaction, cause and effect, and hand-eye coordination skills, so really I’d have an uphill battle talking about their benefits (wink). However, there are a handful of very popular toys being sold this very second to parents wishing to give their kids a little boost in the learning aspect of playing while still making sure the toy is fun (gotta love parents). But just what are some of the most popular educational and learning toys right now?

Yay! A noise-maker for kids!

Heard of LeapFrog? You probably have since they’re selling tons upon tons of electronic toys aimed at teaching kids. It just so happens one of their best-selling products is a video game system called the Leapster. It looks like a mutant Game Boy but plays like something with the explicit purpose of learning in the foreground. However, you can easily fool a kid into forgetting he’s learning something when the character in the game is Batman. LeapFrog also has a wide variety of other electronic-type toys with the Learn & Groove Musical Table for kids (a thing that makes noise), the Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo (a thing that makes noise), or the Scribble and Write (I’m sure it makes some sort of noise, it is a child’s toy after all).

Responsibilities! Exciting!

If, perhaps, you’d rather not futz with noise or electronics in general, our good friends Melissa & Doug have more than enough toys made of wood and magnets. Sometimes simple can be best, and Melissa & Doug tends to make very high-quality toys that last and last. It’s hard to beat a magnetic alphabet set or a magnetic responsibility chart. Sure, kids hate responsibility, but disguise it with magnets and they’re sold.

Dang that kid looks happy. I want some of those blocks!

Fisher-Price is still around and doing just fine, by the way. Do you remember them from your childhood? I sure do. I had all sorts of plastic blocks and shapes and steering wheels and things of that nature from Fisher-Price, and I’m happy to say they still make all those things with their Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks staying as a bestseller. Their Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote may not really be in the same category though. It may say “Sesame Street: on it, but it also says “Silly Sounds” which is code for “Lots o’ Noise.” Just get the blocks.

Hooray for bugs! What, you don't like bugs? That's science!

It’s also cool to see that the Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden is up near the top in sales. Why is that? Bugs, while super gross, are also super cool. Plus, it’s impossible for kids to find bugs in the house, so they have to go outside. If they can find tons of bugs inside, you’re teaching your kids something wrong. I was always happy as a kid with a bug net and a jar to keep my findings in. I assume kids haven’t changed too much since my childhood.

This is an incomplete list of the bestselling Education and Learning toys, but it’s a good start for sure. If all else fails, I can’t think of a single kid that’d say no to “Imagination Time” with their loving parents. In fact, I might just call my dad and see if he’s up for a game of it right now.

I bet you haven't heard of this one, have you?

My hope is that by now you have enough confidence in me and my choices to trust just about anything I say. I’m going to need you to continue doing just that because there is a pretty cool book in today’s Comic Book Club that needs to be read. I’ll just give the name first and let you ponder it for a second: Chickenhare. Really yet? Let’s get started.

Highly Recommended, Yet Under-read

Chickenhare is a graphic novel series written and drawn by Chris Grine, currently in technically its third volume. Ooh, I’m already getting technical on you, and I haven’t even explained what a “Chickenhare” is. Slow down, I’ll get to these things. Consider first that the books are recommended by not only Jeff Smith (the author of Bone), but also Stan Sakai, the creator of the series Usagi Yojimbo. Those are two hefty endorsers there, but can the book really be that good? Well I’m endorsing it too, so yes.

As you can see, it's got a very cartoony look to the art. Good stuff there.

Alright, the story follows Chickenhare, a half chicken, half hare character, and Abe, a bearded turtle, as they get themselves into a few rough situations, the first involving being sold to a taxidermist where they meet Banjo and Meg, two mysterious characters. That makes up the primary group for the first book. The second book involves them going to the Underworld to…okay, go read it because I don’t want to spoil things.

I’m a big fan of the art style here since it’s very clean and crisp. The books also don’t get overly wordy, though they don’t skimp on the action. I’ve been consistently impressed that the books push right at the door of being in the realm of older audiences, yet can be read by any age group and enjoyed. All-age friendly without seeming all-ages friendly? That’s good work there Mr. Grine.

Your Call To Action

Dark Horse published the first two books called House of Klaus and Fire in the Hole, respectively, but poor sales forced them to decide to nix the option of a third volume. So what happened as a result? Chris Grine opted to write and release it for free as a web comic at his site www.chickenhare.com. Go take a look after you read the first two volumes. There isn’t a whole ton of the new story up yet, but what’s there has got me hooked on yet another story arc.

We want you to live, too, Scabby. If only more people were reading your book.

Overall, Chickenhare has all the elements of a seriously great yet seriously underrated comic. These are the series you really want to get into for the following reason: No one else knows about them yet. This is how you become a real comic snob without having to read tons of things. I’m giving you the tools to find something worthy of cult status before it hits, making you part of the original fans and not just bandwagon jumpers. Opportunities like this are rare.

That’s all for today. Go read Chickenhare and tell your friends to do the same. I want this series to keep going, so let’s rally support for Chris Grine and Chickenhare!

With thirty games and activities to teach language, math, and music, the VTech Laptop is sure to keep the kids occupied for long car rides and rainy days while creating an opportunity to exercise that brain.  At around $25 it’s not too expensive if more than one must be purchased to stop non-sharing squabbles.

The mouse pad is removable and can be set up for either right-handed or left-handed use.  There are two color styles available – one is orange with other primary colors and one is mostly pink.

Find the VTech Preschool Laptop here.

The keyboard is designed to have the alphabet in letter order rather than the standard QWERTY keyboard used on most computers.  This feature has gotten mixed reviews, but serves to keep the ABC learning consistent rather than confusing kids during a learning game.

Yes, the kids will need to train themselves later for QWERTY, but at this age they are typing with one finger at a time anyway.

What makes a toy a learning toy? It is quite possible that any toy can be a learning toy — from coloring books and building blocks on.

But most people have something quite different in mind when they talk about learning toys. So when looking for something interactive with an educational spin I found a good place to start — the toy awards.

The LeapFrog Reading System

The LeapFrog TAG Reading System exceeded expectations by the Toy Industry Association for the Educational Toy of The Year this February at the Toy Fair in New York. Judging from LeapFrog’s continued success I think we’ll see them taking home more awards in this category in the future.

These toys have been dominating the marketplace for years and their educational value is not to be decreased as the popularity increases.   LeapFrog has come up with new variations on their basic design and more options are in the works I’m sure.

Check out this popular variation, the LeapFrog Fridge phonics set.

The basic sets are available for checkout from some libraries (think of donating yours to the library when your kid out grows his), and this allows even those with limited disposable incomes (more and more of us as the economy plays its tricks) to keep fresh games available for the kids.

The need for an interactive reading toy is apparent in a culture where so many kids sit passively in front of a television all day. By turning off the TV for a little bit each day and allowing the child to read — even with electronic aids/stimulation — there is an interactive quality to the entertainment now being offered.

Parenting: The Best Way for Kids to Learn

As these learning toys advance it’s also good to remember the basic learning toys  — parents! There is nothing as developmentally stimulating as a parent’s attention and cooperative play. This doesn’t have to cost a dime & the learning (both mental and emotional) can be beneficial to all the participants. So, grab a book and read together, or make a fort out of a clean sheet in the living room.

Or take fifteen minutes to play cars — it’s not much of your time, but it’s a world of fun for that little growing person.

Scare up a puppet that you design!

To warm up the appetite, check out Melissa and Doug’s Make Your Own Monster Puppet set. You can design your own monster by adding parts such as scary teeth, antennae, mysteriously thick eyebrows, and bizarre hair-dos.

There’s no glue or mess; just swap out the parts you like to create an original monster puppet.  Melissa and Doug have done it again, creating fun toys that are safe and easy to use for a wide range of ages.

This is a great way to get the younger kids involved in Halloween.  Who knows, maybe if you bring your monster puppet with you during Trick-or-Treat, the puppet will get its own share of the candy loot.

For more great toys by this toy maker, check out our Melissa and Doug toy round up.

Some up-and-coming educational toy vendors this year include Insect Lore, Alphabet Jigsaw, Brainstorm Limited, Happy Nature and Mudpuppy.  These are all quality toy makers committed to education, traditional toys, and natural products.

I admit I’m also pretty excited about the unveiling of Star Wars Bobble-heads!

Here’s how it works: every cute and cuddily Webkinz pet comes with a secret code.

Your child pops this code into the online companion site for Webkinz, and then she can navigate around a virtual world built for these imaginative creatures.

From our research, we have found that Webkinz World is great for kids for three reasons:

1. It encourages responsibility. The main activity on-line is taking care of your pet. Feeding it, exercising it, and playing with others all contribute to the health of your child’s Webkinz. The values of responsibility are built right in.
2. It encourages learning. This is really innovative: in order to get the “KinzCash” to pay for your pet’s food, your child has to play educational games. Brilliant.
3. Webkinz has a chat feature that really is safe. I’ve tested this myself. You can’t type in bad words, most proper nouns, street addresses, etc. There are two levels of chat and both are stalker-proof. Now if only MySpace could figure this one out!

So Webkinz World passed our test for its commitment to innovation, education, and safety. As we have suggested before, truly great toys do more than entertain. Great toys educate, deepen social connections, and help children uncover their own imaginative powers.

Toys send messages about what is truly important, so choosing toys well can have long-lasting positive benefits on children.  Experts disagree on what toys are the best for kids.  There are two main camps: the technology lovers and the traditionalists.

The technology-loving experts suggest that electronic toys provide the best educational applications.  These toys usually entertain and teach through interactive displays of pictures, lights, and sounds.  Many electronic toys bank on babies’ fascination with buttons – every parent who has a remote control in the house knows about the power of buttons.  So, the technology experts argue that electronic toys are best for teaching young children about cause and effect and hand-eye coordination – two important behavioral learning skills.

Next we’ll discuss the traditional toy enthusiasts.

Baby Toys
In general, babies like toys that stimulate their curiosity, and parents like baby toys that are safe. Simple toys are best. Choose ones that are vivid in color, have varying textures, and make exciting sounds. The key for babies is to choose a toy that is responsive to them. So consider toys that rattle or make noises when buttons are pushed. However, stay clear from toys that are loud or annoying – remember that parents will be hearing these toys bleeping and mooing all the time too.

Toddler Toys
Toddler toys are similar to early infant toys in that they are designed to develop a child’s curiosity about the world through interaction. Basic educational toys can provide hours of fun while teaching a toddler about colors, animals and shapes.

The difference is that toddlers also are becoming more socially aware. So pick toys that can be played with or shared by two or more children at a time. This early group play is important for developing social skills. Simple puzzles and other goal-oriented toys are appropriate here, so toddlers can learn how to play together.

Preschool Toys
This age group is where educational toys really take off. There is no shortage of creative toys designed to teach preschoolers about numbers and the alphabet, just remember to stay away from loud and annoying electronic games. Most electronic games allow you to test the sounds in the store – always a good idea. Popular choices beyond the basic blocks are interactive talking books and talking plush animals.

There are even simple snap-together model kits that are safe for preschoolers; this is a sure hit for children who like to build things. The trick with this age group is to pick a toy that is educational but still engaging, and also one that can “grow” with the child as he or she develops more skills.

On the other hand, don’t overdo it.  Kids become frustrated just as quickly as they learn, so it’s important to have some guidelines in mind.  These guidelines will help until parents figure out their child’s unique sensibilities.  Yes, “sensibilities” is an euphemism for what causes a child to become overwhelmed and shut down.  Follow these suggestions, and that delicate balance may be achieved a little easier.

* Keep tabs on what toys your child plays with.  If some educational toys are left gathering dust, do a little research: ask directly!  At first, you’ll probably hear how the toy is boring, but some non-judgemental supervision might reveal the real deal: that the toy is either above or below your child’s skill level.  Simply being there while your child plays can provide this insight in hardly no time.

* Many electronic educational toys have multiple skill levels.  Do some supervision to make sure that the skill level is appropriate.  This is one trick that many parents fail to do and end up throwing their toys into the wastebasket.  Again, all this takes is a few moments of playing with your child to see if he’s blasting through the game or is too quickly stumped and overwhelmed.

The main point here is to be careful of the “it’s boring!” line – this is a clear message that the toy may be too hard or too easy.  Boredom is actually very difficult for a young child to achieve.  Teenagers, on the other hand, excel at it.

The next post will include some more suggestions about riding that fine line of challenging  children without overwhelming them.

Alphabet blocks, in addition to being fun to chew on, also aid in intellectual development. Toddlers and twosies will naturally begin to sort their blocks based on the characters.  This piques their interest in letters, numbers, and colors, providing easy and ample opportunities for parents to teach them what everything is called.

This same natural learning method is great for introducing math, too.  Numbered blocks can help with counting, and eventually impromptu lessons on addition and subtraction are possible.

For babies, learning really is fun.  Many new parents are surprised how voracious their baby’s appetite is for soaking up information.  The old cliche that their minds are like sponges is readily seen during a simple activity like playing with blocks.

Later down the road, a child’s natural aptitude for building blocks will explode once Legos or other smaller blocks are introduced.  Although many Lego-type sets are now marketed to build a specific robot or vehicle, it is recommended that you get a basic set of the building blocks.  These often come in a bucket which can also be useful on its own.

These smaller blocks are popular up to age 12 or 13 usually, so it’s possible to get more than half a dozen years of use out of them.  Don’t throw them out when your child leaves home though; there’s bound to be another Lego-lover just around the bend.  These toys are always useful to have around.

So just because we as adults may find blocks boring, keep a set at the ready if you are planning on entertaining a child for an afternoon… or a decade.  That same set will still be useful years later, as their imaginations grow with the possibilities.  There is no other toy with as many uses as building blocks.

Kids of all ages are entranced by blocks.  Babies gaze at them with perplexed and almost mystical looks, and toddlers delight in crashing through a simple wall of delicately balanced walls.  When kids get older, they really get going with elaborate towers, fanciful creatures, and mini cars to drive around in.

For such a simple toy, there’s more to blocks than meets the eye.  These toys are more than just a way to keep kids occupied (although they’re great for just that purpose) – blocks actually are one of the best educational toys around.

For example, blocks can aid in the social development of your child.  Two or three toddlers playing with blocks can be a great social bonanza – although I recommend supervision at first.  This is how cooperation’s seeds are planted early in life.  As your children get older, having these block-building friends will teach them a lot about how to work together.

Blocks can also help toddlers with their physical development.  Babies can increase their grasping power by playing with blocks.  Hand-eye coordination is another skill that is targeted.  Maybe you’ve noticed that infants like to throw blocks or drop them onto other objects; this is how they are discovering the basic principles of physics on their own.

So if you own any glass coffee tables, well, now is the time to change the decor.

Stay tuned for more benefits of this timeless toy.

Think about it: what is one of the best selling toys of all times? Answer: the Hoola Hoop. It does not get much simpler than a plastic ring, but everyone knows how addictive it can be to learn to Hoola Hoop correctly.

Of course, the history of toys goes back much further in time. In fact, some of the oldest artifacts found in prehistoric sites are stone doll figures. It is easy to imagine how tens of thousands of years ago little girls would carry around their favorite figurines and play house as they help with the daily chores… not too different than today.

Educational toys have also been the most successful toys, as well as a big help to busy parents. In 4000BC the first board game was invented, an early version of checkers. Three thousand years later, the first kite was invented in China. These timeless toys and games remain so interesting because they test children’s meddle, not because they are flashy and attractive.

Today, parents know that the toys that are the most attractive to their children at first are also the ones that get abandoned in the lawn three hours later. The mark of a good toy is something that reflects back the child’s own curiosity, something that can grow with the skill level of the user.

Tapping the human imagination is the key to entertaining and teaching children. The best toys – from past to present – make use of this bottomless well of excitement.