As a parent if you are fretting about the ‘right’ toy to buy for your child — don’t. All toys can be educational if you support your kids’ imagination. But, if you still want to invest in educational toys, there are many benefits — cognitive development, enhanced creativity, emotional and social development. Every year a new term gets thrown at us: STEM is the way to go, no it’s STEAM now, open-ended learning is key — it’s overwhelming. Gone are the days when toys were meant just for entertainment. In going with this flow and keeping up with the times, I discovered a few brands that genuinely engaged my child and his friends. I became a believer. When I read about them the benefits became clear — it was all about making learning fun. Here’s a list of the ones that worked for me and my child…
Bloon toys
The bedrock of these is deep play. Bloon toys is driven by holistic learning. The principle is simple — kids learn from playing between the ages of two to seven. The toys are designed for open ended learning. They are minimal and leave more room for exploration and growth — they literally grow with the child. The toys are designed using responsibly sourced natural materials. The pikler has been a favourite for my son from age 1.5 and we are still using it actively two years later.
Age: 1 year onwards
Edu Fun
Namrata Binani and Dinesh Binani started Edu Fun in 2007 with a vision to make unique and innovative toys that ensure learning is fun. The wooden teaching aids and Montessori material will engage your little ones comfortably. Pretend play wooden sets, phonic play, memory games are all stepping stones for cognitive and motor development during the early years.
Age: 2 years onwards
Young Plum
An educationist and a designer came together to make toys for skill building and make play time safe for children. Their sustainable toys help children learn as they play and are categorised into themes, festivals, habitats ensuring play and skilfulness. The wooden toys are great for sensory play, reasoning and logic and language development. Young plum toys are collectibles that you can keep building on as your child’s interest grows — my son loves dinosaurs and their prehistoric series is a hit for him. The animal track stamps are sure to be a success too with all children.
Age: 2 years onwards
Desi Toys
Desi Toys is an ‘India Inspired, India Made’ brand. It is not just reviving the classic and iconic Indian toys and games but also constantly innovating new products keeping the nostalgic factor and desi touch alive in each product, is what makes them stand out. Kids can get their mind working with Desi Toys’ Nav Kankari or nine men morris, the classic Snakes and Ladders as well as with a game of Pachisi or Choupad. All come with crafty boards and are an enjoyable way for children to pass the time. There’s also Bhool Bhulaiya (maze), memory card games, tic tac toe, snake cube puzzle and chess, and brain-building games, which was born out of founder Sapna Wagh’s childhood love of traditional games
Age: 2 years onwards
PlayShifu
In 2016 two fathers realised that screen time becomes unavoidable when kids grow up and wanted to make screen time more meaningful. The result — they made PlayShifu, which makes learning more empathetic. Their tech powered toys merge learning with fun and provide a delightful user experience. Shifu Plugo and Shifu Orboot have been a hit with almost every child that has engaged with it. Their easy interface allows children to learn about topics like dinosaurs and space, solve mysteries and develop their skills.
Ages: 4-12 years
Havi
Havi makes toys and tools that inspire to play, create and perform. A robotic toy store, Havi offers DIY robotic kits and creativity toys for children between the ages of six and 13. Their Havi elements are a collection of easy, intuitive, colourful snap-fit electronic blocks that are durable and can be used to create innumerable toys. It easily facilitates knowledge of robotics, electronics and STEAM to kids and adults while they create and have fun.
Ages: 6 years onwards
Edu-Toys
A multi-brand online store with a myriad of games, puzzles, books and gadgets, Edu-Toy lets you choose the right game for the right age. Their team is super helpful and easily accessible, and offer guidance for what you can pick for your child.
Check them out here.
Plenty of evidence shows how playing with toys is an essential aspect of children’s development. Children of all ages enjoy playing with toys and the different roles their toys play in their make-believe games and fantasy worlds. But toys can be much more than simple playthings. If we can find toys that help our children grow and advance their abilities — it’s a no-brainer.
The author is an economist and full-time millennial mother, struggling to cope with daily chores