Early Learning Toys You Can't Live Without

[knstrick]

I desperately need to expand our learning toys, but I also have to give a shout out to the iPad. The sheer convenience of having Little Reader easily available (even the smaller course demo) when we're traveling and waiting, in the car, or just lounging on the couch has made a big difference in how much time we've spent looking at words. Of course, we also try to balance our time with books, but guess what- iPad has those too. I'm all about promoting traditional reading and downplaying tv time, but you can't deny that the iPad and technology like it is the future and will be around whether we promote it or not. Might as well teach moderation and self-control while they are young.

[maryOfUS]

Here are the list of early learning toys that my one year old doesn't get tired of playing with and I hope this helps you and other parents as well:
-Leapfrog Fridge Words Magnetic Word Builder (Lower case letters) & LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set (Uppercase letters) (These toys have ABC song that my child loves to sing with while dancing. She loves to say each letter out loud and the sound that it makes. She's starting to spell a few words as well.)
-Melissa and Doug chunky puzzles- alphabet, numbers, shapes, clock puzzle and more
-books (Yup! She too considers them as toys and she loves to read them to her stuffed animals    )
-Ipad (She learned a lot from using the Ipad like geography and the US presidents to name a few. There are a lot of Educational IPad apps out there and the possibilities are endless! She's allowed to play with the IPad only in moderation though )

Here are some of her videos while playing educational game apps. She enjoys playing while learning. :

Identifying Presidents:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yd3WMFEwEnA&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/yd3WMFEwEnA&rel=1</a>

Canada map puzzle:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/c_pkBAmppsM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/c_pkBAmppsM&rel=1</a>

USA map puzzle:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XmSS9xLyDtY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/XmSS9xLyDtY&rel=1</a>

Alphabet puzzle:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4ONOZo7ZJNw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/4ONOZo7ZJNw&rel=1</a>

[Kerileanne99]

One other VERY simple thing we played with from about six months on...I gave my daughter to plasic measuring cups in the bath...A pseudo- Montessori activity as they are not glass,but you can't check for tiny chips in the bath...but it works wonders for measuring, pouring, washing hair, even conversions..I.e., do you want to pour eight ounces on your had or one cup? Oh, silly mommy!...
Plus, great for concepts like transparency, fractions, and strengthening overall grip strength. Plus, easy to clean...
I swear, even after over a full year of this, A still finds new and imaginative ways to play with these! I truly believe these have helped facilitate her love of all things mathematical.

[LDSMom]

That is a great idea! I think I may do the same although my son is a bit older. Kudos to you!

[knstrick]

She is adorable MaryOfUS! And so bright too!

I'm curious, what apps is she using and where did you get that nifty iPad holder?

[Mandabplus3]

Yes!!! That's exactly how great the iPad is! Amazing learning, multi sensory to boot!
The presidents App is from the same people as Stack Countries, which is the all time favorite in this house! I owe someone a karma for that recomendation! Anyone who visits gets challenged to join in and they all download it before they leave too!    stack countries has flash cards for little ones, but i have yet to get it to read out the questions? Anyone? It would be good for the kids to hear those long country names they are reading Ethopia is hilarious the way my girl reads it 

We put random kitchen mixing bowls/ cups/spoons/ladles into the bath and rotate them around...lucky I have plenty of Tupperware! Anything that squirts water is a favorite immediately..for them not me! 

[eschlem]

My almost 2 year old loves Little Reader on my iPhone as well, very handy because we are on the go alot. 

As much as I use all the technology available to us, I can't forget the value of tactile learning.  DadDude's Fleschcards, printed out and cut, were extremely helpful in teaching my 4 year old to read. She liked to turn them around to look at the pictures intently, and then set them aside in an orderly fashion.  DadDude's Readingbear.org website, also fantastic.

The Starfall.com website taught her how to read the words in a sentence.

Our number line floor mat is extremely helpful in teaching my 4 year old addition.  (I would say, hop forward 2 times from... for plus 2, etc.).  Also our number line desk tapes. 

I do like the Montessori manipulatives and how they make abstract concepts concrete.  The manipulatives in the Mathtacular set look appealing as well.

[maryOfUS]

@knstrick
The Ipad stand we are using is available at BestBuy.
http://reviews.bestbuy.com/3545/1248271/rocketfish-stand-for-apple-ipad-reviews/reviews.htm

My child uses these apps:

Presidents VS. Aliens
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/presidents-vs.-aliens/id427418941?mt=8

Canada Puzzle Map
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/canada-puzzle-map/id493515735?mt=8

USA Map Puzzle
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/advanced-puzzle-map-of-usa/id438087944?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2

Tozzle (My daughter loves puzzles and this app is her all time favorite!)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tozzle-toddlers-favorite-puzzle/id306169895?mt=8


I will also add iWriteWords and FirstWords. My daugher loves them too!

FirstWords:Deluxe
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/firstwords-deluxe/id337462979?mt=8

iWriteWords
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iwritewords-handwriting-game/id307025309?mt=8

Btw, thank you for the compliment on my daughter =)


@Mandabplus3
I will check the Stack the Countries app in a bit. My daughter and I loves to play geography apps.

[Kerileanne99]

MaryOfUs-
Also take a look at Stack the States when you are in the App Store! It is by the same company as Presidents vs. aliens and Stack the Countries and My hubby and I have been SCHOCKED at our daughter's progress, especially in the 'pile-up' section!

[Kballent]

I think it is interesting how this post ended up being an iPad debate, but I am going to add my 2 cents anyway.  While I do not have an iPad, I would absolutely love one.  They are so versatile and can teach so many different skills, if used correctly.  I think, like with everything else, parent monitoring is crucial for it.  However, as someone else mentioned, the educational apps for the iPads bring early learning to children who's parents may not have done much for them otherwise.  I am working on a masters in education and we end up talking about how best to utilize technology constantly.  It is a part of our kids world and will be for the rest of their lives.

Back to toys, we absolutely love the stacking blocks (Melissa and Doug carry some, as well as many other brands).  We play with other types of blocks as well.  I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, be we get a ton of mileage out of small manipulatives, like counting bears and porcupine balls.  Form sorting and counting to fine motor practice (or just plain scattering across the room), the possibilities are endless.  We play with a lot of wooden puzzles, and of course, books are the winner in our house, hands down.

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