Learning through play: toys & games our kids adore
Setting our kids up for success is a priority for my husband and me, and we're always on the lookout for games and activities that are both fun and educational.
Reading has always been our top choice. Research shows that it is the most effective way to teach and reinforce proper grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure for children, especially bilingual children who assimilate two languages simultaneously. Moreover, Julien and I love reading, and we hope our kids share the same love for books as we do!
Books aside, below, I cover the games and activities our children reach for the most.
Map puzzle: As Franco-Americans, flying at an early age piqued the boys' interest in geography and nationalities. This puzzle is a favorite. You must put the countries in the right spot and match the flags to the corresponding country.
Lumi Interactive Globe: Our 5-year-old loves this globe. It asks questions like where the Sydney Opera House or the Eiffel Tower is, and you have to move the joystick to the right location.
Smithsonian kids space tablet: This tablet has been a great tool for learning about the planets in our solar system and space life in general, including asteroids and space shuttles.
Color Monster board game: The boys enjoyed the book so much that I decided to buy them the board game. For a few months, the boys made it a nightly routine to play before bedtime. It's a low-key way to end the day and discuss what makes us laugh, cry, feel calm, and so on.
Doctor dress-up kit: The boys love to dress up. We recently got this doctor kit with a play oxygen mask, gauze, and more. It's been a fun way to teach the boys about the different medical items and when to use them.
Electronic reader: Our 5-year-old is learning how to read, so he's enjoyed these read-along Marvel comic books.
Lunii "My Fabulous Storyteller": The boys love this audio reader. It doesn't have a screen, and it's easy to manipulate (turn on and off, choose your story, etc.). You can download stories in English and French. The website says it's for ages 3-7, but the boys both enjoyed it starting around 22 months.
Toniebox: This is another audio storyteller my kids adore. It's super easy to use. You place the figurine representing the story you want to hear. The boys' favorite of the moment is the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, so they put the caterpillar figurine on top of the box to start the story. In addition to the stories, the toniebox also plays songs.
Amazon Fire tablet: My mom got the boys Fire tablets. I recently set them up with customized content and time limits. Nico and Alex get screen time on the weekends and occasionally during the week. We avoid screens in the mornings before school. These tablets are customizable six ways to Sunday, but the setup isn't always intuitive.
What are your favorite educational games? Comment below!