My son is energetic.
That is an understatement, and putting it nicely. He is constantly moving, talking, making noises, and (thankfully) learning. He is loving and kind, a sweetheart of a kid, but also very rough and tumble….His shoes last about 3 weeks….if that is any indication on how rough he is when he plays….which is most of the time.
Keeping his attention focused on any one activity is a feat of excellence. So, anytime I can find a learning activity which holds his interest AND is durable enough to withstand his attention, I know it is a quality item.
As a busy teacher-mom, finding quality toys for my kids seems like a daunting task. Fortunately for me, I work in a building full of teacher-moms ready to give me ideas.
So, in order to save you some time finding good learning tools for the energetic youngsters in your life, I’ll be sharing my experiences with different toys. I’ll include information about how well they hold the attention of a (very) busy 4 year old (or 1 year old as I come across good items there), and how well they survive the encounter. I am a teacher…..so you know I’ll be sharing my opinions on the learning aspects of the toys as well! I promise to only share Teacher-Mom Approved toys and activities!
In this first installment of Kid-Tested, Teacher-Mom Approved, I have included some of the best science learning toys I have found.
Jimmy is very interested in all things science for the last several months. He constantly asks about how and why things work. I love the curiosity, but the constant questioning is making me wonder if I know anything at all about science. (I mean seriously, how much rain IS in a hurricane???)
The first Treacher-Mom approved toy is the Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Talking Microscope. The microscope itself is made of hard plastic which withstands falling on the floor over and over again. The slides are easy for little hands to place and are sturdy enough for many repeated uses. Jimmy has had this toy for two months now, and still uses it almost daily. None of the slides are damaged, or even show wear and tear.
The one issue I have had is the volume is not changeable. It is currently set at “loud enough to be heard two rooms away” which is helpful when you want to learn all about the honey bee, but is an issue when you want the baby to sleep. Also, Jimmy has developed a slight Australian accent when he tells me about the black widow spider.
Personally, I like the Australian accent, I think it adds character, so as long as you are ok with that, this microscope has been a very cool toy. Jimmy has learned a lot, and so have I 🙂
The second Teacher-Mom Approved science activity is the Kids First Botany Kit. It comes with most of the needed supplies. You have to supply the water, but it comes with instructions on how to perform the 30 experiments.
When I bought the kit, I thought it came with 5-6 experiments, so this was a very pleasant surprise.
Parents need to help with the experiments, unless you want dirt, seeds, and water everywhere….I didn’t, so we did the experiments together. Working together was half the fun, great bonding time for Jimmy and I. The teacher in me couldn’t resist making this into more of a learning activity, so I made some experiment recording sheets to go along with it.
Jimmy has started recording his plants on the sheets with no words, but for future experiments, I will have him use the more advanced forms to practice writing and describing his observations. Click HERE for the free version. If you would like differentiated versions, click on the picture below to see them in my Teachers-Pay-Teachers store.
The final Teacher-Mom approved toy is not really science related, but has been a favorite toy and tool for 3 full months.
As I said before, Jimmy is very rough on toys, but this has withstood the test of almost-daily use. Also, the batteries just needed replacing today.
Jimmy’s grandparents gave the VTech Kidizoom camera to Jimmy for Christmas, and he has LOVED it since he opened it. He has taken over 1000 pictures, including pictures of his botany experiments.
The only issue I have with the camera is the games. Jimmy had the camera for a month before he found them, and I think he would have continued to love it without them. We don’t let him play video games on phones or computers, so he isn’t allowed much time on the games on the camera. I think the camera would be just as appealing without the games, and would love a way to block access to them.
Otherwise, the camera has been a fantastic toy for Jimmy, and I’m glad he got it from his grandparents!
Thanks for reading the first installment of Kid-Tested, Teacher-Mom Approved. If you have some great toys you use and love, let me know in the comments. Be sure to subscribe to Everyday Teaching Adventures for updates on all things education!