Educational Toys + Kids = Learning Part 2

Following my post in March, I have complied a list of educational toys that I use in my kindergarten everyday that I know promote kids learning and development. You probably already have some of these in your home which is great, you are on the right track!

The educational toys listed are certainly favourites within my educational program. The children love them! They are toys that promote imagination, creativity, problem solving, thinking and a range of developmental skills. What is great about them is that they can be used together to extend your child’s play opportunities.

Here are the best Educational toys for kids...

Role Play/Imaginative PlayToys: Wooden food, doctors set, dress ups, kitchen and cooking toys, dolls house, pirate ship, castle, figurines, dolls, plastic/wooden animals, dinosaurs, tools, tea-set, cash register, etc.

Wooden Cupcake Stand
with 12 Cupcakes

Kids Puppets: Hand puppets, finger puppets, marionettes

Kids Wooden Blocks: Stacking and connectable blocks

Transport Vehicles: Trains, cars, trucks, boats, planes, farm vehicles, construction vehicles, etc

Kids Games: Board games, card games, lotto games, dominoes, literacy games and math games

Art Toys: Art/craft kits, paints, pencils, collage materials, dough, clay

Skills Building Toys: Tap-tap hammering set, magnetic fishing game, bead frame, shape sorter, stacking toys, threading/beading, sequencing toys, manipulative toys, clock, children’s calendar

Orchard Toys Spotty Dogs
Number Recognition Game

Kids Puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles, floor puzzles, island puzzles (where the pieces fit into their own hole rather than connecting with other pieces)

Kids Science Kits: Mini volcano, telescope, globe, fossil digs, microscope, magnifying glass, magnets, flower press, insect viewer

Outdoor Toys: Croquet set, mini golf, skittles/bowling set, stilts, ball games, bubble blowers, hoops, dancing ribbons, gardening tools, tricycles, bicycles, skipping rope

Magnets Toys: Animals, dinosaurs, letter, numbers, shapes

Kids Books: Fiction and nonfiction

My First Calendar 

Happy Playing,

Emma
www.playhivetoys.com.au

Kids Pirate Party Theme Part 1

A friend recently asked me if I had any ideas for kids games, prizes and fun stuff to do at a birthday party she is hosting for her little man who is turning 4. He loves pirates so I put my teachers thinking cap on and came up with some themed pirate activities, games, gifts and prizes that I know will go down a treat with a group of young pirates!

A Great Dress Up Idea: Pirate Dress Up Play Tin

Of course a themed pirate party would be nothing without kids dress ups. Guests could come already dressed up or you could have a dress up/costume treasure chest at your front door with pirate shirts, bandanas, hats, eye patches, etc that guests could dress in as they enter.

Game Idea 1: Pin the Parrot on the Pirate

Draw or download and print a picture of a pirate on a large piece of paper. Then draw or print out several parrot pictures that are small enough to fit on your pirates shoulder.
Play by the rules of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Another Great Dress Up Idea: 3 Piece Pirate Costume

Game Idea 2: Island, Island, Treasure!

This kids game is a pirate take on the game Duck, Duck, Goose. All children sit in a circle facing inwards. A person is chosen to be the pirate and wears a pirate hat. These instructions are written from the point of view of the pirate.

Walk around the outside of the circle, lightly tapping each person on the shoulder as you pass by. As you tap each person, say the word "Island." Those that are named islands remain sitting down.

As you are walking around, decide on the person that you want to be the next “Pirate” and when you tap them say “Treasure” instead of “Island”. This person must stand up quickly and chase you around the circle. When you reach the “Treasure’s” former seat sit down before they can tag you, the person named “Treasure” then becomes the “Pirate”. Keep playing until everyone has had a turn or 2. There are no winners in this game so it can be played without prizes or everyone can get a small prize at the end for their effort.

Great prize for Pass the Treasure
or gifts to put in loot bags
Wooden Pirate Flexi Dolls Set of 6

Game Idea 3: Pass the Treasure

Wrap up a home-made treasure chest filled with prizes such as lollies, chocolates or small toys. Also include a larger toy for the winner of the game. Play like pass the parcel. When the winner opens the treasure chest they keep the large toy and can share the smaller prizes with everyone.

Game Idea 4: Pirate Treasure Hunt

Place small toys, prizes, chocolate coins, etc in loot bags (these could be small brown paper bags with a skull and cross bones drawn or painted on). Hide them around your house or backyard. Before the hunt show the guests an example of the loot bags they are looking for on the treasure hunt so they aren’t collecting random things from around your home or yard.

Gift idea for your little pirate
La Toy Van Barbarossa Pirate Ship

For younger children, hide loot bags around the yard/house and go on a treasure hunt.

For older children, draw a simple map of your backyard/house. Then draw X’s in the places you have hidden treasure for guests to collect during the treasure hunt. Make a copy for each player and off you go.

Stay tuned for the next post on excellent Craft Activities for a Kids Pirate Party Themed