The toy industry in the United States reported an impressive $22 billion in profits in 2006. While traditional educational toys included wooden blocks and putty, modern toys are designed to improve children's creativity as well as their social interaction and math skills. Educational toys teach a variety of important skills to children by creating fun-filled environments.
Many toy makers in the 21st century emphasize the use of electronic educational toys. For example, an electronic toy called LeapPad® made waves in the United States when it generated more than $680 million in sales. Due to the increasing use of technology in society, parents want to ensure their children develop the technological skills they will need as they grow into adults.
There is also a growing trend in the United States toward home-based learning. Parents of homeschooled children have found educational toys to be important learning resources, and toy manufacturers across the country are rapidly innovating to cater to this growing segment of the population.
Puzzles are favored by children as young as two years old, as well as teenagers. Other educational items such as arts and crafts kits, drawing and coloring books, and painting supplies also have huge followings.
Children's books have a large traditional base in the United States. Books have never gone out of fashion and never will. Despite the influx of electronic recreation alternatives, books offer a pleasurable and unique learning experience that children cannot get from toys and games.
Since children love interactive CDs and DVDs that combine fantastic visual experiences with fun and learning, most retail toy stores stock huge collections. Board games are also great sources of entertainment and learning for children. Children not only learn the rules of the game but also learn many values they can apply to their lives, such as fairness and self-control.
Retailers such as Toys"R"Us, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Hasbro, and Leo-Mattel are answering parents' demands for educational products. Hasbro has introduced a toy line called Baby Einstein. It consists of Baby Einstein, Baby Shakespeare, Baby Mozart, and Baby Van Gogh products.
LeapFrog has introduced the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System, Warner Brothers has introduced educational toys based on its classic line of characters, and scores of other companies have introduced a range of educational toys.
Many learning toys and games are available in the retail market today. Although parents are at liberty to purchase whatever they feel is best for their children, they should reflect on whether the toys they purchase combine fun with learning and translate into positive experiences for their children.
