Page 31 - Inspire Health November/December 2016
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that teach, too The Albaneses are both former teachers. from the STEM initiative is ThinkFun. Albanese
Vincent Albanese highly recommends says the company makes “A Laser Maze
By Patrick O’Donnell and a Gravity Maze, and they’re coming
“anything by Rubik’s.” out with something called Circuit Maze, for
When you’re looking for children’s That’s right, the makers of the original 3x3 children 8 and up.” The goal is to arrange
gifts, it’s easy to be overwhelmed pieces to complete a circuit that lights
by the dizzying selection of toys, electronics puzzle cube are still around, but now make colored beacons.
and gadgets. variations such as 4x4 and 5x5 cubes, as well
Relax — it’s child’s play. as a game called Rubik’s Race. “They’re really If robots and building are more up the child’s
hot, and I like it because it gets kids away alley, Albanese recommends Geckobot, by
While there’s no shortage of flashy from tablets,” Albanese says. Thames & Kosmos. “It’s kind of Erector Set-ish,
options, developmental toys and educational but it has a motor and suction cups, so it can
games have been steadily gaining popularity. Albanese also suggests selections from the walk up walls and windows . It’s something
More toy and game manufacturers are SmartGames company. “Little Red Riding different from your average Legos.”
developing products that integrate logic, Hood Deluxe is a preschool puzzle game
reasoning, language stimulation and motor for 4-7 year-olds,” he says. “It’s a logic game: Not that Legos and other types of
skill development — meaning more toys [The child] tries to put pieces on a grid in the building blocks are bad. They come in
seamlessly combine fun and education. right way to get to grandma’s house.” numerous forms and sizes for different age
groups — from wooden blocks for early
“I like that the trend in toys is going SmartGames’ offerings tap into a education to more intricate, themed sets
toward learning, rather than ‘here’s a relatively recent push for STEM toys: science, aimed at older children.
gun, now go shoot at something,’ says technology, engineering and math. STEM toys
Vincent Albanese, who along with his often include robot-building kits, toys that And finally, don’t forget the tried and
wife, Michell, owns Learning Express Toys help test the boundaries of physics and even true standards: dolls, puppets, dress-up toys
in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. kits geared toward scientific experiments. and action figures, all of which stimulate the
imagination. A 2012 Psychology Today article
Another game maker taking inspiration cites studies that show a marked increase
in cognitive benefits such as language use,
empathy, emotional expression and more.
