
Children under 3 learn best through having fun and play they do not always need the latest toys. They can learn maths, fine motor and gross motor skills through everyday activities. Here are a few tips on every day play activities you can do with your children.
Remember that boys like to see the point to learning something before they put effort into learning something new. This really helps to motivate them to stick with something and practise it.
PATTERN RECOGNITION: Sort socks by colour, size, pattern etc.
GEOMETRICAL: Match the lids to the right plastic containers.
COUNTING: Setting the dinner table, children learn the importance of counting and are able to practice it.
SIZE: Get children to use one of their plastic/dinner knives to cut play dough into different sizes and ask them which are the largest and smallest.
FRACTIONS: As they get better at sorting and size you can ask them to cut some play dough into 2, 3 or 4 equal pieces.

The oldest educational learning toys were probably the abacus developed by the ancient Chinese. This is one educational learning toy that worked the child’s brain to the extent of teaching him complex mathematical solution techniques that could be later carried out in the mind.
That is exactly what educational learning toys should do – develop the thinking process of the child through play and solving problems. The best way to this is through active play.
The more fun the children’s toys the more they will play with them and the more they play the more they will practise.


