Nationally renowned brain-training experts Ken Gibson and Tanya Mitchell have created a free list to help parents shop for toys to help improve their children’s learning skills. “Our hope is that parents will shop wisely for toys this year, purchasing toys that can help develop the cognitive skills that make learning possible—like auditory and visual processing, memory, logic and reasoning, processing speed, and attention,” says Gibson. “Research now shows that learning skills can be taught—and therefore improved. Brain skills training does for the mind what physical exercise does for the body.”
“A parent whose child has Attention Deficit Disorder, for example, would want to shop for toys that improve attention,” explains Mitchell. “Likewise, a child who struggles with reading would benefit from games that practice sound blending and segmenting.”
Gibson is the founder of national brain training franchise LearningRx, and the co-author of “Unlock the Einstein Inside: Applying New Brain Science to Wake Up the Smart in Your Child” with Mitchell.
Things to Keep in Mind- A smart toy box will focus on all major learning skills
- Parents can help their kids get smarter at any age
- Brain research shows the brain continues to grow throughout life
- Parents should help prepare a good learner for school by developing learning skills
- Parents should take 30 minutes 3 times per week to work on developing these skills
- The best way to strengthen learning skills is to use fun, game-like activities
- Studies show that reading problems can be prevented.
$24.99 from Amazon.com
$9.29 from Buy.com (limited quantities)
Auditory Processing: to process sounds. Helps one hear the difference, order and number of sounds in words faster; basic skill needed to learn to read and spell; helps with speech defects.
Divided Attention: to attend to and handle two or more tasks at one time such as: taking notes while listening or carrying totals while adding the next column without making errors. Required for handling tasks quickly or completing complex tasks.
Executive Functioning: a constellation of several complex, inter-related mental operations or constructs, including the allocation of attentional resources, working memory, planning, problem solving, response inhibition, self-monitoring and regulation, and the maintenance of mental sets.
Numerical Concept: to understand the meaning of numbers and their relationship with other numbers and quantities.
PERFECTION$7.99 for the Perfection fun on the run travel version from Buy.com
$16.99 from Amazon.com
$19.94 for the original version from Walmart.com
Long-Term Memory: to store information and fluently retrieve it later in the process of thinking.
Numerical Concept (see above)
Numerical Fluency: to quickly, efficiently, and accurately apply relationships between number concepts.
Planning: to prioritize information and organize processes into a logical, sequential order.
Selective Attention: to stay on task even when action is present.
Sequential Processing: to process chunks of information received one after another.
Short-Term Memory: ability to apprehend and hold information in immediate awareness and use it within a few seconds.
Simultaneous Processing: to process chunks of information received all at once.
Visual Processing: to process and make use of visual images. Helps one create mental pictures faster and more vividly; helps one understand and “see” word math problems and read maps; improves reading comprehension skills.
SEQUENCE$18.33 regular edition from Amazon.com
$11.85 for the kids version from Amazon.com
$16.99 for the states and capitals version from Amazon.com
Logic and Reasoning: to reason, plan, and think.
Planning (see above)
Problem Solving: to organize information, define the goal of inquiry, plan a series of sequential steps and apply the steps accurately to satisfy the goal of inquiry.
Sequential Processing (see above)
Visual Processing (see above)
Working Memory: to retain information while processing or using it.
SQUINT$18.72 from Amazon.com
$12.05 for the Junior version from Amazon.com
Divided Attention (see above)
Inductive Reasoning (Induction): to make generalized conclusions from particular instances.
Logic and Reasoning (see above)
Planning (see above)
Processing Speed: the speed at which the brain processes information. Makes reading faster and less tiring; makes one more aware of his or her surrounding environment; helps with sports such as basketball, football, and soccer and activities such as driving.
Problem Solving (see above)
Sensory-Motor Integration: to have sensory skills work well with motor skills – i.e. eye-hand coordination.
Short-Term Memory (see above)
Sustained Attention: to be able to stay on task.
Visual Processing (see above)
Working Memory (see above)
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These websites and analyses are provided by LearningRx. We do not support any particular website or store, but just want to bring you some initial resources to find these games more easily! We searched for the best prices to keep these games within a reasonable budget. Have fun!
The Smart Mom’s Toy Box…Building your child’s brain skills without breaking your budget
To find out more about LearningRx’s programs for preschoolers, elementary students, middle and high school kids, college students, and adults, go to www.learningrx.com.
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