ABSTRACT
Building sets and blocks can increase children's visual-spatial, visual perception, and spatial visualization skills. These toys may lead to higher achievement in math and science. Surveys by the toy industry indicate that children in the United States receive an average of over $300 worth of toys annually. Arts and crafts kits help develop eye-hand coordination and foster creativity. Board games can help develop deductive reasoning; enhance social skills, such as how to be gracious winners and losers; teach problem-solving skills; increase student's knowledge of cause and effect relationships; increase vocabulary; foster creativity; and sharpen motor planning. However, when an adult becomes involved in an activity with a child, talks about the activity, shares thinking and reasoning, and encourages the child to do the same, the child learns from the adult and develops discussion and explanation skills. The Literacy Booster Event, parents/caregivers are offered suggestions for gift-giving and an opportunity to model guided problem-solving and verbal scaffolding that can enhance learning.
