This Season's Guide to Educational Toys Helps Parents Choose the Best Products to Nurture Their Kids' Interests, Just in Time for the Holidays
NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a question as old as time: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And the answers are as vast as a child's imagination, running the gamut from rock star to teacher to doctor to mermaid. Many may dismiss these aspirations as childhood fancy, but studies have shown that the interests we have as kids influence our future occupations, with as many as one-third of people eventually choosing a related field. As the holiday season approaches, the experts at Noodle, the most comprehensive website for education information and resources, have teamed up with the Parents' Choice Foundation to create This Season's Guide to Educational Toys for Kids, a gift list to help parents choose educational products that entertain, teach, stimulate the imagination, and spark creativity — and that just may help their future filmmaker, chef, or novelist realize his or her dream.
"Childhood interests can drive our passions and talents as adults," said Suzanne Podhurst, Editor-in-Chief of Noodle. "And parents can help foster these interests with age-appropriate educational toys and games, like the ones found on our Guide to Educational Toys for Kids. Play is so important in helping kids develop skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving — which will serve them well as adults in any occupation."
Working with the Parents' Choice Foundation, the nation's oldest nonprofit guide to quality children's media and toys — best known for the Parents' Choice AwardsⓇ —, the experts at Noodle have curated lists for nine occupations, with a total of 59 toys, games, books, and more for children ages 2–16. Parents and friends can find recommendations for products to nurture and inspire kids in a variety of areas, from art and architecture to cooking and science — and beyond: There are also toy lists for aspiring filmmakers, veterinarians, and even stunt doubles. (Descriptions, pricing information, and age ranges are also included.)
For example, if a kid loves play-acting, then he or she might have a future career as a filmmaker or even stunt double, two of the more nontraditional occupations to make this year's exciting list. Recommended toys and games include a backyard zip line (for the kid eyeing a future as a Ninja warrior), a book-creation tool (for a young Judy Blume-in-the-making), a creativity kit (for your future Picasso), and a home physics lab (for your pint-sized Neil deGrasse Tyson).
According to seasoned filmmaker Angela Mancuso, who is currently executive-producing an upcoming series, Weaveworld, for The CW Network, exposure is everything. "My parents really supported my love of all things entertainment by taking me to Radio City Music Hall for all the Disney movie openings. I cherish how exciting those adventures were and in my career, it's that feeling that gives me the drive to create movies and programs that can inspire. The filmmaker gift guide is an empowering tool for parents, providing them exciting opportunities for fostering their kids' dreams."
Below is a list of the nine categories included in This Season's Guide to Education Toys for Kids. The full list and links to all of the recommended products can be found on the Noodle website - links to individual lists are:
Future Architect — Toys for Kids Who Love Building
Future Artist — Toys for Kids Who Love Art
Future Chef — Toys for Kids Who Love Cooking
Future Engineer — Toys for Kids Who Love Engineering
Future Filmmaker —Toys for Kids Who Love Movies
Future Novelist — Toys for Kids Who Love Reading and Writing
Future Scientist— Toys for Kids Who Love Science
Future Stunt Double — Toys for Kids Who Love Action and Adventure
Future Veterinarian — Toys for Kids Who Love Animals
Every shopping trip for holiday gifts is an opportunity to help a child explore something new. Tweet to @noodleeducation using #gifts to tell us what toy you're most excited about this holiday season.
About Noodle
Noodle is an education website helping parents and students make better decisions about learning. Using our interactive search tools, families can find the right preschool, college, tutor, or any other learning resource. In addition, they can read expert-authored articles, ask questions and get answers from some of the leading minds in education, and connect with others in their communities.
About Parents' Choice
Parents' Choice Foundation, established in 1978 as a 501(c)3, is the nation's oldest nonprofit guide to quality children's media and toys. Best known for the Parents' Choice Awards® program, Parents' Choice is a trusted, independent resource for recommending toys, games and media that bridge the classroom and the playroom. The Parents' Choice Award Seals are the Foundation's internationally recognized and respected icons.
Noodle Media Contact:
Karin Unger
646-515-6933 - [email protected]
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SOURCE Noodle
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