In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this article is the owner of Atomic Elephant Toy, a store offering science kits and educational toys for children of all ages. — As parents, how many of us have been disappointed shortly after the purchase of a toy for our child that he or she just didn’t seem to get much use out of? There are many ways we can place a value on a particular toy. I’m not talking about the cost, although that typically is a factor when initially choosing a product to buy. I’m talking primarily about what value the toy adds to the child’s life. Many will contend that all play is a valuable part of the growing up process and as such, all toys are valuable. And for the most part, I agree with this theory. But I also contend that some toys provide much more value than others.

Consider this example. You buy your child the latest Hotwheels set or Barbie Doll and he or she plays with it for a few hours over the course of the first week. The lifespan of a valuable toy will last much longer than this, and in fact, your child may continue playing with these toys over the next few weeks or months. But undoubtedly, the cumulative time spent playing with a specific toy will gradually decrease over time. And with some toys this decrease is quicker than others. The best toys may last for years - either directly (the toys themselves) or indirectly (the lessons they teach).

Now compare this example with buying a construction set for your child. The construction set itself may not last much longer than the Hotwheels racetrack. But while playing with it, the child is learning a completely different skill set. He is still using his imagination, but he is also learning cognitive reasoning, deduction, spatial logic and to some extent, the basics of the scientific process. Fast-forward a few months and both toys may be in the bottom of the toy box. But the processes the child learned while building something from his imagination has lived on. In fact, he or she has probably further developed these skills through other play and the general learning process.

Another factor in determining the overall value of a toy is simply by measuring how much play the child gets out of it. A great science kit that doesn’t arouse a child’s curiosity and never gets played with will obviously have less value than a young girl’s doll that gets daily attention.

The best scenario is a toy that teaches something (either short-term or long-term) but also gets a lot of play. A live animal kit such as Uncle Milton’s Planet Frog or the classic Ant Farm will likely provide several months of enjoyment for most children. But think of all the lessons your child can learn with either of these. With the frog kit, the child receives live tadpoles and literally watches them through the biological metamorphic stages from tadpole to adult frog. This is exciting enough in itself, but is an invaluable lesson in how living organisms work. The child will also learn some lessons in responsibility as the tadpoles and frogs will require some (albeit minimal) care to see them through the process. The child can also learn a lesson in compassion and ecology if you help them scout out and find a location to release the adult frogs back to the wild.

Similarly, observing an ant farm will teach your child the value of teamwork, the results one can achieve through perseverance, and simply the entomological aspects of these amazing insects. While kits such as these are a lot of fun themselves, these lessons could help to form the foundation of a lifelong love of learning.

Most of us will agree that as parents, it is our duty to see our children through the growing up process and to help them in any way we can. While doing this, either consciously or subconsciously we are always evaluating them on their progress. And likewise, we are always evaluating what they choose to play with and what we choose to let them play with.

So the next time you’re in the market for the latest toy your child can’t live without, ask yourself one simple question. How much value is this toy going to provide toward my child’s growth? Please don’t misunderstand me and think that I’m on the bandwagon that says the Nintendo and Playstation are the bane to our children’s future. I’m not, and truly feel that in moderation these toys can provide value as well. I’m simply saying that if you can get your child excited about learning to read or about a chemistry set, you’re providing a great service to your child and that you’re helping to lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

About the Author

Matt O’Neal holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry as well as a master’s in physics and an MBA. He is the owner of Atomic Elephant Toy, a store offering science kits and educational toys for children of all ages.