Carlsbro Rebel Manual Dexterity
Frances Yarborough ( m. 2002)Children2, includingMilitary careerService/ branchYears of service1943–1946Battles/warsJesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian, best known for his role as Deputy on, a 1960s for which he earned five, and for his role as on the highly rated sitcom from 1979 to 1984. He also starred in multiple comedic films, including playing Luther Heggs in (1966) and Henry Limpet in (1964). In 1979 ranked him #27 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. Knotts receives his first for The Andy Griffith Show, 1961In 1960, Andy Griffith was offered the opportunity to headline his own, (1960–1968). Knotts took the role of Barney Fife, the deputy—and originally cousin—of Sheriff (portrayed by Griffith). Knotts's portrayal of the deputy on the popular show earned him five for, three awards for the first five seasons that he played the character.A summary of the show from the website of the describes Deputy Barney Fife:Self-important, romantic, and nearly always wrong, Barney dreamed of the day he could use the one bullet Andy had issued to him, though he did fire his gun on a few occasions.
He always fired his pistol accidentally while still in his holster or in the ceiling of the court house, at which point he would sadly hand his pistol to Andy. This is why Barney kept his one very shiny bullet in his shirt pocket. In episode #196, Andy gave Barney more bullets so that he would have a loaded gun to go after a bad guy that Barney unintentionally helped escape. While Barney was forever frustrated that Mayberry was too small for the delusional ideas he had of himself, viewers got the sense that he couldn't have survived anywhere else. Don Knotts played the comic and pathetic sides of the character with equal aplomb and he received three Emmy Awards during the show's first five seasons.When the show first aired, Griffith was intended to be the comedic lead with Knotts as his, similar to their roles in No Time for Sergeants. However, it was quickly discovered that the show was funnier with the roles reversed.
As Griffith maintained in several interviews, 'By the second episode, I knew that Don should be funny, and I should play straight.' Knotts believed remarks by Griffith that The Andy Griffith Show would end after five seasons, and he began to look for other work, signing a five-film contract with.
He was caught off guard when Griffith announced that he would continue the show after all, but Knotts's hands were tied. In his autobiography, Knotts admitted that he had not yet signed a contract when Griffith announced his decision; but he had made up his mind to move on, believing he would not get the chance again. Knotts left the series in 1965. His character's absence on the show was explained by Deputy Fife's having finally made the 'big time,' joining the Raleigh, North Carolina police force. Post-Mayberry film career. On a 1967 Andy Griffith special, Knotts plays the outraged wife of, as Griffith looks onKnotts went on to star in a series of film comedies that drew on his high-strung persona from the television series: he had a cameo appearance in ' (1963), and starred in ' (1964).
Knotts then began his Universal five-film contract with (1966), (1967), (1968), (1969) and (1971). Knotts reprised his role as Barney Fife several times in the 1960s: he made five guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show (gaining him another two Emmy Awards), and he later appeared once on the, where he was present as best man for the marriage of Andy Taylor and his longtime love,.After making How to Frame a Figg, Knotts's five-film contract with Universal finished.
He continued to work steadily, though he did not appear as a regular on any successful television series until his appearance on in 1979. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Knotts served as the spokesman for trucks and was featured prominently in a series of print ads and dealer brochures. On television, he went on to host a variety show/sitcom hybrid on, The Don Knotts Show, which aired Tuesdays during the fall of 1970, but the series was low-rated and short-lived.
He also made frequent guest appearances on other shows such as. In 1970, he appeared as a Barney Fife-like police officer in the pilot of. In 1972, Knotts voiced an animated version of himself in two episodes of: 'The Spooky Fog of Juneberry', in which he played a lawman resembling Barney Fife, and 'Guess Who's Knott Coming to Dinner'. He also appeared as Felix Unger in a stage version of 's, with as Oscar Madison.Beginning in 1975, Knotts was teamed with in a series of films aimed at children, including the film (1975) and its sequel, (1979). They also did two independent films, the boxing comedy (1979), and the mystery-comedy (1980).
Knotts co-starred in several other Disney films, including (1976), (1976), (1977) and (1978).Three's Company In 1979, Knotts returned to series television in his second most identifiable role, the wacky-but-lovable landlord on. The series, which was already an established hit, added Knotts to the cast when the original landlords, and her husband (a married couple played by and, respectively) left the series to star in their own short-lived spin-off series ( ).On set, Knotts easily integrated himself to the already-established cast who were, as put it, 'so scared' of Knotts because of his star status when he joined the cast. When left the show after a contract dispute in 1981, the writers started giving the material meant for Somers's Chrissy to Knotts's Furley. Knotts remained on the series until it ended in 1984. The Three's Company script supervisor, Carol Summers, became Knotts' agent and often accompanied him to personal appearances.Later years In 1986, Don Knotts reunited with Andy Griffith in the made-for-television film, again reprising his Barney Fife role. In early 1987, Knotts joined the cast of the first-run syndication comedy, playing Principal Bud McPherson for the series' remaining 13 episodes. The sitcom was produced by Martin Rips and Joseph Staretski, who had previously worked on Three's Company.
In 1988, Knotts joined Andy Griffith in another show, playing the recurring role of pesky neighbor Les Calhoun on until 1992.After that, Knotts's roles were sporadic, including a in the film (1996) as the principal of the high school. In 1998, Knotts played a small but pivotal role as a mysterious TV repairman in. That year, his home town of, changed the name of the street formerly known as South University Avenue to Don Knotts Boulevard on 'Don Knotts Day.' Also that day, in honor of Knotts's role as Barney Fife, he was named an honorary deputy sheriff with the Sheriff's Department.Knotts was recognized in 2000 with a star on the.
He continued to act on stage, but much of his film and television work after 2000 was as voice talent. In (2001), Enid (Thora Birch) is asked why she painted a portrait of Don Knotts.
She replies, 'I just like Don Knotts.' The portrait in the film may be the last visual image of Knotts in a motion picture. In 2002, he appeared again with in the video game. (Knotts also spoofed his appearances on that show in various promotions for and in a parody on, where he was teamed with.) In 2003, Knotts teamed up with again to provide voices for the direct-to-video children's series, which continued until his death. In 2005, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in (2005), his first Disney movie since 1979. On September 12, 2003, Knotts was in in a stage version of when he received a call from 's family telling him that his former Three's Company co-star had died of an that day.
Knotts and his co-stars attended the funeral four days later. Knotts had appeared with Ritter one final time in a cameo on for Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was an episode that paid homage to their earlier television series. Knotts was the last Three's Company star to work with Ritter.During this period of time, in both eyes caused the otherwise robust Knotts to become virtually blind. His live appearances on television were few. In 2005, Knotts parodied his Ralph Furley character while playing a variation in a sketch on. He parodied that part one final time in 'Stone Cold Crazy', an episode of the sitcom.
In the show, Knotts played Fez and Jackie's new landlord. This was his last live-action television appearance.
His final role was in (2006) (a direct-to-video sequel to ), voicing the sheriff's deputy dog, Sniffer.Personal life. This section needs expansion. You can help. ( August 2014)Knotts was married three times. His marriage to Kathryn Metz lasted from 1947 until their divorce in 1964. He married Loralee Czuchna in 1974 and they divorced in 1983. His third marriage was to Frances Yarborough, from 2002 until his death in 2006.
From his first marriage, Knotts had a son, Thomas Knotts, and a daughter, actress (born April 2, 1954).Knotts struggled with and., one of Knotts' co-stars on The Andy Griffith Show, described him as a 'very quiet man. Nothing like Barney Fife.' TV writer called him 'the most beloved person in all of show business.'
Knotts' graveKnotts died at age 81 on February 24, 2006, at the in from pulmonary and respiratory complications of related to. He had been undergoing treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the months before his death, but he returned home after he had reportedly been feeling better.
His body was buried at in Los Angeles.Knotts' obituaries cited him as a major influence on other entertainers. In early 2011, his grave's plain granite headstone was replaced with a bronze plaque that lists several of Knotts' movie and television roles. A statue honoring Knotts was unveiled on July 23, 2016, in front of The Metropolitan Theatre on High Street in his hometown of. Filmography. (1958) as Cpl. Brown.
(1960) as Sgt. Percy Warren. (1961) as Captain Harry Little. (1963) as the nervous motorist. (1963) as Shoe Clerk. (1964) as Henry Limpet. (1966) as Luther Heggs.
(1967) as Roy Fleming. (1968) as Dr. Heywood.
(1969) as Abner Audubon Peacock IV. (1971) as Hollis Alexander Figg. (1975) as Theodore Ogelvie. (1976) as Bert.
(1976) as Coach Venner. (1977) as Wheely Applegate. (1977) as Narrator / The Mule (voice). (1978) as Sheriff Denver Kid. (1979) as Theodore.
(1979) as Shake. (1980) as Inspector Winship.
(1984) as CHP Officer #2. (1987) as Gee Willikers (voice). (1996) as Principal Kokelar. (1997) as T.W. Turtle (voice).
(1998) as TV Repairman. (2000) as Muff Potter (voice). (2001) as himself in a portrait.
(2005) as Mayor Turkey Lurkey (voice). (2006) as Sniffer (voice; final film role)Television. (1953–1955). (1956–1960) as Himself. (4 episodes 1962–1964) as himself. (Season 4, Episode 25) as Lt.
Pratt. (TV series) (1961–1965) (1 episode 1964) as Barney Fife. (TV series) (5 episodes 1951–1971), (1961–1965) as Commodore of Lagoons / 'Steady Fingers' Ferguson / Horaces Horatio / Mr. Pallid / Herbie. (1960) as Esmond Metzger.
(1960–1968) as Barney Fife. (1961–1963) as Regular. (1 episode 1963) as Himself. (1966) (TV) himself co-presenter. (1967) (TV) himself host/performer. (1 episode #7.17 1970) as Himself.
(1970–1971) as Himself – Host. Don Knotts' Nice Clean, Decent, Wholesome Hour (1970) as Himself – Host / Performer. (1972) as Dr. Bradley. (2 episodes 1972) (TV) as Himself (voice). (1970–74) (TV) (2 episodes 1972–1973) as Himself. (1973) (TV) as Himself.
(1973) as Alexander Archer. (TV series) (1968–1974) (1 episode 1973) as Ben Fletcher. (4 episodes, 1974–1977) as Himself – Panelist. (1975). (1976–1977) as Himself (recurring guest). (1977) as Himself – Special Guest Star.
(1978–1979) as Felix Birdsong / Stanley Scheckter. (1979) as Herb Grobecker / Devon King. (1979–1984) as Ralph Furley. (1985) as Himself. (1986) as Barney Fife. (1987) as F.
A girl withEducational toys (sometimes called ' instructive toys') are objects of play, generally designed for children, which are expected to stimulate. They are often intended to meet an purpose such as helping a child develop a particular skill or teaching a child about a particular subject. They often simplify, miniaturize, or model activities and objects used by adults.Although children are constantly interacting with and learning about the world, many of the objects they interact with and learn from are not toys. Toys are generally considered to be specifically built for children's use. A child might play with and learn from a rock or a stick, but it would not be considered an educational toy because 1) it is a natural object, not a designed one, and 2) it has no expected educational purpose.The difference lies in perception or reality of the toy's intention and value.
An educational toy is expected to educate. It is expected to instruct, promote, emotional or physical. An educational toy should teach a child about a particular subject or help a child develop a particular skill. More toys are designed with the child's education and development in mind today than ever before.
Children's dollResearch on the history of toys and their use tends to focus on western cultures, but work has also been done on and the. Or made of wood, clay, wax or cloth may be the earliest known toys. Archaeologists have found them in sites from, and, and emphasizes their universality.Dolls can be seen as an early 'educational toy' because dolls acted as substitutes, allowing children to learn to care for living babies and children. Alphabet blocksThe identification of specific toys as having an explicitly educational purpose dates to the 1700s. In 1693, in, asserted that educational toys could enhance children's enjoyment of learning their letters: 'There may be dice and play-things, with the letters on them to teach children the alphabet by playing; and twenty other ways may be found, suitable to their particular tempers, to make this kind of learning a sport to them.' This type of block, one of the first explicitly educational toys, is often identified as 'Locke's Blocks'. 2) Dissected Maps.
Dissected map of Europe, John Spilsbury, 1766French educator may be the earliest inventor of the or 'Dissected Map'. Records indicate that she used some type of wooden map to teach girls geography in the 1750s. However, since no examples of her maps still exist, it is impossible to confirm that they were 'dissected' into pieces.
British cartographer is generally credited with inventing the jigsaw puzzle or 'dissected map' in 1766. He intended it to be an educational tool for geography. 3) A Rational Toy-Shop In (1798), and her father described a 'rational toy-shop' where educational toys would be sold. They proposed that such a shop should sell materials for a wide variety of activities including, and.: 13 An important advocate for the education of women, Maria Edgeworth's ideas about science and education were influenced by the philosopher, chemist, and educator and the exciting discoveries of the first. Edgeworth even suggested that children be given a play area for loud and messy educational activities, to support the development of 'the young philosopher', who she clearly expected to be well-to-do.'
To those who acquire habits of observation, every thing that is to be seen or heard, becomes a source of amusement. Most well ordered families allow their horses and their dogs to have houses to themselves; cannot one room be allotted to the children of the family? If they are to learn, or; if they are to take sufficient bodily without tormenting the whole family with noise, a room should be provided for them.In contrast to the Edgeworths, in Home education (1838) and in Womankind (1876) championed the idea of less structured, more imaginative play.: 13 The range of manufactured toys broadened during the but toys continued to be costly and belong to the wealthy. A toy might cost as much as a working man's wage for a week. Froebel's Gifts.
Some of Montessori's many manipulativesA wide array of manipulatives was introduced in the early 20th century. Based on her work in, her book The Montessori method was translated into English and published in 1912.
Montessori's curriculum focused primarily on tactile and perceptual learning in the early years, and was based on developmental theories and work with students. She emphasized practical exercises using ready-to-hand materials such as pouring rice or tying a shoe. She also developed sets of, manipulatives for learning mathematics and other skills and concepts.
Today, Montessori's methods are used in both homes and schools, and her manipulatives have been extensively studied. Her work was strongly motivated by slum conditions and the social and economic disadvantages facing poor women and their children.
Construction sets During (1914-1918), countries such as embargoed German goods, including toys. Later, toy-making businesses were established in Britain and other countries, in some cases employing ex-soldiers. Britain became a principal supplier of toys, to be followed by America, and later Japan and China. Toys became cheaper and accessible to more people.
However, the emergence of an industrialized toy manufacturing industry in Canada, Britain, and elsewhere was disrupted by the.: 148, and all appeared in the early 20th century, and were promoted as developing fine motor skills, encouraging free play and creativity, and introducing children to engineering and construction ideas.of designed the Meccano in 1899 to encourage his children's interest in. Patented as 'Mechanics Made Easy' in 1901, it became known as 'Meccano' in 1907. Educators were aware of societal changes caused by, and hoped to interest youngsters in possible new careers.In 1913, introduced the Erector Set with the first national advertising campaign for a toy. The Erector Set contained girders and bolts that could be assembled into miniature buildings or other structures, and was acclaimed as fostering creativity in constructive play.
In 1924, it was redesigned to include miniature and other pieces which could be used to create all sorts of self-actuated machines.Tinkertoy was developed and patented in 1914 by of. Sets contained interlockable wooden spools and rods that could be combined to make a wide variety of constructions. They were marketed in different sets, according to the types and numbers of pieces included, allowing them to be both and identifiable by difficulty level (e.g. Junior, big boy, grad). In addition to use as a construction toy, they have been used by scientists and students to model molecules, and even to build a primitive computer.Lincoln Logs were introduced in 1918 by, second son of the. They were inspired by structural work for the second, built in,.
For the hotel, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a system of interlocking timber beams that were intended protect the hotel against by allowing it to sway without collapsing. His son adapted the idea to enable children to build constructions that would stand up to rough play.
Carlsbro Rebel Manual Dexterity Pdf
In the 1950s, Lincoln Logs were one of the first toys to be marketed on television.Throughout the early part of the 20th century, a variety of new materials such as were developed, and manufacturing processes became increasingly automated. This supported the development of educational toys, including construction toys, since it enabled the standardization of pieces.
Toys such as Tinkertoy and Lincoln Logs, which were originally made of wood, were later also made in plastic versions.In the mid-1950s, more explicitly engineering-themed construction toys appeared, including plastic girders, columns, and panels that could be assembled into a model skyscraper. Later, this structural system was extended to a Hydro-Dynamic setup by adding pipes, valves, tanks, nozzles, and pumps to allow construction of model, and systems like a simulated. Other extensions of the system supported (Build-A-Home), or transportation systems (Skyrail).The building toy was originally developed by in, in the 1930s. The name Lego is said to be based on the Danish phrase leg godt, or 'play well', and is also translatable in as 'I study, I put together'. By the 1950s, the sets were becoming available beyond Denmark and Germany, eventually being marketed worldwide and surpassing all previous construction toys in popularity.
Lego bricks are versatile and are used by adults as well as children to make a near-limitless variety of creations. The company has created a line of kits for complex such as the. It has also partnered widely to create theme-based kits for franchises such as.In the late 1960s, introduced what would eventually become a versatile and powerful set of modular construction components, incorporating sophisticated pneumatic, electrical, electronic, and robotic capabilities. The company's products also achieved some success in the hobbyist and school markets, including programs, but was overshadowed by Lego in the consumer segment. Automatic marble sorter built withPretend Play Pretend Play is an imaginative activity in which 'children are playing as if something or someone is real'. 'This type of play benefits all areas of a child’s development and gives a child tools for experiences later in life such as emotional regulation, creativity, and logical reasoning'.
Carlsbro Rebel Manual Dexterity 1
Pretend play is important for the child's development in many fields, such as: 'social and emotional skills, language skills, thinking skills, nurturing the imagination'. Chemistry sets and science kits By the 1920s and 1930s, child labor laws and other social reforms were resulting in increased numbers of children attending school. As the amount of time spent at school increased, people began to see as a distinct life stage, with its own “youth culture”. With increased urbanization and use of cars, there were new options for after-school socialization, some of which were less supervised and allowed for contact across social, class, and gender lines. Teachers and post-depression parents worried that children would get into trouble after school and began to start after-school clubs. Scientific educational toys were produced and promoted to kids as fun, and to parents as keeping kids out of trouble and encouraging them to enter well-paying careers in science.
Chemcraft specifically used the slogan “Experimenter Today. Scientist Tomorrow” to market their chemistry sets.Although portable chemical chests had existed as early as 1791, they were intended for use by adults, rather than children. ’s Chemcraft set, marketed in 1915, was likely the first intended for children. By 1950, Porter sold as many as 15 different chemistry sets, ranging widely in price and contents. The was another leader, producing toys that promoted a wide variety of science activities. Their first sets appeared in the 1920s, and were followed by many others. Gilbert's toys included (e.g.
The Skil Craft Biology Lab). Other companies produced biological models such as the Visible Frog Anatomy Kit and human anatomical models such as the. In 1950, Gilbert even produced a toy targeted at potential physicists, the, including a with a small amount of radioactive material. During the, marketing slogans again reveal social tensions of the time, asserting that “Porter Science Prepares Young America for World Leadership”.Early chemistry sets included a wide range of hardware, glassware and chemicals, much of which is omitted from modern-day sets due to later concerns about possible hazards and liability. Modern chemistry kits tend to discourage free-form experimentation, containing a limited amount of specific nontoxic substances and a booklet specifying how they can be used for a specific project. Writers frequently lament that it is no longer possible for chemistry-set users to engage in the wide range of (sometimes hazardous) experimentation that attracted them to the field of chemistry as children.Though chemistry sets lost popularity beginning in the safety-conscious 1960s, they appear to be regaining interest in the 21st century.
A line of chemistry sets reminiscent of the traditional Gilbert and Porter sets was marketed as of 2012. Many modern chemistry sets are designed according to the guidelines of; using precise but smaller quantities of chemicals is more economical and safer than traditional setups.The related genre of science toys has also become popular.Starting in 1940, issued a series of kits, each focused on a single topic, such as,. Sold only by monthly mail-order subscription, these kits consisted of a small blue cardboard box containing basic materials and detailed instructions, usually to be supplemented by commonplace household materials and objects. The wealth of knowledge and entertainment that could be derived from simple and economical materials set a standard which would later be adopted by the pioneering, the in San Francisco.Marketing of science toys has tended to be heavily, with the majority of scientific toy marketing being directed to boys, with occasional exceptions. A 1921 review of Chemcraft chemistry sets stated that 'These outfits are more than toys. They are miniature chemical laboratories for boys and girls. This kind of play is most interesting and amusing to every youngster'.
In 1921, Chemcraft advertised a 'Sachetcraft' set for girls that could be used to make perfumes and cosmetics. In the 1950s, Gilbert marketed a pink 'Laboratory Technician' set for girls. It contained a microscope and factory-prepared slides, rather than the raw materials to make one's own slides for viewing.
However, the manual contained identical information to that given to boys. Part of the, 1950Computational toys As became more prevalent, toys were introduced to expose children to fundamental ideas in digital circuitry and their applications. Most of these toys were marketed as educational kits, with modular components that could be combined in various combinations to make interesting and entertaining creations.A bare-bones computing model was marketed in the form of a basic, consisting of three calibrated and a low-cost arranged in a circuit. This setup allowed simple computations to be performed, similar to a mechanical, but the accuracy was poor and the components could not be reconfigured in any useful way.Around 1955, computer scientist designed the computational toy, and in 1958 a similar toy called Brainiac. The construction sets used but had no and could not solve problems using.
Instruction booklets gave series of instructions for creating complex machines which could solve specific Boolean equations. Specific machines could play simple games like, or solve arithmetic puzzles, but the output resulted directly from the input given.In 1961, Scientific Development Corporation introduced the, a simple relay-based with a primitive memory, all designed by the pioneer of,. The expensive device attracted few buyers, and was soon upgraded and retargeted for the corporate technical training market. In 1963, marketed the low-cost, which allowed children to construct a simple digital computer, composed entirely of mechanical parts operated by hand. They could then play with it, watching as mechanical versions of “” demonstrated computations, solved problems in binary logic, and calculated simple.By the 1980s, expanding on the popularity of build-your-own and electronics kits from and, it was possible to buy a kit to build your own microcomputer. Such projects were enthusiastically recommended as a merit badge activity for.Modern-day toys have continued this trend, enabling kids to build their own circuits, machines, peripherals and computers.The Lego company expanded into the area of with its kits, introduced in 1998. With the software and hardware provided in the kit, which includes a system controller, motors, and peripheral sensors as well as ordinary Lego building blocks, children can create programmable robots.
Lego Mindstorms draws heavily on the learning theories of computer scientist and educator.More recently, is being used by teachers and students. Introduced by and the in the United Kingdom as an inexpensive option that would promote teaching of and skills in lower-income schools, it has also become popular with and engineers. Simple computers and game consoles that focused on children's learning started appearing in the 1980s, like this from 1988.Some manufacturers regarded standard personal computers as an inappropriate platform for learning software for younger children, and produced custom child-friendly pieces of hardware instead.
The hardware and software are generally combined into a single product, such as a laptop-lookalike. Such computers may be custom-designed standalone toys, or personal computers tailored for children's use.Common examples include imaginatively designed handheld game consoles with a variety of pluggable educational game cartridges and book-like electronic devices into which a variety of electronic books can be loaded. These products are more portable than general laptop computers, but have a much more limited range of purposes, concentrating on literacy and numeracy.Ergonomic hardware is fundamental for baby learning, where tablet computers and touchscreens are preferably used instead of keyboards and computer mice. Also, a sandbox environment is created, to disable the use of the keyboard (excepting some combination of keys that can only be typed by an adult), taskbar, and opening of other programs and screens. Child computer keyboards may use large and differently colored keys to help differentiate them. Baby and toddler computers include ABC keyboards.
Some child computers include as an early aid in learning typing. Small mice, about half the size of a typical adult mouse, or large are used in toddler's computers.
They are programmed for “one-click” operation. The case may be reinforced to protect it from misadventure. Such computers are not seen as a replacement for time spent parenting.5 Educational theories and play Sometimes described as 'the work of children', child's play can be viewed as the process through which children experience the world, practicing and internalizing new skills and ideas. Experiences include, reasoning about, and engaging in.' As children grow and learn, the repertoire of skills which they are developmentally ready to acquire expands, building upon previous knowledge. Play is important for children's cognitive, emotional, and social development.Teachers who use educational toys in classroom settings try to identify toys that will be appropriate to a child's developmental level, existing skills, and interests.
They try to engage children with toys in ways that support cognitive development. Many educators emphasize the importance of open-ended imaginative play, exploration and social engagement. Toys with the quality of open-endedness can be used by children in a variety of ways and at different ages and developmental levels. Educational toys vary widely in terms of their open-endedness and their potential for exploration, imaginative play, and social engagement.: 92–93 Play theorist Brian Sutton Smith, who advocates for free play, has asserted that 'the plans of the playful imagination dominate the objects or the toys, not the other way around.' : 65 Toys whose design is more heavily specified and restricted may be less intuitive for children to use, and require more engagement and support from adults. Many studies of educational toys report that the effectiveness of a toy is more related to the involvement and guidance of adults, or to the child's intellectual level, than to the toy itself.: 53Educational toys claim to enhance intellectual, social, emotional, and/or physical development. Educational toys are thus designed to target development milestones within appropriate age groups.
For age youngsters, simple wooden blocks might be a good starting point for a child to begin to understand causal relationships, basic principles of (e.g. If a block falls from the top of a structure, it will fall until a surface stops its fall), and develop patience and rudimentary. For a child moving towards, other, more sophisticated manipulatives might further aid the development of these skills. Interlocking manipulative toys like or puzzles challenge the child to improve hand-eye coordination, patience, and an understanding of spatial relationships.
Finally, a child in elementary school might use very sophisticated construction sets that include moving parts, motors and others to help further understand the complex workings of the world. Importantly, the educational value derived by the child increases when the educational toy is age appropriate. Measuring educational effectiveness Studies that examine the usefulness of manipulatives have found that outcomes may vary widely depending on physical characteristics of the materials themselves and the ways in which they are used. Emphasis is often placed on the importance of the physicality of the manipulative, but some work on teaching geometry concepts suggests that manipulability and meaningfulness are more important than physicality. Students who used a computer program that required them to consider their actions carefully learned more than students who learned from textbooks, and retained that knowledge longer than students who used physical manipulatives.
Marketing Toys are big business: the global toy market is estimated at over 80 billion US dollars annually. In 2013 the average household in the United Kingdom spent the equivalent of $438 US per child on toys, while US families spent $336 per child. In advertising, 'educational toys' are sometimes differentiated from 'promotional' toys, which are marketed primarily as part of a group of related products (e.g. Dolls, toys).: 86–89 It is also possible for these categories to overlap (e.g. ).The term 'educational toy' is often applied in to promote sales to parents.: 92–93 The packaging of many toys includes a table of skills and benefits asserted to be enhanced by use of the product.
The actual developmental benefit of these, by comparison to a cheaper, simpler or more easily available product, is often unproven. In many cases homemade educational toys may be just as effective as expensive purchased ones, as long as developmental issues are understood. Examples.