Educational toys encourage children to learn

Educational toys encourage children to learn

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Educational toys are becoming increasingly popular in
Indonesia as more parents are aware that such toys are closely
related to the childhood learning process. Educational toys help
children to have fun while they learn.

"More parents these days seek toys with educational aspects
and, therefore, our toy stores have a special corner for what we
call 'edutainment' products, which combine education and
entertainment," said Irawati, advertising & promotion manager of
Fashion & Kidz Division.

Normally, safety is one of the big concerns when a parent is
purchasing an educational toy. The size of the pieces, their
fragility and the toxicity of the materials used are all points
to consider. Despite the wide variety of materials used to make
toys, like wood, rubber, metal, faux fur and plastic, most toy
stores are selective in choosing the toys they stock.

Supermarkets, malls and plazas in big cities mostly have a
special counter selling such kinds of toys. But if you want to
find a more complete selection of educational toys, then you can
visit Kidz Station, Toys 'R' Us or in Matahari Department Store.

Kidz Station outlets can be found in shopping centers and
malls in nine cities in Indonesia. Major Kidz Station outlets in
Jakarta include the ones in Plaza Senayan Mall, Pondok Indah
Mall, Plaza Indonesia, Lippo Karawaci, Sunter Mall and Kelapa
Gading Mall.

The stores carry action figures, toy sets, collectibles and
popular remote and radio-controlled cars. Barbie dolls, still the
rage among Indonesian girls, come with many accessories, dresses
and in different ethnic representations. Bratz dolls, with a
funkier and more fashionable look, are getting popular among
girls.

There are also kitchen sets and other toys for girls to "play
house". For boys there are model cars, action figures, countless
computer games, and Digimon school supplies. You can also find
such increasingly trendy toys as Crush Gear Battle Robots and B-
Daman, all intended for boys.

Many toy products are also specially designed for infants of
different ages. For infants aged three or above, there are toys
designed to help them increase their senses of touch. The
products are made of a variety of materials safe for infants. For
six-year old children, you can find toys equipped with mirrors
made of safe material to help them learn see themselves at an
earlier age and increase the awareness of their own identity.

Under-fives generally love toys that provide an introduction
to colors and shapes, and sounds that fuel their curiosity, such
as Rattles and Baby Walker Books. By the time they are toddlers,
they will enjoy conventional toys such as dolls, toy cars, simple
arts and crafts, and games.

A visit to a Kidz Station "edutainment" corner will allow you
to find a wide selection of "edutainment" products best suited to
the child's gender and age. The toys help stimulate intelligence,
imagination and creativity, ranging from crayons, coloring
pencils, block puzzles and even a special computer through which
children may learn a foreign language, memorize the alphabet,
learn how to count, and practice recognizing different sounds.

"Kidz Station is fully aware of the importance of providing
education for Indonesian children at an earlier age," said
Irawati,

The toys are displayed by product category, such as
"Edutainment" Corner, Barbie Corner, TV Action Hero Corner and
Fashion Avenue Corner. At TV Action Hero Corner, for instance,
you can find a wide range of figures featuring film heroes like
Superman, Batman and Spiderman.

Prices for toys at Kidz Station range from Rp3,000 to millions
of rupiah, depending on the kind of toy and its quality, size,
what it is made of, and brand.

Boasting a one-stop children's shop, Kidz Station also stocks
children's clothing, shoes, books, bags and snacks. "Most of our
books for children are originals because we place quality as our
top priority," Irawati said.

Another comprehensive toy store in town is Toys 'R' Us. The
US-based toy store has branch stores in Puri Indah Mall on Jl.
Puri Agung, Puri Indah, and at Pasaraya department store in Blok
M.

These toy stores provide a wide range of all shapes and sizes
for your children, whatever their interest and whatever their
ages. For baby, there are a variety of rattles that will fuel
their curiosity.

With its 'Making Learning Fun' concept, Toys 'R' Us provides
products emphasizing creativity, education and fun for children.
If you want to find toys that inspire creativity in children, for
instance, you can take a look at their wide range of puzzles,
finger paints, and other arts and crafts essentials, as well as
the perennial craft clay, Play-Doh.

At Toys 'R' Us, you can also find other kids' stuff, including
clothes for infants and toddlers, bicycles, stilts, picture
books, videos of children's programs, cuddly toys and even hair
clips.

Like Kidz Station and Toys 'R' Us, Matahari outlet in Pluit,
North Jakarta, also provides a wide selection of educational
toys. They include puzzle balls, foam puzzles, picture puzzles
and block builders.

The outlet features 'Children World' corner where parents
cannot only find toys for their beloved children but also other
stuffs such as shoes, clothes, bags and books. "The 'Children
World' corner is also completed with kids playing arena where
children can have a fun," said Matahari Putra Prima's public
relations manager Sasha said.