The toys we choose to buy for our kids can make a difference to their development. During their growing years, it is important to provide them with educational experiences that allow them to learn while they play. Different types of toys require children to use different skill sets and tap into different learning areas of the brain, and while any toy can offer value to a developing brain, there are certain toys, usually referred to as educational, learning or instructional toys, that have been designed to provide specific value to children. The beauty of educational toys is two-fold, as they appeal to both the parents and children. At their core they are still toys, so they don’t seem like homework or a burden to children, yet they conveniently, almost secretly, provide learning benefits.
Brian Andrew, MD of RS Components South Africa, said that we find ourselves in a connected age, where everything we do has become smarter and more connected like never before, and we need to prepare our children so that they are equipped for the future. “I urge parents to look beyond the one-dimensional toys of yesteryear and focus on those that will develop skills that often cannot be learned in the classroom alone. Devices such as the Sphero Bolt and the incredible Raspberry Pi computers encourage curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) amongst other things, while being fun to play with. We need to ensure that our children are equipped to understand and participate in this connected age that we live in. STEM toys enhance divergent and innovative thinking, help children develop hand/eye coordination, and improve spatial skills,” he said.
RS Components, often referred to as the ‘Amazon’ for industrial and electronic products, also distributes several STEM-focused toys, gadgets and gizmos for not only children, but for the whole family to explore.
Here are some of them:
Raspberry Pi 400 Computer Kit: The Raspberry Pi 400 is a complete Raspberry Pi four-based personal computer, integrated into a keyboard. By incorporating the board into a keyboard, it removes the need for a case and the other accessories normally needed to run a Raspberry Pi, creating a cleaner configuration. It makes for the perfect configuration of a public machine or in an educational setting, including the incorporation of a Kensington lock (a locking port used on laptops for security in public spaces). The kit includes everything else you will need to get started using the Raspberry Pi 400. It includes a USB type C power adapter, a wired mouse, one meter micro HDMI to HDMI cable (monitor not included), a 16GB micro SD with Raspbian pre-loaded, and the Raspberry Pi Beginners Guidebook.
View here: https://bit.ly/pi400RS
View video here: https://youtu.be/7oEakA1KotE
Sphero Bolt: The Sphero Bolt is an app-enabled robotic ball that you can drive and code, providing endless opportunities to be creative and have fun while learning. Bolt's programmable 8x8 LED matrix can animate and display real-time data. Powered by the Sphero Edu app (available on nearly any mobile or desktop device), you can code bolt by drawing, using scratch blocks or writing JavaScript.
Advanced yet approachable, you can learn programming, complete hands-on activities, and share your creations with the community. Programmable sensors include infrared, compass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer and motor encoders.
View here: https://bit.ly/BOLTRS
View video here: https://youtu.be/E5eyqd5nr3o
Retro Gaming Kit: Love gaming? Then why not make your own gaming console - the Canakit Raspberry Pi 3 B+ super retro gaming kit - featuring a 64-bit quad core processor running at 1.4 Ghz. It incorporates enhanced built-in dual-band WiFi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2/BLE and faster Ethernet. Included in the retro gaming kit are a retro case and two retro game pads, as well as a high performance 32 GB class 10 microSD card with an operating system download wizard (internet connection is required for installation).
View here: https://bit.ly/retrogameRS
View video here: https://youtu.be/dONoSSE6vEE
Electric Paint Circuit Kit Development Board: Everything you need to learn about parallel circuits. No tools, no programming, no wires or special skills required. Learn how electric paint works and tune your electronics skills by painting electrical circuits on paper. This simple electric circuit kit comes with easy instructions and a clearly marked template, making drawing your circuit as easy as squeezing a tube and tracing a line. Add a battery to power the LED lights and bring your circuit city to life! Even if you have pre-existing electrical knowledge, the Electric Paint Circuit Kit provides hands-on experience with our electric paint. Painting simple electrical circuits on a template will enable you to familiarise yourself with the paint’s viscosity and application technique.
View here: https://bit.ly/bareconduct
View video here: https://youtu.be/b35mJAiH718
Arduino Starter Kit: The Arduino Uno Starter Kit is designed for those who are new to Arduino and electronics, and will introduce you to the world of coding, circuits and breadboards. The kit includes several components and the Arduino project book, with step-by-step instructions to help get you started. However, even if you’re an experienced designer, the Arduino starter kit is a great way to tinker about with the different functionalities of the Arduino Uno development board.
View here: https://bit.ly/ardstarterkit
View video here: https://youtu.be/PLFylQxwBBs
Should you wish to learn more about educational products, please email za.education@rs-components.com
