Learning and educational toys follow the premise of the psychological reality that fun enhances the learning experience. The data on the mental development of children is clear; early childhood mental stimulation makes it easier for children to develop more complex skills in the future. Such stimulation is typically most beneficial between the ages of 2 and 5, when a child's desire for toys is arguably also at its peak.

Childhood Mental Stimulation Increases Likelihood of Graduation

Childhood mental stimulation plays two key roles:

• Development of a positive attitude toward learning
• Formation of mental skills that prove useful in future learning

Instructive toys are as cool as any action figure in your kid's toy box, and the benefits transcend fun. In one school's case, students who had been exposed to mental exercises early in life graduated 80 percent of the time where others graduated 60 percent of the time. Learning and educational toys are effective tools for such stimulation. They forge a child's intuition, build perception, encourage curiosity and develop the appeal for understanding their environment in greater detail. A good science STEM toy, for instance, can be enough to get your kids wondering how their RC toys work.

Science (STEM) Toys: Doorways into Better Pay

On average, salaries for entry-jobs in the STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and math -- are 26 percent higher than their non-STEM equivalents. Over half of Americans believe STEM subjects are complicated, and this affects enrollment. Exposure to science and STEM toys early on in life should help children overcome this bias. The mental exercises involved help develop your baby's cognitive skills, and this further increases the likelihood that they'll take an interest in the well-paying STEM fields.

Instructive outside toys are as fun as any other outdoor toy: They don't feel like work, because they hide critical academic lessons behind appealing games. Consequently, these toys teach kids essential skills without losing their interest and focus. 

Improved Motor and Social Skills

Some toys, like engineering toys, involve a lot of building and tearing down. These activities are instrumental in the advancement of motor skills. Children with poor coordination stand to benefit a lot from these instruments, but all children see growth in coordination with practice. With the improved movement comes a boost in confidence, which typically stays with a kid into adulthood. Instructive toys also teach a child to work with others. Such social skills easily can translate into favorable job and personal outcomes in the future.

Improved IQ and Concentration

Many children have very limited attention spans by nature. Consequently, teaching them new things takes creativity. That's where learning and educational toys come in handy. They nurture and develop concentration in children, allowing kids to focus more keenly on tasks at hand. For pre-school children, this may give them a significant advantage over their peers when they start school. Constant exposure to motor and mental challenges also has the potential to improve your baby's IQ.