British scientists recently published a study indicating that so-called "high-tech educational toys" do not significantly outperform traditional teaching methods in developing young children's basic language and mathematical skills.
Professor Plowman of the University of Stirling's School of Education contends that purchasing computer-based educational toys often imposes significant financial burdens on parents, yet these toys do not yield more pronounced results than traditional methods in teaching children foundational knowledge. Plowman suggests that to introduce children to new technologies, parents can utilize existing household devices like laptops, smartphones, or other accessories, eliminating the need for substantial additional expenditures on specialized computers.
Since educational toys provide roughly the same foundational learning benefits as home computers, parents can save on this expense by avoiding dedicated toy purchases. Plowman specifically recommends giving children old phones to pretend-call friends. "Family members often upgrade phones annually—hand down old devices as toys. This is an excellent way to introduce children to new tech," he advises.