Feature
Science & Nature
Absolutely curious
With many of the nation’s schoolkids still locked down at home, remote learning remains the order of the day, and time spent in nature has been limited (due to both Covid restrictions and miserable British weather). But with education in the spotlight and the changing seasons bringing the promise of much more time spent outdoors, Rachael Simpson-Jones finds out how toy companies are throwing open the doors to a world of discovery this year.
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raditionally a category that sees its strongest sales at Christmas, when parents and grandparents aim to stick at least one educational gift under the tree, a year of on-off school closures has seen science toys come to the rescue of home-schooling parents across the nation. As Simon Tomlinson, marketing manager at Learning Resources, notes, before the pandemic children in school were largely being educated screen-free in the classroom, with screen play restricted to evenings and weekends. However, the switch to home learning means children are on screens pretty much all day. Learning Resources’ own research now indicates that 82% of parents are looking for ways to encourage their
child’s learning through play, while 72% are actively taking steps to limit screen time. As a brand, Learning Resources is ideally placed to answer these concerns. The company offers strong sub brands in the Science and Nature category including its Primary Science, GeoSafari and GeoSafari Jr. ranges, and a selection of engaging new products is on the way. Coding is also a strong area of growth. The company ensures its toys are easily accessible and appealing to children by designing the products with them in mind, allowing kids learn by themselves as well as with others, inspiring their curiosity, and giving satisfaction through play. “I’m really excited by our new Circuit Explorer range, which takes learning about circuits off a flat
Toy World 100
board and into a 3D space-themed world,” Simon enthuses. “Children can build a Rocket that lights up, a Rover that lights up and moves, and a Deluxe Space Station that incorporates lights, motion and sound into the play experience. It’s a really innovative approach to developing STEM learning and helping children discover the basics of circuitry through play. When children line up the circuitry graphics on the pieces of this STEM construction toy range, and snap them together in the correct order, the pieces power up. Each toy in the range includes robot and astronaut figurines and is great for hours of pretend play, and the child-safe circuits mean kids can keep connecting on their own. The range looks really cool too.”
