The best educational toys for kids will combine a fun aspect which allows a child to play, whilst engaging their mind to learn key skills in the process. This could be anything from perseverance, cause and effect, investigation, hand-to-eye coordination or STEM. But how do you know which educational toys to pick?

Young children are sponges when it comes to learning new things. So, just like youd make sure your kids have a varied, nutritional, balanced diet when it comes to what they eat, ensuring they have a balanced play diet that incorporates different activities and games as stimulus for their minds is also important.

But dont worry making sure a child has sufficient stimulation to enable their brains to develop fully is easier than it sounds.

Learning, the development of key skills and stimulation for children comes from a variety of sources. While playing with educational toys has an important role in that, so does providing them with different experiences, letting them play with other children and talking to them about their day or what youre doing as they watch you do it.

Joanne Moore, aPrimary School Teacher in Norfolk and Educational Product Adviser to Learning Resources told GoodtoKnow that educational toys are essential to a childs development.

As stated by Einsteinplay is the highest form of researchand from a very early age children learn and develop through play, Joanne told us. They allow children to freely explore, challenge their minds and support the development of many skills from fine motor control, early mathematics to speech and language.

Child development expert and psychologist Dr. Amanda Gummer, who is also the founder of Dr. Gummers Good Play Guide, adds that while toys that promote school-based learning can help childrens confidence at school and help them embed the learning: there are also lots of educational toys that support learning through encouraging exploration, fostering curiosity, building relationships, exploring moral dilemmas etc which should not be ignored.

Toys that encourage a child to be actively doing and toys that provide open-ended opportunities I feel are most important for early child development, says Joanne.

Toys that are kinaesthetic allow a child to develop their hand-eye coordination plus their fine and gross motor skills. These skills are the essential building blocks before a child can learn to write. There are some great apps available out there for online learning. However, I feel it is important to do as much off-screen learning as possible for young children.

Open-ended toys allow a child to explore their own imagination and creativity. They will often provide a child with challenges which build resilience, perseverance and problem solving skills. These are all characteristics of effective learning. These characteristics are essential for young children to develop in order to become an effective and motivated learner for life.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM toys are designed to promote learning, curiosity, and education while they are played with.

When it comes to educational toys for kids, STEM toys in particular are great for helping your child develop innovative thinking, hand-eye coordination and spatial skills amongst other things while they play. Youll love watching STEM toys foster creativity and problem solving in your child.

Its never too early to introduce your children to toys containing letters and numbers so that children become familiar with them at an early age, says Dr. Amanda Gummer.

However, Dr Gummer also emphasises that its important not to hot house children. Basically, try not to force the educational toys on them.

Feeling pressured to play with a particular toy is a sure way to turn a child off wanting to play with it and wanting to learn, Dr Gummer advises.

Below weve rounded up the best educational toys for kids aged 1 to 5. All the toys are out this year and recommended by experts, fellow parents and those in the know! Scroll through to find the right products aimed at your childs age.

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Best educational toys for kids aged 1 to 5 - goodtoknow

From director Josephine Decker and screenwriter Sarah Gubbins, the indie drama Shirley tells a story about renowned horror writer Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss) that blurs fact and fiction. When the arrival of newlyweds (Odessa Young, Logan Lerman) shakes up her writing routine and raises the tension between Shirley and her husband Stanley (Michael Stuhlbarg), they begin to toy with the couple and push their limits in a way that could have a lasting effect on their relationship.

During this 1-on-1 phone interview with Collider, actress Elisabeth Moss talked about why she was nervous about playing the brilliant but troubled real woman, the inspiration she got from co-star Michael Stuhlbarg, the research that was key in helping her find her performance, why it was liberating to explore Shirley Jackson, and what she hopes audiences take from watching the film. She also talked about The Handmaids Tale Season 4, and how theyre currently trying to figure out how to safely return to work to finish shooting the season.

Image via Sundance Institute

Collider: I have to say that I just was so fascinated, enthralled and compelled by this film, and you and everyone else in this is just so phenomenal.

ELISABETH MOSS: Thank you. I really appreciate that.

Actors always talk about wanting to find characters that challenge them, and it seems like there are so many challenges with a character like this. What excited you about the challenges with something like this, and in what ways do you feel this character most challenged you, as an actress?

MOSS: This the first time that Ive ever played a real person, I think. I could be wrong, but I think so. Its been a long road, so I could be forgetting some poor soul, but its the first time that Ive played a significant historical figure, I should say, that everybody knows. I think that was the challenge for me. It was a little frightening. I was a little nervous about that. Im not really that interested in doing research and stuff, and I had to do all of this research, all of a sudden, and approach it in a completely different way. Michael [Stuhlbarg] was incredibly inspiring, in that sense, because hes very good at that and thats how he works. He really helped inspiring enthusiasm and also literally sent me material to read. I honestly dont know if I could have done it without him. That was the thing that was new for me, and definitely a challenge.

Image via Sundance Institute

What sort of research most helped you? Did you read the novel? Did you read her work? What was the key in finding her, for you?

MOSS: The thing that was the most inspiring was reading these letters, between Stanley and Shirley, that we got. That was really rare, that we found them. It wasnt a biography, it wasnt her stories, and it wasnt her reading her stories, which we had a recording of. It was truly them. Thats how we really discovered their sense of humor, their intelligence, how much they loved each other, and how much anger was there. That was the most helpful thing, I think.

Did you approach this as though you were playing Shirley Jackson, the author, or did you approach this as a character that happened to be named Shirley Jackson, who was also a writer, since this is somewhat fictionalized?

MOSS: Yeah, totally. The honest answer is a little bit of both. The research into who Shirley was laid the groundwork. That was the bedrock of it. And then, at one point, I remember saying to Michael, right before we started, Now, I think we have to let it go. I think weve gotta let it all go. You can get so wrapped up in playing a real person that you care more about that than playing the other parts of them. And so, we both decided that we were going to do our own Shirley and Stanley, and this was gonna be our own version of them. You have to forgive yourself a little bit. Its the only way that you can actually proceed without fear. I think that was really helpful for us to do, at a certain point. Its not an exactly accurate story of Shirley Jackson. I think that its important to mention she was incredible mom. She was wonderful to her kid and a great cook. Ive spoken to her son, and she was a great mom. Obviously, thats not included in the story. So, its a slice of this woman.

Shirley is a blend of madness, loneliness, depression, sadness, despair, and all of these emotions. Is that fun to explore, as an actor, or do you have to learn to pace yourself through all of that?

MOSS: I love it. I love that kind of work. I am very fulfilled by it. I am not afraid of it. Im not a method actor. Part of the reason why Im not a method actor is because I do think that would be exhausting and maybe Im just lazy. Maybe Id be a better actor, if I was a method actor, but its just not quite my style, so I dont get exhausted by it. I love it. I find that all characters end up being a facet of your personality, and I have a lot of Shirley in me. I loved exploring that. It was liberating.

Image via Hulu

Is there a challenge in playing someone whose mind is something of a mystery, or do you just try to be present in each moment?

MOSS: I think that you do the latter. I remember talking to Sarah Gubbins, the writer, and for me, this was a story about a writer and their process, how difficult and challenging that process can be, and the places that you have to go in your imagination, in order to get the story, and to be that brilliant. Thats what I focused on. So, as far as the parts that were maybe not real, or maybe they were in her imagination, or maybe her mind was taking over, she did have a fair amount of drinking happening and she did have a fair amount of, unfortunately, a reliance on pills and diet pills, and that kind of thing, and I think that really was messing with her mind, quite a bit. I think the only way to do that, though, is to play it like its real because its real to her, and thats all that matters.

What do you hope audiences take from this film?

MOSS: I love her so much. I have so much admiration for her. I think she was brilliant, and I think she was a good person, and I think she had a great sense of humor, and I hope that people see that. She was troubled, and she had substance abuse problems, and she was bit troubled in her mind, but I think that she was a brilliant woman. She was so ahead of her time and she inspired so many people that came after her. And so, I hope that people get that little bit of her. I hope they take that away.

You were only two weeks into shooting Season 4 of The Handmaids Tale, before production shut down due to COVID. As a producer on that series, have you been a part of the conversations about how to get back into production safely? What are your biggest hopes and fears, in that regard?

MOSS: Yes, we have a production call, every week, and we have a producer call, every week. There have been a lot of emails, a lot of Zooms, and a lot of conversations. One of the great things that our line producer has done is basically gone to every single department and talked to them, and picked their brain and tried to figure out what their daily process is, and what theyre looking for and what they need, in order to feel safe, which I think is a really important part of it. Theres a lot of stuff thats above my pay grade and above my head, that were all reading about in the Hollywood Reporter. But for us, as producers, and for most producers, its about, how do you do it and be safe? Thats all. Human life is not worth making a TV show for. Everyone wants to go back to work because we love what we do, and theres also people that need to support their families and themselves. The producers contributed to a fund for our crew, that is out of our own pockets and has nothing to do with our larger corporation. We put a lot of money into it, and weve been keeping our crew going through that and supporting them being out of work. But weve gotta do it safely, and were just trying to figure that out. Its all new territory, and were all in the same boat here.

Shirley is available at Hulu and on VOD.

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Elisabeth Moss on Shirley and The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 - Collider.com

By Justin MillerSpecial to theOpelika Observer

People come in contact with thousands of germs each and every day. Some of these germs can cause a person to fall ill and have adverse effects on the human body. Luckily, the body has its own set of defenses to fight these germs: the immune system. However, in order for it to work properly, people must take proactive measures.

Like a car, the immune system needs to be tuned up in order to properly function, said Tamara Warren, an Alabama Extension human nutrition, diet and health specialist. Proper nutrition and physical activity are keys to tuning up an immune system.

Proper Nutrition in Diets

There are many people today who do not incorporate nutrient-rich foods into their diet on a daily basis. Having a diet that consists of proper amounts of nutrients is one of the best ways to build up an immune system. Warren said that several nutrition-related health problems can lead to an ill-prepared immune system.

Diets that are high in calories, fat, salt and sugars can lead to the development of chronic diseases, she said. Many of these diseases, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes, can cause the immune system to tune down.

Consuming the right amount of nutrients provides the body with the necessary tools to fight off infections and diseases. Warren said meals should include a variety of foods from all of the food groups.

Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, proteins and dairy products all contain key nutrients that are important to an immune system working properly, Warren said.

Get Moving

In addition to a proper diet, physical exercise is also an important aspect to developing a strong immune system. Warren said people should engage in physical activity daily.

Physical activity increases oxygen levels and provides the human body with the needed energy to strengthen an immune systems fighting power, she said. Adults should be active for 150 minutes a week and youth for 60 minutes a day.

While some may lack the motivation to exercise, Warren said walking is an easy option that can fit into almost any schedule.

Walking is one of the easiest and most stress-free exercises that can also be enjoyable, Warren said. The key is to start small and steadily increase the time you devote to physical activity.

Walking Like a CHAMPION

The Alabama Extension Walking Like a CHAMPION campaign is here to help people get moving. This is an ongoing statewide campaign that encourages Alabama residents to get healthy by eating the right foods and adding physical activity to their daily routines. Participants can walk as individuals or be a part of the program with a group. Visit the Walking Like a CHAMPION page for more information.

More Information

The Alabama Extension content piece Tuning Up an Immune System provides a more in-depth look into strengthening an immune system. More information on health and nutrition is available on the Alabama Extension website http://www.aces.edu.

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Keys to boosting the immune system - Opelika Observer

Each week the Reckon Women newsletter includes a column from an Alabama woman, in collaboration with See Jane Write. Click here to sign up for the newsletter. Click here to sign up for the Reckon Women Facebook page.

By: Millie Jackson

A few weeks ago, I was having a socially distanced visit with a friend. She quipped, Ive gained the Covid 19. Ill have to buy new clothes. I just shrugged. I knew that I had probably gained a few pounds during the time I have been at home, but I was no longer obsessing about it or particularly worried. I dont even own a scale anymore.

It hasnt always been the case. My weight has cycled up and down much of my life. My first diet was in junior high when I was considered chubby. I was rewarded with pretty clothes for losing weight. The message that thin was good and fat is bad had been reinforced and I learned it well.

The language of diet culture reinforces that we are supposed to hate our bodies, that we should be at war with fat, and that we should do anything possible to achieve an ideal that is not possible for many women. The $70 billion-dollar weight loss industry needs to feed us these messages to sustain itself. I have seen this language most of my life, but it has only been recently that I have really thought about what it is telling me.

At the beginning of the quarantine period there were many warnings about gaining weight while we were unable to live our normal lives, unable to exercise or go to the gym, unable to even go to the grocery store. Over the past few months I have read and seen many weight shaming postings and articles. There is really nothing new in the language, but I think it is more noticeable right now.

Weight can be a factor in health, but it isnt the only one. What it means to be healthy is multi-faceted and needs to take multiple factors into consideration. Reinforcing shame doesnt help anyone lose weight or improve their health.

I yo-yo dieted for decades, which was much more harmful to my health than maintaining a weight. A decade ago, I hit a high on the scale and looked for the most efficient way to make progress. What I found, a 1,000 calorie a day diet of bars and shakes, nearly destroyed my health and led to multiple injuries despite a 150 pound weight loss in a year.

I had done some crazy things before this Optifast, long term fasts, and the ever-present Weight Watchers, but nothing as drastic as that diet. Id like to claim that was my last diet, but it wasnt. But over the past decade I have been educating myself more about health and nutrition. Ive explored a number of the popular programs and diets. Some have benefits but some that appear positive send just as harmful of a message as the diet industry.

What I ultimately learned was that cooking real food, moving my body regularly through exercise that helped me rather than punished me, and not obsessing about a number on a scale served me better than any diet I had ever tried.

Over the past year I have settled into accepting and appreciating my body more. Im not always perfect and neither is it. It doesnt mean that I dont want to change some things but that isnt my constant focus. I have regained much of the weight I had lost because sustaining a 1,000 calorie a day diet along side a crazy exercise schedule is simply impossible. Im working on listening to my body more and what it needs. I have rediscovered exercise like walking which helps me move but also gets me outside more often.

Releasing much of the moral judgement about food and about my body has led me to be more content than I was when I focused on weighing, measuring and tracking every ounce of food I ate and every move I made. Losing weight was supposed to solve all my problems but in reality, it compounded some of my health problems. Rather than fight a battle with my body, I am now learning what matters to me being at peace with who I am right now.

Millie Jackson is a writer, coach, storyteller, and yoga teacher. You can learn more about her at http://www.millieljackson.com

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The pandemic, body image, and what matters most - al.com

Padma Lakshmis unabashed love of food is clear in everything she eats in a day. While the Love, Loss, and What We Ate author does have a couple of staples in her diet, such as tea and apples with peanut butter, her eating regimen varies depending on whether or not shes filming Top Chef.

When shes working on the Bravo show, for example, Lakshmi, 49, tries not to eat too much food. I want to give the contestants the full audience of my appetite, especially in the first half of the season, she told Harpers Bazaar in a video interview posted on June 18. I have to, sometimes, try 19 different dishes in that quickfire alone.

The India native added: I usually try and take one or two bites. I try and chew slowly so I dont have to take a third bite and I get the full mouth-feel experience of whatever theyre giving me.

To clean out whatever food shes eaten while working, Lakshmi whips up a funky drink made with green tea with honey, unsweetened cranberry juice, a vitamin C packet and a heaping scoop of fiber powder. However, if she doesnt drink her custom beverage quickly enough, it morphs into a sludge.

Its important to drink that fast, she reiterated. Its not very pleasant this is not a treat this is medicine for my body because Ive had to eat whatever funky food Ive had to eat. When youre eating that much food, your system expects more food.

Since the Easy Exotic author eats more food than she normally would while filming, she keeps her meals as simple as possible once her workday ends. When Im home, I dont want to eat any of that fancy, over-seasoned, goopy food, she said. For dinner, I just eat a simple bowl of steamed basmati rice with dal or yellow lentils.

Though Lakshmi admitted shes not much of a dessert person, she does enjoy some flavorful dark chocolate from time to time. Theres this chocolate that has cloves, cayenne and crystalized ginger, she said. My only real sweet treat on a regular basis will be half a bar of chocolate.

Scroll down to see what else Lakshmi eats in a day!

Read more here:
Padma Lakshmi Shares Her Daily Diet: 12 Cups of Tea and Flamin Hot Cheetos - Us Weekly