Children at different levels of development have different cognitive capacities. So you will have to adjust your play plus teaching method. Since children are known to have really short attention span along with the fact that they are restless, it is best that you use educational toys when teaching them.

There are a lot of educational toys available and each are made to fit your child's mental capacity. If your kid is no longer a toddler and is about to start preschool, here are some educational toys that will surely help him or her learn.

1. Science kits. School age children are naturally inquisitive. They are intrigued by almost everything they see. In addition to that, they also love to experiment. Giving them science kits as toys will surely satisfy their need to experiment and know things. This is one of the best ways to make them understand the things that surround them.

Science kits usually include toy microscopes which he or she can use to view minute objects. She can look at a leaf's structure through her microscope. It also includes magnifying glasses allowing her to get up close and personal to little things.

2. Dress up kits. Preschool children love to play pretend and dress up the way their idols or role models dress up. This activity is natural for preschool children because their imagination is already on a roll. Having dress up kits will allow them to become who they want to be thus allowing them to use their imagination along with the fact that they won't have to go through your closet and borrow your clothes.

3. Magnetic sketch pads. At this age your child has already the capacity to recognize faces and things and has already discovered that drawings can look like people too. This new discovery will make him want to scribble and draw objects. Giving him a pen and paper might not be a good idea because he might hurt himself with the pen; instead, give him a magnetic sketch pad where he can draw as long as he wants without wasting paper minus the danger the pen poses.

4. Puzzles. This will allow your child to enhance his imagination as well as develop his eye for detail. When your child reaches four, he will be able to add as well as recognize details on the drawings. Puzzles will help him develop this skill because it requires him to keep an eye on characteristics unique to each piece.

5. Number or alphabet toys. Give them toys that allow them to improve their counting skills as well as improve their knowledge on the alphabet. These two are key factors to determining their reading readiness. A child that has a good grasp on counting as well as the alphabet will always have the edge because he has a greater chance of learning how to read faster as compared to those who barely know how to count or recite the alphabet.

When picking toys for your preschooler, always keep in mind the things they are capable of doing. The toys should fit your child's interest and make each play time enjoyable.