| The modern day busy parent tries to | | | | |
| compensate for his or her lack of time for | | | | LeapFrog's success paved the way for other |
| his or her children by investing a great deal | | | | major and small toy makers to come up with |
| on education. Thus, it is not a surprise how | | | | educational toys of their own. Jakks Pacific, |
| many of such parents move mountains just to | | | | under its Child Guidance brand, released its |
| provide their kids entertaining products that | | | | own line of children's educational toys and |
| not only encourage play, but also instill | | | | games following a deal with Baby Genius. |
| discovery and learning. | | | | Hasbro released its Baby Einstein line and |
| | | | unveiled its preschool units, namely the Baby |
| Makers of toys worldwide recognize this | | | | Einstein Company and Playskool. These new |
| growing trend and are, consequently, coming | | | | toys encouraged children to dabble in art, |
| up with new and improved lines of children's | | | | music, different foreign and local languages, |
| educational toys and games almost every | | | | and even poetry. |
| month. What was once limited only to | | | | |
| specialty toy and game shops, educational | | | | The strong demand for educational toys and |
| toys and games are now a staple in every | | | | games for children has urged major retailers, |
| children's oriented stores around the world, | | | | like Toys "R" Us, to allocate shelves upon |
| even at general mass retailers, like Wal-Mart | | | | shelves for these kinds of toys. And because |
| and K-Mart. | | | | more and more households are transforming |
| | | | into two-income families, it is likely that |
| Statistics show that the sales of toys and | | | | the demand will grow further as parents seek |
| games have declined over the years. However, | | | | products that would try to fill their absence |
| educational toys have been on the rise, as | | | | during their children's formative learning |
| more parents opt to purchase products that | | | | years. |
| would give them the most value for their | | | | |
| money, as compared to, say, buying Bratz | | | | With the rise in demand, it won't be a |
| dolls and Hot Wheels. | | | | surprise when the price tag that comes with |
| | | | these educational toys and games will also |
| The record for educational toys was broken in | | | | decrease as the years pass. Right now, these |
| the Holiday season of the year 2000, when toy | | | | kinds of toys are still a little expensive |
| maker LeapFrog's LeapPad Learning System | | | | (though it hasn't stopped most parents from |
| electronic reading toy became the bestselling | | | | buying them). In the future, due to the |
| children's game of the time, helping the | | | | overwhelming interest, educational toys and |
| company boost its sales by a whopping 120 per | | | | games will be accessible to everyone. |
| cent! | | | | |