My friend’s son is turning 3 years old. I am not sure they are aware of the term early learning, but she’s spending a lot of time teaching the boy a lot of different things - letters/numbers/reading/math/guitar etc. She mentioned he can sight-read some words and can add some numbers. He has excellent memory - knows tons of poems/songs by heart. Can you please recommend an educational present for him (he’s also into cars - so if educational and cars could be combined that would be even better:). Thanks in advance!
I will say something from Signing Time collection ? Both my son (almost 4) and daughter (2) love all these videos since they were babies. Favourites : Leah’s Farm, The Great Outdoor, The Zoo Train.
My son loves also Safari miniature animals. There is a lot of different tubes, in each there are 10 or more miniatures. The best place to buy them is Michael’s store - 7$ a tube if I remember well and there is often a discount coupon (- 50 % even). And there is so many things to do with them… 
If you look on this forum music education is very important and no matter what methods parents have used to teach their children music, I’ve always read about achievements and moments parents and children enjoyed together.
If you ask me, I would say to buy an electronic keyboard with MIDI :)))
And then try a piano learning software.
Teaching notes can be related to cars, as you can see here: http://softmozart.com/forum/33-progress-diaries/9930-erci-from-uk.html
Learning to play an instrument is part of a good education and helps the child in many areas, including academic. And especially with an instrument like piano. You need to coordinate both hands this implies using both parts of the brain; you work the brain like working your muscles.
Learning to play piano/electronic keyboard with the right interactive tool can:
- train the ear and from deaf tone you develop musical ear because you develop perfect pitch
- develop brain (neural paths are creates, used and strenghthened)
- develop fine motor skills
- develop memory
- build self-confidence and more.
All in all, I think educational materials teaching music is something worth thinking about as a gift. I’ve seen children from 2 year old having fun and really learning.
Andrea
It sounds as though his mother IS doing lots of EL with him, regardless of whether she calls it that or just good parenting:)
Here are a couple of ideas to incorporate a bit of education into the world or cars/and or mechanisms along the same line.
I purchased a set of DVDs called Popular Mechanics for a kids ( was a TV series) for my nephew and it was a huge hit-so much so that I am planning to order the set for my kiddo. Each episode tackles a different theme in a ‘how does it work’ fashion…including cars.
You can purchase them through Amazon singly, as a season, or the entire collection for about $60.00.
(BTW- some episodes are on Netflix if anyone wants to take a look!). Also, ignore the age recs! My three year-old has absolutely no trouble.
Some of the building kits might be a great start. Again, they are often recommended for slightly older kids, but with a bit of parental help (and providing there are no baby siblings crawling about looking for things to put in their mouth!), they are very doable.
- we have the basic Snap Circuits kit, and they make more advanced kits as well…including a little Rover that can be assembled:
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-100-Snap-Circuits-Jr/dp/B00008BFZH/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1371042202&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Snap+circuits
And the Rover, maybe as a future project:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018OXZF4/ref=mp_s_a_1_cc_2?qid=1371042342&sr=1-2-catcorr&pi=SL75
Honestly, any of the building kits: K’Nex, Lego’s, Snap Circuits, etc.
Are awesome gifts in that they are open-ended. The child can grow with them, acquiring more advanced kits as they are ready for more advanced concepts…including how a car works.
For example, K’Nex makes inexpensive motorized car projects to build as well…
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGYO36Q?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links
Other ideas:
Mighty Machine DVDs
How it Works books
My son is absolutely in love with the rush hour game. He can play it independently and it is educational. He loves the car and truck aspect, and makes sound effects as he plays. It think he plays it more because it is cars and not just blocks.
You can get rush hour Jr (which we don’t have), my 3.5 year old does just fine with the standard rush hour game.
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-5000-ThinkFun-Rush/dp/B00000DMER/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371061952&sr=8-1&keywords=Rush+hour
Something I did consider for my son’s third birthday are the battat take apart and build toys. They have cars and planes.
My son does have this. It is good for fine motor and visual discrimination.
Thanks a lot for the great suggestions!