Why Your Child Will Lose Out on the American Dream Without This

During this latest recession, millions of Americans have become unemployed. Layoffs, factory closings, and downsizings have become commonplace. Factory jobs are leaving the U.S. at an alarming rate because the American worker just cannot compete with workers in low wage countries for those jobs. Even clerical work, once easy to get, is now disappearing. Because of changes in technology and many companies' reluctance to hire support personnel, many employees have to do their own secretarial work.

More and more jobs are going overseas, and the trend shows no signs of slowing or stopping. And, jobs that go overseas go overseas permanently. By the time today's kids are adults, there will probably certain categories of jobs that have gone entirely overseas.

However, the clear trend is that people with the most education suffer the least unemployment. Those with the least education suffer the most unemployment and have the hardest time getting a job. A factory job that requires little education is easily moved overseas. A position that requires an advanced degree is not so easy to fill in an impoverished country with a poor education system. Clearly, in order to be recession resistant, you have to have a good education.

According to the most recent figures from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for high school graduates is more than double that of people with a 4 year degree: 8.4% vs. 4.1%. Also, the New York Times reports that the typical college graduates makes about 75% more every week than the typical non-graduate.

The number of people who have a college degree has been increasing significantly over time. According to the U.S. Census, back in 1950 only 34.3% of American adults over 25 had a high school diploma, only 6.2% had a bachelor's degree or more.

By 2010, 87% of adults over 25 had at least a high school diploma (or equivalent), and at least 30% of adults over 25 had earned at least bachelor's degree.

With college degrees (and educational attainment) increasing, competition for the best jobs will surely increase. By the time today's kids are in the workforce, a graduate degree will surely be needed to have an edge in the employment market, make the most money, and have the best chance of achieving the American Dream.

The bottom line is, you can raise your children to be in either one of two categories: untrained and uneducated, with a few limited options left to chance, or well educated and in demand. In which category would you rather your children be?

In order to increase the chances that your child will pursue higher education and ultimately obtain a graduate degree, you have to provide them with as much enrichment, stimulation, and encouragement as possible. The best way to do this is to make learning fun from a young age. The music the child listens to, the books they are read, and the toys they play with all serve to stimulate their mind and expand their creativity, advancing their intellectual development.

What Every Learning Toy Should Do

1. It should be directed by the child. The child should not be a spectator, the child must be actively playing with and controlling the toy. Otherwise, how is the toy any different from mindless TV? The more the child has to think, the more the child benefits.

2. It should challenge the child. If a child finds a game too easy, it won't be engaging, and the child won't want to play with it. A challenge keeps the child interested and moving forward.

3. It should broaden the child's horizons. A toy should expose a child to something new to them, or make them think or respond in a new way.

If you want your child to be average, then average toys, games, and learning materials might do. But if you want your child to have a head start on their education and development, then great learning toys will give them a great start.

Amazing WIZ Kids creates unique educational toys for children. We seek to provide wonderful things that can't be found elsewhere. We believe there is no greater investment than your child's education. And a great learning toy is an investment in your child's future.

Play is very important to a child's development. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius once said,

"I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand".

Learning by doing benefits any child, regardless of learning style (visual, auditory, verbal, kinesthetic).

Suzanne Player, the founder and Managing Director of Amazing WIZ Kids, is a former practicing attorney with a strong interest in education and the arts. She tweets about all education related topics at @SuzannePlayer1

http://twitter.com/SuzannePlayer1

What do you want for your child? Intelligence? Creativity? Problem-solving ability? Your choice of toys does make a difference in a child's life. Give your prince or princess the right start - with a great learning toy.

http://amazingwizkids.com/

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