There is something inherently delightful about physics. Children love to play with dominoes, marbles, and fans. Anything that moves in response to nature's forces can create an inspirational play. Children can learn physics from first principles with just a few essential toys, called "rational toys". Children can build worlds and understand early STEM concepts with little more than a few blocks, balls, ramps, spinners, and other simple items that can be carved out of wood.
The only question is which elements to add to your child's toybox? Fortunately, child development is a science that has been studied for hundreds of years and dates back further than ancient Egypt. From pre-historic boardgames to the balanced physics blocks of today, we can now assemble an ideal collection of rational toys to inspire young children in early STEM learning.
The Djeco team has been making child-development toys since 1954, proudly advancing toy design with each breakthrough in developmental science. Today, we understand that STEM basics can be learned through play at an early age. The key is to have the right toys and the freedom to explore. To this end, Djeco has developed the Zig & Go Action Reaction series of rational toy collections.
Each Zig & Go kit contains a synergistic set of carved wooden toys. Each explores a unique element of physics, making them essential elements of a rational toy collection. Levers, dominoes, hoops, and tracks create a fascinating set of cause-and-effect adventures to build and trigger.
Cause-and-effect is the core principle of all scientific thought. When a child drops a ball, it falls every time. This is the beginning of rational logic, reasoning, and a deep personal understanding of physics. Tipping a domino or setting the fulcrum point on a lever can reveal the relationship between gravity, force, and torque.
Children also learn that their actions have concrete results. Rolling a ball down a ramp has the same effect every time, and can tip over a domino at the end. But they can also change the result by making a choice to change the ramp or move the first domino. Cause-and-effect is the first step to the scientific method and can be discovered through inspirational play.
The purpose of each Zig & Go Action Reaction set is to combine different types of rational toys into an interconnected cause-and-effect game. Each set includes dominos and a unique collection of other wooden physics elements. There are levers to tip, hoops to roll through or around, and tracks with balls to roll down. One set includes a small xylophone played by a rolling wooden ball. One has a rolling car track, or a rolling ball track, or a rolling spool. One has a large hoop and a bell that rings when struck, another has an adjustable marble track pegboard.
These toy sets are designed to inspire children to build unique combinations of action-reaction elements. One element triggers the next no matter how they are combined. They can also easily be built into a larger collection of rational and imagination toys. The elements are so simple that they naturally interact with other toys and play pursuits.
STEM learning stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This all starts with a basic understanding of physics. Just as children can learn biology from caring for pets, the basic STEM concepts begin with rational toys. These toys inspire rational learning through play, exploring the basic rules of our world with a variety of cause-and-effect reactions to be explored.
Djeco presents the Zig and Go Action Reaction series to help inspire children toward their natural STEM potential and talents. Let these elements become the foundation of your child's toybox, providing developmental inspiration for years of STEM essential play.
The Zig and Go Action Reaction Series contains the following sets:
Djeco Zig and Go Action Reaction 25 Piece Set
Djeco Zig and Go Action Reaction 27 Piece Set
Djeco Zig and Go Action Reaction 28 Piece Set
Djeco Zig and Go Action Reaction 45 Piece Set
Djeco Zig and Go Action Reaction 48 Piece Set
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