The right toy can do more than keep children busy
Age recommendations are helpful, but they shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Every child develops differently. Parents know their children best. Follow their interests and choose something that’s challenging enough to keep them engaged but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
Some enjoy complex building challenges earlier than expected, while others prefer creative or artistic activities for longer.
4 Oct 2026 | 12:50 Screens can be useful, but they can’t replace hands-on experiences. Because the activity was designed well, we’ve seen children spend hours engaged with simple activities using basic materials. Because they encourage creativity and imagination, open-ended kits are often recommended by child development experts. Because children are constantly testing ideas, making decisions, and finding solutions, hands-on activities naturally develop those skills.
Play gives children the freedom to experiment without worrying about getting the “right” answer. Whether they’re making slime, building a machine, or creating a simple science experiment, they’re learning without constantly being told they are. Because there’s no single “correct” outcome.
It started with a simple observation that parents were looking for toys and activities that could do more than keep children busy. In a world where screens have increasingly began to compete for a child’s attention, there was a growing need for experiences that could make children curious, encourage them to experiment and allow them to learn through play. That gap in the children’s activity and learning space led Nitika Dial and Amrit Raj, Co-Founder of Taabur X WonderLab to explore how hands-on experiences and thoughtfully designed kits could become a more meaningful part of childhood. For Nitika, the journey grew from her experience in advisory and consulting and an observation that children engage more deeply when learning feels natural rather than imposed. Her work focuses on creating experience-led formats that bring together play, curiosity and learning. Amrit approached the idea from another parenting gap, while there is no shortage of activities for children, finding options that are engaging, credible and genuinely useful can be difficult for parents. His focus has been on making discovery easier for families while building experiences that encourage children to participate rather than simply consume. Together, their work reflects a larger shift in parenting- from asking whether a toy will keep a child occupied to asking what the child might discover, create or learn while playing with it. Excerpts of an exclusive interaction with them. In an age where children are surrounded by screens, what role do educational kits play in supporting healthy cognitive and emotional development? Can they offer experiences that digital devices cannot? When a child builds something, mixes ingredients, solves a challenge, or creates with their own hands, they’re using multiple senses at once. They’re thinking, experimenting, making mistakes, and figuring things out independently. That’s very different from watching someone else do it on a screen. Educational kits also encourage children to slow down, focus, and spend quality time with parents or siblings. Those shared moments are just as valuable as the activity itself. Parents often assume that the more expensive or technologically advanced a kit is, the more educational it will be. Is that necessarily true? What qualities should parents actually look for when choosing the same? Not really. On the other hand, a very expensive gadget may hold their attention for a short time but offer limited opportunities for real exploration. When choosing a kit, parents should ask: Does it make my child curious? Does it encourage them to think, ask questions, and try different ideas? Can they come back to it more than once? Those qualities matter much more than price Research suggests that children learn best through play. From your perspective, what kinds of skills can thoughtfully designed products help develop that traditional classroom learning may not? Schools are essential, but they have their own structure and curriculum. Through hands-on activities, they develop problem-solving, creativity, patience, observation, and confidence. Perhaps most importantly, they become comfortable making mistakes. That’s something every innovator, scientist, artist, and entrepreneur needs Many parents want products that are both fun and educational, but children are usually drawn to entertainment first. How can it strike the right balance between learning and play without making children feel like they are doing homework? If children feel like they’re doing homework, we’ve probably missed the point. The learning should happen naturally while they’re having fun. Curiosity is a much stronger teacher than instruction. Is your child’s toy actually helping them learn? Why are these kinds of products so important, and how do they differ from with only one intended use? Two children can use the same kit and create completely different things. That’s where imagination really grows. Open-ended play encourages children to think independently instead of simply following instructions. It also means the kit doesn’t become irrelevant after one afternoon-it continues to offer new possibilities as the child grows. How can educational kits help build future-ready skills such as problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking from an early age? The future isn’t just about knowing information, it’s about knowing what to do with it. Skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving are becoming more valuable than ever. Technology will keep changing. Curiosity and adaptability will always matter. Many parents focus heavily on academic achievement, but social and emotional skills are equally important. Can such products help children develop qualities such as empathy, resilience, patience, and teamwork? If so, how? Absolutely. When children work on projects together, they learn to communicate, share ideas, and be patient with one another. They also learn resilience. Experiments don’t always work the first time, and that’s okay. Instead of giving up, children learn to adjust, try again, and celebrate the process not just the outcome. Those lessons stay with them long after the activity is over. Educational products are often marketed based on age groups, but every child develops differently. How should parents choose kits that match their child’s interests, abilities, and developmental stage rather than simply following the age label on the box?
Children today are growing up in a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and new technologies.
