The concept of ´learning by playing´ adopted by mushrooming number of Montessori schools has pushed up demand for educational toys and materials in the local market.

One particular reason why these toys and materials are gaining popularity is the proven fact that ´learning by playing´ concept stimulates imagination and creativity.

“Since these toys and materials allow preschool children to learn various new things and aspects of life without feeling the pressure of learning, Montessori schools, and even parents, do not mind spending money purchasing these products,” Prakash Shrestha, owner of Toy Store, said.

Some of the educational toys and materials currently available in the market are interactive CDs and video games, jigsaw puzzles, blocks, board games, block games, alphabets and numbers, doll houses, castles, spy devices, recorders, karaoke sets and musical instruments, among others.

Shrestha said demand for materials like spy devices, recorders and karaoke sets were high at his store, where products are priced in the range of Rs 70 and Rs 3,600.

Although the market size of preschool educational toys and materials is not known, many retailers that Republica talked to said their business was doing good as people´s perception toward such toys has drastically changed in the last one decade.

“When we introduced these toys and materials a decade ago it was very difficult to find the market,” said Bimal Agrawal of Vicky Stationers. “Back then, it was pretty difficult to convince people that interactive teaching helps children to learn faster.”

But now situation has changed, he told Republica. “Demand is pretty high for these products now,” said Agrawal, who sells more than 500 varieties of educational toys and materials in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 4,500.

Manisha Tamrakar, proprietor of Nepalese Wood and Child Craft, shared similar experience.

“Until a couple of years ago, only few schools had positioned play as the central to preschool children´s curriculum,” she said. “But as the preschool education system evolved, almost every pre-primary school started embracing ´learning by playing´ concept, which has been a boon for our business.”

Now, it is not only Montessori schools, but even parents come looking for these toys and materials, which has further raised demand for these products, said Tamrakar, whose store has educational toys and materials ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 6,000 on display.

source: republica,15 Jan 2013