Most consumers can become overwhelmed when manufacturers list all of the features and benefits that their products have. For instance, when shopping for an automobile some of the features may be antilock braking system, three point automatic restraint system and power group. When shopping for shampoo the average consumer is not concerned with the features but the benefits, makes your hair silky, shiny and manageable. Either way there is a common denominator that the average consumer is motivated by when making a decision to purchase a product, their emotions.
American author, salesperson, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, "People don't buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons". Features have the tendency to make consumers think the more features a product has the more "I get for my buck" because features are tangible. However, benefits are generally intangible because they tend to be based on claims as to what advantages the product has. Either way when parents/caregivers consider purchasing educational toys for a child, they need to develop a game plan to get the most out of their purchase.
One of the best ways to approach this is to make a list of each feature listed with the product. Then take one feature at a time and write next to it what benefits can be expected as well as what advantages the feature provides. Ultimately you are looking for what you gain from a specific feature, how that feature benefits an individual and what the benefits truly mean in the end results. This little system may prevent parents/caregivers from walking into a store or going on the internet to purchase and educational toy that looks nice, may have many gadgets, may make many claims, but not have the intended benefits that you are looking for.
Now that you have made a logical choice, considered all of your options and have made your purchase, there is one more crucial element that also needs attention. Educational toys can provide children with various educational and developmental skills that other toys may not, but they are not a babysitter or educator. They are just a tool to stimulate and enhance a child's development. Parents/caregivers need to see beyond this and see educational toys as a means to interact with their child. There is no toy that should ever be used as a substitute for loving parent/caregiver/child interaction. When adults play an active role by participating in their child's learning, not only will their child's learning abilities be enhanced, but parents/caregivers will be able to observe the child's progress and help them to expand their skills which will help prepare them for the future.
Topics: education