5 Ways Kids Learn with Trains
What little boy doesn’t love trains? And if they love trains, there’s a really good chance they love Thomas & Friends! Raising a household full of little boys means I’m well aware of Thomas the Train. We’ve watched many episodes together and love playing with the Thomas toys, too. Sometimes we think toys are just a way to burn energy or let our kids get creative, but toys teach our children things, too. Here are 5 ways that kids learn with trains.
This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.
5 Ways Kids Play to聽Learn with Trains
Imaginative Play –聽There is nothing more powerful than a child’s imagination. Building their imagination by giving them outlets to create, dream, and play helps them think beyond their ordinary day-to-day life.
Skill-Building – Kids can learn with trains everyday skills like building and construction, clean-up, and how magnets to name a few. Every time your child picks up a train, they’re working on basic skills that will help them in all aspects of their life.
Cognitive Skills –聽Fitting together the tracks and stringing together the magnetic trains requires planning and logical thinking. It also gives kids the opportunity to practice colors and numbers.
Physical Skills –聽Kids can practice hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they drive and direct their trains around the tracks. As they build and assemble the tracks that sprawl across the family room floor, they get moving around the room getting exercise, too.
Social Skills – Playing is an outlet to learn about emotions and feelings. Whether the kids start acting out a favorite episode or make up their own stories they are learning how to interact with others. When they play together with other kids they get to learn how to cooperate, share, work as a team, and how to communicate to each other.
![Editorial_091614_800x800[2]](https://www.amomstake.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Editorial_091614_800x8002.jpg)
The Thomas and Friends Journey to Rewards program helps give back to moms with great rewards when you purchase Thomas and Friends toys, movies, and other branded products. To earn rewards, just snap a picture of your receipt with qualifying Thomas & Friends products purchased at Walmart. Then, upload your image to the Journey to Rewards website right from your smartphone. Your receipt will be verified and credits awarded for each purchase when can be redeemed for a variety of rewards like a Walmart e-Gift card!
Thomas & Friends knows parents are the ones to shop for their children and grandchildren and wants to give parents another reason to join the Thomas & Friends rewards program to give back to parents! For a limited time, anyone who joins the free rewards program will be automatically entered to win a $100 Spafinder gift card. All you have to do to enter is use the special promotional code GIFTFORMOM when creating your free rewards account!
![Sweepstakes_800x800[15]](https://www.amomstake.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Sweepstakes_800x80015.jpg)
For more details on the rules of the sweepstakes or to enter, head to the Thomas & Friends Journey to Rewards program.
My son is obsessed with trains and he is a very creative kid. It is interesting to see all the different things he does with his thomas trains and tracks.
I didn’t realize trains were such a great teaching tool. My son loves trains.
I never had any Thomas lovers. Joe did like cars when he was little, and so does Mischa now.
What a neat program!! My son loves Thomas! Off to go get signed up! Thanks for sharing.
Oh yes, my 4 year old. When we’re not looking I know his big sis is in there playing happily with him too! 馃槈
My son was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine when he was little. We always watched the show on PBS and he learned SO much from Mr. Conductor and the other trains.
I wish this program had been around when my son was younger. He was obsessed with Thomas the train.
My friends little boy loves his Thomas Train Set. It is so fun to play with and easy for his little hands. Makes a great gift.
Play really is the best teaching tool for young kids. Anything they have to build and can use to interact with other kids is great!
Who knew playing with trains could be so beneficial for kids! All I knew is that my kids are crazy in love with trains and Thomas the Train toys too.
What a really cute toy. It’s amazing how much kids learn from toys.
My youngest is just now getting into trains. This was a perfect read at the perfect time!
You know, I never thought of all that they learn while playing with trains… but this is totally true. My kids used to love trains
My girls were so into trains at one time, I really miss those days!
My youngest loves Thomas. Trains are awesome.
My son loves trains so much! He calls them chochoos.
One skill you forgot but that was prevalent with my boys…I am not sure what it is called but “Parenting skill”? Buddy Skill? My boys loved to carry around the toy just for comfort and loved to sleep with the train/car.
I miss the days of my son playing with trains. He always had so much fun creating different scenes in his mind.
I can see the benefits of playing with trains for sure. I actually have a boyfriend who is obsessed with them!
My son likes to play with trains too! He actually makes the funniest noises haha.
I love that my son really uses his imagination when he plays with his trains. It’s a beautiful thing to see.