What are your favourite educational toys/games for preschoolers?

[Jane054848]

I've just had a bit of a panic because of all the stuff in the press about summer babies getting left behind. What are your favourite toys/games/puzzles/activities to encourage learning in a fun way - particularly writing/drawing skills, numbers, and letters?

Before they write they need to be able to hold a pencil.
Before they can hold a pencil they need to reasonably dexterous with fiddly things (Fine motor skills).
Before they get good with fine motor skills they need good gross motor skills (arms and legs).

What schools really want is children who have good social skills. To be able to dress themselves, use the toilet, be nice to other children, understand what is right and wrong on a basic level, not wee in the paint pots, and maybe writing their name is kind of handy.