Question on MindStuff:

What techniques and methods are their which help to push a very cool toy or craft into being an educational tool? How do the ideas (like the construction kit and origami sculptures) push the boundaries of play and actually teach fundamental ideas which can transcend the activity and be applicable to the world outside of the activity? I think this question is important because so often children play with toys or participate in activities that are supposed to teach them something but which they cannot see or comprehend an application for outside of what they're doing. I'm not sure if these ideas remain dormant until later or if when the activity is over all relevance is lost. How do these activities make the concepts and the important educational opportunities (for example: simple geometry, stress/strain, material strength) stick and become extensible?