Kids are highly impressionable and can absorb information like a fresh sponge. Having them play with toys that can stir curiosity or promote problem-solving skills can help with their overall development.
Educational toys pave a fun way to learn new things and hone hidden talents. In this MomJunction post, we provide a list of the best educational toys that you could consider buying for your kids.
25 Best Educational Toys for Kids
1. Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag
Age: 1 to 5 years
Features:
- Includes 80 brightly colored building blocks
- Blocks are perfectly shaped and designed for tiny hands
- Storage bag ensures safe storage and transfer
2. Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Clear Colors Set
This highly durable magnetic 3D tiles set allows your kid to stack and match different tiles and build anything they can imagine.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Includes 32 colored tiles in different shapes
- Tiles are made of food-grade ABS plastic
- Helps develop STEM skills
- Boosts creative thinking while creating new shapes
- Promotes imaginative play
- Helps develop spatial and tactile skills
3. LiKee Wooden Pattern Blocks Animals Jigsaw Puzzle
This wooden pattern set comes with various shaped blocks to create different figures. It consists of flashcards with images that your child can refer to recreate using the blocks.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Includes 36 wooden blocks and 60 pattern cards
- Comes in an iron box for safe storage and easy transfer
- Made of non-toxic material and is CPSC compliant
- Helps teach color and shape recognition
- Develops spatial awareness
4. Uncle Goose Periodic Table Blocks
If your child finds memorizing different scientific elements difficult, then this periodic table set might help them out. Learning the periodic table through a game is a lot more fun than learning with a pencil and paper.
Age: 2 years and above
Features:
- Contains 20 blocks made of basswood
- Colored with non-toxic, lead-free, and child-safe paint
- Helps develop an interest in science
5. SmartLab Toys Smart Circuits
Your little engineer may often bug you with questions about the workings of electronic devices. This set might help you clarify their doubts in a fun way. It contains wires, boards, a microprocessor, and just about everything that engineers require to build a functional electronic board.
Age: 8 years and above
Features:
- Comes with an illustrated manual with step-by-step instructions for 50 different projects
- Enables kids to create their custom games and gadgets
- Helps understand the basics of electronics
- Perfect STEM toy for kids interested in engineering
6. Kid K’NEX – Budding Builders Building Set
A building set challenges kids to think beyond the usual and create something unique and interesting. It puts a child’s problem-solving skills to the test.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Contains 100 colorful pieces for countless creations
- Comes with a plastic tub for convenient storage
- Includes an instruction manual with 50 different building ideas
- Blends STEM with creative thinking
- Develops fine motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination
7. Snap Circuits Beginner Electronics Exploration Kit
Building a circuit is not an easy task. But some kids still want to learn it. If your little one is interested in building electronic circuits, then they can start with this fun and interesting beginner’s circuit set.
Age: 5 to 9 years
Features:
- Contains 14 different parts mounted on plastic modules to build numerous projects
- Comes with a manual with easy-to-follow instructions
- Comes with extra safety measures for kids
- No tools required
8. Star Right Educational Spelling Puzzle Game
This puzzle game is most suited for grammar geeks and budding spelling bee champions. It is a perfect game for introducing new vocabulary to your kid.
Age: 4 years and above
Features:
- Contains 13 three-letter words and 13 four-letter words
- Every puzzle piece is shaped to have only one match
- Comes with a puzzle frame
- Box comes with a handle
9. Learn & Climb Mega Magic Tricks Set for Kids
Does your child have a keen interest in magic? This magic set lets your child perform their very own magic tricks. The magic wand included in the set helps with effective role-play.
Age: 5 years and above
Features:
- Two-level box contains 28 props to perform various magic tricks
- Includes a two-drawer magic performance table
- Comes with an easy-to-follow manual including a picture only instructions and a step-by-step instructional DVD
- Props made of good quality and safe material
10. Chess Armory 15-inch Wooden Chess Set
Ask for a brain developing game and a regular shopkeeper will hand you a game of chess. This board game involves tremendous strategic thinking in order to master it.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Wooden pieces come housed in a classic foldable wooden box with hinges
- Felted bottoms to protect the surface area from scratches
- Interior straps to hold the pieces together
- Helps improve memory and concentration
- Promotes critical thinking in kids
- Durable and portable design
11. Original 101 Piece Educational Construction Engineering Building Blocks Set
A construction-based building game allows your kid to use their imagination to its maximum extent. This building blocks set brings their creativity into play and promotes their fine motor skills.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Includes 101 pieces
- Comes with an easy-to-follow instructions manual
- Plastic box enables safe storage
- Pieces are washable and free of lead, phthalates, and BPA
- Helps develop logical thinking and imagination
- Promotes teamwork
12. USA Toyz LED Constellation Globe for Kids
Gone are the days when a globe would show just the geographical locations of continents and places. This 3-in-1 globe additionally displays constellations and emits a soft glow at night.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Teaches geography and astronomy
- Comes with a durable steel globe stand, LED light, and power cord
- Includes an illustrated constellation booklet
13. Melissa & Doug Smarty Pants Preschool Card Set
Let your kid rack their brains in a fun way with this card set containing various puzzles, tongue twisters, vocabulary builders, and much more.
Age: 3 to 5 years
Features:
- Set comes with 120 cards containing various questions, puzzles, and activities
- Cards are packed in a wacky pants-shaped case
- Content developed with the help of educators to align with the curriculum of each grade or level
14. Learn & Climb Kids Science Kit
Science experiments, though complicated, can be fun when taught through a game. This science kit comes with several science experiments using just regular household items, so your kid enjoys science a little more.
Age: 5 years and above
Features:
- Comes with 55 pieces of instruments and apparatus required to conduct more than 60 experiments
- Pieces contain safe chemicals and ingredients
- Instructional DVD and manual help understand experiments
15. Dan&Darci Light-up Terrarium Kit for Kids
A mini garden in your child’s room sounds cool, right? This little jar holds a little plant that grows inside it while the lid of the jar emits light.
Age: 6 years and above
Features:
- Kit contains a terrarium jar, vermiculite soil, blue sand, river rocks, wheatgrass, chia seeds, and other essential items to create a mini garden
- Includes two figurines, a bunny, and a mushroom house, to make the garden more enchanting
- Helps develop a love of nature in kids
- Contains a USB cable charger for the glowing bulb in the lid
- Includes a handy manual
16. LeapFrog 2-in-1 Leaptop Touch
Kids’ laptops are made for easy learning of the alphabet, numbers, and more. This laptop cum tablet comes with a swivel screen that makes playing with it more fun.
Age: 4 to 5 years
Features:
- Includes five modes, namely ABCs, numbers, games, music, and messages
- Lightweight model for easy handling and convenient play
- Contains games for kids’ entertainment
- Available in two different colors
17. LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox 17101 Fun Robot Building Set
This STEM robot building set is for kids who like to assemble and dismantle tools.
Age: 7 to 12 years
Features:
- Kit comes with 847 LEGO pieces to build five different models
- Step-by-step instructions for the models are given in the free LEGO BOOST app
- Can help increase interest in science and coding
- Compatible with other LEGO toys
- Comes with a playmat and a LEGO BOOST wall poster
18. Sphero SPRK+ App-Enabled Robot Ball
Science enthusiasts will understand why this is not just a regular ball. It is a programmable robot ball that performs various functions through codes set via a mobile application.
Age: 5 to 14 years
Features:
- Durable UV-coated plastic body is scratch-resistant and waterproof
- Can be controlled through the Sphero Edu application
- Sensors include a gyroscope, accelerometer, motor encoders, and LED lights
- Bluetooth compatible up to 100ft
- Ideal for learning the basics of JavaScript, Scratch, and Swift
19. VTech Write & Learn Creative Center
Your child’s creativity will have no bounds with this doodling board. Let your child doodle to their heart’s content.
Age: 3 to 6 years
Features:
- Board comes with a stylus
- Lightweight body
- Includes a magnetic pen, two magnetic stamps, and eight stencils
- Enables kids to practice drawing and writing
- Stencils help to draw different shapes and objects
- Stamps help make quick and repetitive designs
20. Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Kidnoculars
Have you ever gone bird watching in a forest with a pair of binoculars? It is a delightful experience. Let your kids have the same experience with this pair of kids’ binoculars.
Age: 3 to 6 years
Features:
- Lightweight body and breakaway neck strap for easy travel
- Durable body designed to withstand poor handling
- Comes with large eyepieces so kids can look easily through it
- Focus-free
- Eyepiece is three times the size of ordinary eyepieces
21. Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center
Looking for a creative construction toy that supports STEM learning? This drill activity kit might be what you are looking for.
Age: 3 to 6 years
Features:
- Includes 120 plastic bolts, a kid-friendly power drill, a screwdriver, a combination range, two drill bits, and 20 activity cards
- Helps enhance coordination skills through drilling
- Builds fine motor skills
- Promotes STEM learning
- Develops color recognition and design creation skills
22. Learning Resources Super Magnet Lab Kit
Interactive toys make learning simple and convenient. This magnetic set too makes it easy for kids to learn the power and effects of magnets.
Age: 3 years and above
Features:
- Set contains 119 playable pieces
- Activity guide gives clear and simple instructions
- Develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Helps develop fine motor skills
23. Klutz Lego Chain Reactions Science & Building Kit
Ever enjoyed playing domino games? Those simple games are based on the principle of chain reactions. Similarly, this kit contains games that enable kids to build their own set of chain reactions and enjoy the tricks of science.
Age: 8 years and above
Features:
- Comes with 33 LEGO pieces to build ten different machines
- Includes a comprehensive instructions booklet
- Encourages kids to be innovative
24. National Geographic Break Open 10 Premium Geodes
Geodes are hollow rocks made of minerals. These rocks are gorgeous, and observing their sparkling mineral-filled inner portion can be fascinating. This set allows kids to observe and learn about geodes.
Age: 8 years and above
Features:
- Set contains real geodes, safety goggles, display stands, and a learning guide
- Great kit for kids interested in geology
- Develops interest in observation and exploration
25. 4M Crystal Growing Science Experimental Kit
Older kids who love experimenting with complicated things might enjoy this crystal growing experimental kit.
Age: 10 to 15 years
Features:
- Kit contains crystal growing compounds, display domes, and stirring supplies
- Detailed instruction guide helps conduct experiments
- Crystals can grow in any color of your choice
- Ideal for kids with interest in science and geology
When subjects like math and science mesh with games, learning becomes easy and exciting. We wish all topics could be taught through interactive and fun games.
These are our top 25 picks for the best educational toys for children. Does your kid own any of these toys? Which of these would you like to buy for your kids? Do share your answer in the comments section below.
How To Select The Best Educational Toys For Kids?
Here are a few points to consider before buying educational toys for your kids.
Age: Every toy brand mentions the appropriate age category for the toy on the package. The toys are designed considering the cognitive and physical development of kids belonging to that specific age range. So, always check for the age group mentioned on the package as you would not want your toddler stuck with a card game that they may not know how to use.
Interest: Buying your kids an engineering kit when they have no interest in building new structures is a sheer waste of money. Your child has to be genuinely interested in the game for it to be fun. Choose educational toys your child loves and would like to play for long.
STEM: For older kids, a toy that promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning is usually preferable since it could help them develop an interest in these fields.
Now that you know what to look for in educational toys for kids, have a look at the following toys that we have selected for your child. Playing with these educational toys may benefit your kid in many ways.
Disclaimer: MomJunction may earn a commission when products are purchased through affiliate links given in the article. However, this partnership does not influence the editorial content featuring in our list.
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