As Christmas and Black Friday approaches I thought I'd share with you a big ole list of educational toys. Leo is a toy kid, I swear he should be a toy tester. This kid will sit and play with a toy for hours. Get him a new hot wheels car at the grocery store and he will get home put together a hot wheels track, create a demolition derby, or take his car through a shaving cream "car wash" and wash it in the sink. Despite that he will play with pretty much any toy I have noticed toys that are more educational than others. What I love about educational toys is it requires me to stop doing "normal life stuff" and sit down and teach and play with the kids. It is proven many times over kids learn best through play so here are my favorite educational toys.
Age 0-9 Months
all items linked below
Fat Brain Dimpl- This is my go to in my diaper bag. I swear it is even calming for adults.
Cry Activated Sound and Light Machine- I got Monroe one of these at like 9 months and I wish I would of gotten it sooner. She lays with her head facing it and usually falls asleep every time facing the little light. I love that it is cry and sound activated because in the morning she gets the light to turn on and then will play in her crib another 20-30 minutes.
Fisher Price Animals- These are great for all ages of play. Early on they can chew on them and as they get older they can play make believe and you can use them to teach animal sounds.
Piggy Bank- Monroe isn't a big toy girl but she does love this fisher price piggy bank and she also has a dinosaur that is similar that works on her fine motor skills.
all items linked below
Fat Brain Dimpl- This is my go to in my diaper bag. I swear it is even calming for adults.
Cry Activated Sound and Light Machine- I got Monroe one of these at like 9 months and I wish I would of gotten it sooner. She lays with her head facing it and usually falls asleep every time facing the little light. I love that it is cry and sound activated because in the morning she gets the light to turn on and then will play in her crib another 20-30 minutes.
Fisher Price Animals- These are great for all ages of play. Early on they can chew on them and as they get older they can play make believe and you can use them to teach animal sounds.
Piggy Bank- Monroe isn't a big toy girl but she does love this fisher price piggy bank and she also has a dinosaur that is similar that works on her fine motor skills.
Age 9 Months- 2 Years
all items linked below
Name Puzzles- Monroe got this from a good friend and she really loves it and it also looks super cute sitting out in the toy room. I think puzzles are just amazing for all kids and this name one is extra fun.
See Touch Feel Book- This book is a hit at our house, I mean all books are for Monroe that is her "toy" of choice I can't tell you how many times I've read "Dear Zoo" . But this is her new favorite book and it is even fun to Leo. I love how interactive it is.
Melissa Doug Bag- Melissa and Doug are great and one tip for Moms is read the little paper they give you with the toy. They give you great suggestions on how to use it to play with babies all the way up to older kids. I love traveling with this little backpack and Leo even will sit down and play with it for a few minutes too.
Sort and Match Activity From Lakeshore Learning- I added the link here because it isn't on amazon but I think this is a great educational toy. I actually sent this link to my sister in law to get for Monroe. I think she will grow into this activity and Leo will have fun with it as well.
Bean Bag Shapes and Colors- Leo before 2 knew all his shapes and colors and I think it was from these bean bags. My sister in law got them for me it is so fun to make a game out of teaching colors and shapes. We even play with them now, I will say put the purple bag under the blue bag and use them to teach different learning principles.
Pip Squiz- My mother in law got these for Leo but Monroe quickly took to them. I love them because 1. they stick to the high chair, 2 they are easy to throw in a diaper bag, 3 they entertain both kids. Needless to stay these will be on our flight next week.
Sorting Bears- Classic but a great activity.
Hedgehog- We recently got this for Monroe and she will actually play with it, which is shocking so if she likes it I bet 99% of little kids will.
Sound Books- Great for kids plain and simple
All things should be linked below!
all items linked below
Name Puzzles- Monroe got this from a good friend and she really loves it and it also looks super cute sitting out in the toy room. I think puzzles are just amazing for all kids and this name one is extra fun.
See Touch Feel Book- This book is a hit at our house, I mean all books are for Monroe that is her "toy" of choice I can't tell you how many times I've read "Dear Zoo" . But this is her new favorite book and it is even fun to Leo. I love how interactive it is.
Melissa Doug Bag- Melissa and Doug are great and one tip for Moms is read the little paper they give you with the toy. They give you great suggestions on how to use it to play with babies all the way up to older kids. I love traveling with this little backpack and Leo even will sit down and play with it for a few minutes too.
Sort and Match Activity From Lakeshore Learning- I added the link here because it isn't on amazon but I think this is a great educational toy. I actually sent this link to my sister in law to get for Monroe. I think she will grow into this activity and Leo will have fun with it as well.
Bean Bag Shapes and Colors- Leo before 2 knew all his shapes and colors and I think it was from these bean bags. My sister in law got them for me it is so fun to make a game out of teaching colors and shapes. We even play with them now, I will say put the purple bag under the blue bag and use them to teach different learning principles.
Pip Squiz- My mother in law got these for Leo but Monroe quickly took to them. I love them because 1. they stick to the high chair, 2 they are easy to throw in a diaper bag, 3 they entertain both kids. Needless to stay these will be on our flight next week.
Sorting Bears- Classic but a great activity.
Hedgehog- We recently got this for Monroe and she will actually play with it, which is shocking so if she likes it I bet 99% of little kids will.
Sound Books- Great for kids plain and simple
All things should be linked below!
Age 3-4
all items linked below
Story Scene Three Little Pigs - This was one of Leo's Christmas presents last year and he still loves it. It lives on a shelf so we get it out every few weeks and he is so excited to see it again. Remember toy rotation is KEY to keeping kids interested.
Reusable Volcano for Eruptions- If you have kids age 3-6 and aren't doing volcano erupts (baking soda and vinegar) are you even living... jk. We literally do volcanos a few times a week. I found this awesome reusable volcano. It is on Leo's Christmas list so I can't tell you how easy it is to use but we are excited for it.
Magnetic Tiles- We have a magnetic tiles for a car and regular tiles and they are so good for their little minds. This is another one that I rotate in and out.
Alphabet To Go- I think this might be a gift I eventually buy for Monroe maybe next year for Christmas. I think it is the coolest idea and I think you can use it to recognize letters but also work on letter sounds.
I Spy game- I recently saw this and thought it might be a fun game.
ABC Robots- My son got these last year for Christmas and they are still one of his favorite toys. I think we might have lost a few letters since he has packed them all over the place but they are so cool and gets you talking about letters without making them feel like they have to sit down and practice.
Cash Register- Endless learning possibilities with this.
Early Math Activity by Lakeshore Learning- Leo has this and it is so great he still uses it actually this week we practiced pattern.
Arts and Craft Center- Never a bad gift to give kids craft supplies!
Little Patient Doll- some of you might find this much but Jay and I think it is so cool to teach your kiddos about the human body in such a non gross way!
Dino Eggs- Dino dig eggs for your dino loving kids. Leo does one of these about once a week.... we burn through them.
Color Your Own Cardboard Castle- This is such a fun activity especially in the winter. Get all the crayons and markers out and start coloring. The best part is you can throw it away after the kids are done using it.
Butterfly Garden- We did one of these last year at Co-Op Pre School and it was so fun for the kids to watch the process.
Older Kids-
Crocodile Abcs- These ABCs are cool cause they match the upper case letter on the tails with the lower case letter on the head. Leo has them and he is just starting to be able to do it. But before he did the letters we worked on matching colors. Or me giving him directions to put a red head on a blue tail. That is why I am such a big fan of all educational toys is they really are able to grow with the child.
Science Kit- I mean who wouldn't have fun doing this.... I think the parents would have just as much fun.
Sea Monkeys- If your kids want a pet for Christmas buy them sea monkeys we had some this year that lasted 3 months. Key to it was stirring them to they get oxygen. I didn't stir the first batch of sea monkeys and they died after a week.
Morphals- These are the coolest crystal growing animals and they grow in 2 hours. And if the crystals fall off you just add more water and they regrow. Such a fun science gift.
Human Body- This game looks kind of fun
Jr Scrabble- My favorite memories as a kid was playing board games, battle ship, scrabble, mickey mouse yahtzee, monopoly jr. It was a great way to be together as a family.
Hope these are some good ideas for you if you are looking to buy your kiddos toy!
Cheers,
Jess
Cheers,
Jess
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