Top 2020 Educational Gifts for Children
Holiday toy sales topped $1 trillion last year, and sales are expected to hit similar numbers this year.
But instead of shopping for the newest and trendiest toys this year, why not get kids an entertaining toy that simultaneously educates them? For everyone from babies to teens, we have compiled a lists of perfectly balanced gifts that provide fun and learning for months to come.
Crayola My First Palm Grip Crayons (1+)
Sure, you can buy the noisy and flashy toy that teaches your baby everything under the sun, but we all know they will probably end up playing with the box it came in more than the toy itself. Instead, give them these chunky crayons — the perfect gripping size for tiny unskilled hands that are ready to make their first masterpiece.
▲Sort and Spin Yeti (1+)
We may have just mentioned the fact that babies don't frequently play with toys, but if you're going to pick one, the sort and spin yeti is a great choice. This yeti features three different learning levels that allow babies and toddlers to explore colors, shapes, and matching skills while being entertained throughout different milestones.
▲Spike the fine motor hedgehog (18+ months)
Spike has become a hit amongst toddlers and parents alike. This bright and lovable hedgehog is the perfect toy for teaching kids to develop fine motor skills, and cleanup is made fun and easy with this toy's built-in storage.
▲Sesame Street Elmo’s On The Go Letters (2+)
With this character-favorite alphabet learning toy, toddlers become familiar with the alphabet and practice fine motor skills by easily snapping the alphabet letters into place. But the best thing about this product may just be its convenient storage case, featuring Elmo's face.
▲Pop the Pip (3+)
A personal favorite of both my daughters, Pop the Pig is a quick and easy game that features a hamburger-craving pig whose belly eventually pops from overeating. Great for learning colors and numbers, this game is perfect for toddlers of different ages.
▲Magna Tiles (3+)
An upgrade from the usual preschool building blocks, Magna Tiles are a perfect set for fostering creativity and laying a foundation for STEM learning. Magna Tiles are great building alternatives to legos, as it's as easy as placing the pieces you want together next to each other while the magnet does the rest of the work.
▲Melissa & Doug See & Spell (4+)
Melissa & Doug's high-quality wooden blocks have long been staples in toddlers' toy collections. But possibly the best set of these beloved blocks you can gift a four-year-old is their See & Spell puzzle, which features over 50 colorful wooden letters to develop sight-reading vocabulary.
▲Rush Hour Junior Traffic Jam (5+)
Rush Hour Junior is a great puzzle game that can help children develop their logic and reasoning skills. With a compact travel case and over 40 different challenges, this game has children turning to it time and time again.
▲Qwirkle (6+)
This family-favorite game of matching shapes and colors teaches tactical, quick-thinking maneuvers and is quick and easy to learn for most children six and older.
▲National Geographic Kids Subscription (6+)
The National Geographic Kids magazines have been fostering young readers' interest in world studies for over 45 years. Monthly issues will get kids learning about sciences, archeology, animals, and much more in a fun and entertaining manner. Plus, it makes for a great toy alternative.
▲Illustory Book Making Kit (7+)
For the future author, Illastory gives children the chance to create their very own story and bring it to life. The box includes everything needed to brainstorm, write, and illustrate the story. When it's finished, mail it in the provided envelope and within a few weeks, the finished book is mailed back.
▲Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit (8+)
Brought to you by the most entertaining scientist around, this kit is full of easy to follow scientific experiments that are made even more fun thanks to virtual reality goggles, which let your child step inside the science lab alongside Mr. Nye himself.
▲Catan (10+)
Catan has been making its way onto family game shelves since 1995, selling over 32 million games worldwide. With its easy to learn gameplay, this game helps children learn valuable social study skills as they battle for resources and conquest through strategic planning.
▲Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit 3.0 (10+)
The best choice for any young teenager looking to dive into the world of robotics, this robot car is a great tool to teach beginners not only about robotics but also electronics and programming.
▲