Sarah’s Animals of the World is a fun, educational, and surprisingly entertaining game that will have both kids and adults involved. Players have to figure out what animal they are by asking yes or no questions, which is a great way to learn facts about animals from around the world while also improving critical thinking skills. But the real fun comes in when players are given a “mode” to act out the animal and guess who they are. This one takes a little bit more patience and imagination, but that’s half the fun! Price: $19.99
Novel Effect
If you’re like me and inclined to add a little extra immersion when reading to your child, look no further than Novel Effect. This free mobile app uses voice recognition to add an interactive soundscape to books as they’re being read aloud, and it works with hundreds of popular titles including Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Moon, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It’s a neat, new way to encourage reading time and engage your kids in a story. Price: Free
Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
The Snap Circuits Jr. is the epitome of a “hands on” toy. It offers more than 300 projects to introduce kids to basic electronic engineering concepts, such as circuits, current, and resistance. Plus, they’re all color-based, which makes it less daunting trying to figure out where to start. Even if your child doesn’t go on to become an electrical engineer, they’ll likely get a decent understanding of what goes into making basic electronics work. Price: $34.99
Mudpuppy Solar System Puzzle
With Mudpuppy’s Solar Syste Puzzle, kids can learn more about astronomy and develop important motor skills at the same time. The puzzle has 70 pieces, and they serve as a visual guide to our solar system. With expressive, vibrant artwork and a poster included, this can be both an enjoyable and educational family activity. Price: $14.99
National Geographic Mega Gemstone Mine
With the National Geographic Mega Gemstone Mine kit, kids will learn about the geological context of precious stones while also unearthing 15 gems of their own. I’d name some, but I’m pretty sure they’re all called “pretty rock” in the beginning. This educational toy comes with a guide to help children track which minerals they find, understand the formation process, and look after their newly discovered treasures. Price: $34.99
LEGO DOTS Bracelet Mega Pack
This LEGO DOTS Bracelet Mega Pack is more advantageous than you might immediately think of. These 295 bracelets look like your typical, run-of-the-mill LEGO sets, but they’re designed to be worn on the wrist and swapped around to showcase each child’s personality. They also encourage kids to be creative, patient, and detail-oriented in a completely different way than building, say, Hogwarts out of LEGO bricks would. Also, because the bracelets are made of small pieces, they aren’t recommended for children under the age of six. Price: $33.99
4M Doodling Robot Kit
With the 4M Doodling Robot Kit, kids build a little robot that can doodle a picture on its own, which seems cool even if you’re not a kid. The kit features an instruction manual with detailed steps to aid kids in assembling the parts, along with a place to doodle. This way, not only is it educational, but it’s a lot of fun, and it might inspire some future creators. Price: $15.99
Bluey: The Pool playset
Bluey: The Pool is based on the popular Australian animated TV series and centers around a family of talking, anthropomorphic dogs. The show has been a hit not just with kids, but their parents, too, so the playset is bound to be the start of some great pretend pool parties and hours of plush doggy adventures. Price: $29.99
Sight Words Games & Flash Cards
Sight Words Games & Flash Cards makes learning easy with fun decks focused on different aspects of beginner reading. They’re focused on getting kids to memorize, recognize, and use basic words in sentences in a fun, interactive way. Each pack contains 100 double-sided cards and a cloth storage bag, while the games included will make it easier for your child to memorize and retain the words. Price: $28.99
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2
A child’s Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 is not only a fun gadget to have, but can be beneficial for parents, too. It’s a fitness tracker for children that promotes daily activity and can also help improve your child’s sleep. The tracker also offers a fun virtual activity experience that ties in with getting your child to do more real-world activities. Apart from that, there are various themed bands and displays to select from to personalize the fitness tracker. Price: $69.99
