Best Educational Toys
The best educational toys do their noble work without children even being aware of it. Playability and enjoyment are just as important here as with any other toy, and if you want your child to really learn something then they’ll have to be tempted to play with the toy again and again.
There’s no shortage of educational toys on the market, but not all of them are able to engage their target audience. Thankfully, there are plenty that do as well.
In alphabetical order, our pick of the bunch is as follows…
Bugsby Reading System
VTech
Helping to introduce the wonders of reading is this electronic reading aid from VTech. The chunky magic sensor pen can read out individual words to helps youngsters enjoy the story and also allows kids to create their own stories.
The full story…
Castle Logix
Learning Resources
This cracking game from learning Resources’ Smart Games line tests youngsters with increasingly tricky construction problems, encouraging logical thinking and spatial reasoning.
Read our full review here…
Cube Books
Zoobookoo
These clever little books work as a brain-stretching puzzle and are also packed with information on a variety of topics, including World Rugby and French Phrases.
The full story…
GeoPuzzles
GeoToys
This is a jigsaw puzzle with a difference, with each piece shaped like a European country. Piece them all together and you’ve not only completed the puzzle, you’ll also have a better idea of where Bulgaria is…
The full story…
Hands On Discovery Lab
Learning Resources
This great toy lets you pretend to be a top scientist working with hazardous materials, when in reality you’re just using a pair of rubber gloves to play with slime. Offers the possibility of messy play without the mess.
The full story…
Pirates Undercover
Learning Resources
This really clever game involves arranging a collection of plastic pieces to ensure that only the specified pirate-themed picture elements are left visible on the playing board. It’s engrossing and really gets the brain working!
Read our full review here…
Scribble & Write
LeapFrog
Using a retraceable drawing surface, this educational toy helps children to practise forming their letters in both lower- and uppercase, backing up the learning with audio effects.
The full story…
Timmy Time and Peppa Pig Learning Frames
Golden Bear
These beautiful wooden frames help children to tackle their alphabet and number recognition with the help of engaging pictures from two of children’s TV’s most popular characters.
The full story…
