Educational Toys That Make a Difference

What are the most important qualities of educational toys? Other than the obvious (educational) – I would think the next best, most important quality would be entertainment. Youngsters would rather play as normal and secretly boost their intelligence than slave away at a desk all day with nothing fun in front of them. This is why I am such an advocate for homeschooling and continued learning anywhere – because kids can learn, flourish, and grow anywhere!

For those who think in similar ways, I have hand-picked a top-notch 3 of the best educational toys for little boys and girls. These toys make a difference because they positively impact a kid’s intellect and overall learning experiences. Plus, they encourage giggling, imagination, creativity, and fantastic fun!

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Perplexus Epic

For starters – I want to explore the complex, awesome name of this toy, because (to me) it makes the biggest impression right out of the box. Epic, of course, can mean amazing, unique, and super-cool. Combine these attributes with perplexing – a word that means challenging, exciting, and difficult – and you have a labyrinth-style puzzle of mind-bending fun and curious amusement.

Kids twist, turn, and flip the see-through sphere, pinging and ponging a silver ball across the walls, through stairways, and within the inner workings of an ever-changing maze. The objective is simple enough… solve the puzzle.

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Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit

I have said it before and I shall say it again… Science is AMAZING!

There are dozens of Mind-Blowing Science sets, but this one focuses on all the awesome, unique, inventive firsts of exploring science for the first time.

Eager, creative thinkers can complete projects that cause chain reactions, produce sparkling, cave-style crystals, and uncovers the ins-and-outs of nature’s most miraculous events. Additionally, youngsters learn basic concepts, simple theories, and what makes science tick.

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LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

When I was a kid – the refrigerator was the end-all, be-all of everything we strived to be. If artwork or good grades were magnetized to the fridge, we knew we had made it – and that was something to be proud of. This fascination has continued for decades after that, as it did decades before, and LeapFrog has taken it one step further.

Now kiddos can learn while standing in the kitchen! The scenario? Someone is fixing dinner and a youngster is bored, but then they see the magnetic reading system on the fridge.

Through phonics, your child learns letters, basic reading, and writing in minutes of waiting for you to get done with supper preparations.

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Find more top picks in educational toys for kids - updated each year:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-educational-toys/

Using Educational Toys To Teach Kids

Educational toys are excellent ways to give children everything they want in a learning environment, such as fun, entertainment, interaction, and creativity. Each child is different in the ways they learn important skills for their future. However, there are common criteria that all kids can agree on when it comes to their learning devices.

The following 3 educational toys for kids are the best at being both amusing and academic:

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Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden

This "garden" isn't only informative, it's also fascinating to watch! The cylinder is fabricated from waterproof mesh that will guard butterflies against the elements, while allowing kids to get an upclose view. Upon purchase, parents will mail in a coupon to receive 5 caterpillars and special food. When these arrive, they'll eat and grow until the natural metamorphosis process takes over, resulting in cocoons, and eventually, beautiful butterflies. The enclosure can be used several times over, and butterflies can be let out into their natural, wild environment.

Recommended shopping:  @ Amazon Toys
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Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100

There are 30 snap-together pieces to this set with over 100 different projects to keep kids busy. The electrical circuits are simple and color-coded with corresponding numbers. An enclosed instructional manual allows kids to choose their own creative, scientific experiments, working diligently to make a doorbell, build burglar alarms, and so much more. All parents need to do is provide the 2 AA batteries!

Recommended shopping:  @ Walmart.com
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Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Alphabet

There are 52 hand-crafted alphabet symbols in each wooden box that will set kids up for hours of learning. There are upper and lower cases, so toddlers can be educated on the different sounds, spellings, and appearances. They're a great tool for little ones who have begun the process of learning to read, or even spell their own name. Additionally, it can be played with through family generations!

Recommended shopping:  @ Amazon Toys
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Find more among the current top selling children's educational toys:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-educational-toys/

Best Educational Toys For Kids - Learning Resources

Pretend and Play School Set

Do you catch your kids singing into the cooking utensils? Do they try to guess how many noodles are in the spaghetti box while you're trying to make dinner? They might be overdue for some enrichment from some of the best educational toys for kids from Learning Resources; a company that specializes in teaching and entertaining. The following 2 toys from Learning Resources have become quick family favorites...

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Learning Resources Pretend and Play School Set

Some parents wonder, "Why would my child want to play school after they've been in school all day?" Those same parents played school when they were younger and every generation has or will. It's a reversal of roles as children are put into the shoes of teacher; able to hand out good (or bad) grades with praises and lesson plans they've designed. This school set includes everything a child would think to have in a modern classroom - all in a pop-up foldaway set. A miniature dry erase board is the focal point of the set, while a pocket of school supplies ensures all students are well-prepared for their pretend lesson. An authentic bell chimes when class is in and out of session, and the whole set is easy to carry for those tutoring sessions at a friend's house.

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Teaching Cash Register

Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register

Have you ever noticed the way your child seems to watch the cashiers at the grocery store with a mixture of curiosity and fascination? This set allows them to see what it's like on the other side of the checkout counter with a fully functional cash register. The cash drawer holds cash-size (fake) money with a place for coins, coupons, and credit cards. Featuring a built-in scanner, scale, and coin slot, this toy has a prolonged battery life for days of cashier fun.


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Find more great picks among educational toys for kids this year:

http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-educational-toys

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Visit the official site for Learning Resources:

http://www.learningresources.com/

Top 5 Educational Toys 2010

This season I have covered a number of different types of toys along the lines of the top 5 educational toys (including the top classic toys, top science toys and more) - but these toys are the overall favorites of parents and kids that fall into the category of "educational" or "learning" in general.  And - they are some great picks.  =)

Below, taken from the list of the top 10 educational toys 2010 are the top 5 picks:

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1. LeapFrog Learn and Groove Educational Table

Ages: For kids 6 months to 3 years old

Compare Prices:

• Baby Earth | eBay.com

The LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table is a toy that has been quite popular now for a couple of years. Still one of the very hottest sellers for little ones, and serves to "grow" with a child and their abilities.  Definitely worthy of being one of the best educational kids toys this year.

Merchant Info: Provide a world of learning and musical fun for your child with the LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table. Designed for children ages six months to three years, this innovative toy is chock full of learning and musical activities designed to provide visual and auditory stimulation and motor skill development, as well as opportunities to learn about colors, the alphabet, and opposites for older children -- and much more.

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2. LeapFrog Leapster 2 Educational Handheld Toy

Ages: For kids about 4-8 years old

Compare Prices:

• ToysRUs.com | eBay.com

This hand-held gaming system for little ones already comes with a couple of learning games installed, and there are plenty of other fun games to choose from.

Merchant Info: Put innovative creativity and fun at your kids' fingertips -- and watch them learn in the process -- with the The LeapFrog Leapster 2 Learning Game System. This battery-operated handheld game system goes where your children go, and brings plenty of learning fun along. It comes with two pre-installed educational games, and many more are available: purchase an optional SD card separately for access to additional online games and to take advantage of other online features; or you can purchase game cartridges to add to your Leapster 2 repository. The included games have skill levels suitable for children ages 4 to 8.

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3. Moon in My Room Educational Toy from Uncle Milton

Ages: For kids about 6 years of age and up

Compare Prices:

• WalMart.com | eBay.com

The "Moon in My Room" from Uncle Milton has also been on the "hot" list for a couple of years or more. This toy doubles as a fun light-up wall hanging and educational toy for kids. (Note: There are other similar products now avavilable from Uncle Milton, including the "Solar System" version of the toy.

Merchant Info: The illuminated model of the Moon can display either phase, as well as the other phases of the moon. This detailed model shows the maria, terrae, ejecta, impact craters and other lunar landmark in relief. With a touch from the remote you can advance the Moon through its phases, lit by internal LED lights. It makes a great nightlight, as it will turn on in a darkened room and stay on for 30 minutes. Includes IR remote and a CD audio tour with interesting facts about the Moon. Requires 4 AA batteries and 2 AAA batteries, not included.

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4. Scribble and Write Educational Toy from LeapFrog

Ages: For kids from about 3 to 5 years old

Compare Prices:

• WalMart.com | eBay.com

This toy is another on the list of the top 5 educational toy that "grows" with children's abilities. Starting with tracing and drawing, moving into creating letters and more.

Merchant Info: Light the way to early writing with Scribble & Write Children trace the lights to get practice drawing simple shapes and pictures, then graduate to learning upper- and lowercase letters with step-by-step guidance.

* Light the way to early writing with Scribble and Write
* Four learning modes can help your child progress from drawing simple shapes and pictures, to writing upper- and lowercase letters
* Features a child-sized stylus, single retraceable surface and stroke-by-stroke guidance
* Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path for customized learning ideas and insights from LeapFrog
* Children simply trace over the lights with the stylus to form letters

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5. Melissa and Doug See and Spell Educational Toy

Ages: For kids about 4-7 years of age

Compare Prices:

• MelissaAndDoug.com | eBay.com

Here is the See and Spell Educational toy from Melissa and Doug. What I love about this choice is the ability for kids to first learn the shapes of letters and fit them in like a puzzle, then with practice learn how the words are spelled. =) (I Loooooove Melissa & Doug.)

Merchant Info: Place the colorful wooden letters in their proper places to spell words on the cut out two-sided wooden boards. Includes 16 playful pictures with three and four letter words to keep learning fun. Includes over 50 letters.

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There they are - the top five educational toys for kids this year. Some of them are "repeats" from previous years - but hey, I wonder if there is a good reason for that? =D

Additional Resource - Recommended for more choices:

• Top 10 Educational Toys 2010