The
best educational toys make learning
fun. Whether they’re teaching your child about colours, numbers, shapes– these
toys ensure there’s real pleasure and play value to be had. Here’s our pick of
the best of the bunch.
1.
Fisher-Price
Code-a-Pillar. The lights, sounds and light-up eyes
really bring the toy to life.
2.
Rosie
Flo’s Art Gallery. Children will have hours of fun setting up, colouring in and creating
an entire mini art gallery, complete with gift shop and they can learn about
the great masterpieces while they’re doing it. Each piece of art is
double-sided – one side showing the real painting, the other side with an
outline to colour in.
3.
Janod
Magnetic Map. Not only is it wooden and colourful,
but there are 90 magnetic and educational pieces to slot together like a giant
jigsaw – each one representing animals, brightly-coloured cities and famous
landmarks that help your youngster learn about their world.
4.
Casdon Toy
Post Office, has been designed to allow
youngsters to pretend they’re working in the
adult world in a fun way, with lots of stimulation and education thrown
into the mix of post office goodies–including weighing and counting to
encourage numeracy.
5. Learning Resources My First
Telescope. Now here’s a more durable toy–and a
great choice for budding scientists, with an interest in astronomy.
6.
Early
Learning Centre Magnetic Playcentre. There’s
even an eraser and paper in this
versatile box. It’s a wonderfully tactile way to introduce children to the
world of words and numbers.
7.
Engino
STEM Mechanics Cams & Cranks. From eight to 16 years.
8. Lego City Volcano Exploration Base.
From eight to 12 years.
9. LeapStart Preschool Interactive
Learning System. it easy to activate responses by tapping the page and there’s
plenty to do either on their own or with an adult.
10. Fisher-Price Beat Bow Wow. The
head bobbles and ears wiggle, adding to the fun.
11. Lamaze Octotunes Octopus. There’s
a full octave of notes over the eight tentacles, with guidance on how to use it
to play songs.
12.
JIMU Robot
Meebot Kit. The build-quality
and life-like motions are particularly impressive.
13.
Buttonbag
Learn How To Sew Suitcase. If ever there
was a kit to make sewing look thoroughly appealing to children, it’s this.
14.
Early
Learning Centre My First Measuring Set. A wonderful way to encourage practical experiments from a young age.
15. Real Construction Deluxe Workshop.
From six to 12 years.
16.
Smartmax
Magnetic Discovery. This collection of bars and balls would make a fun
standalone construction kit in its own right, but it has the added bonus
of being magnetic – and with the magnets strong enough to carry up to 60 times
their weight, there’s no end to what kids can build.
For older children interested in
robotics, the JIMU Robot Meebot Kit provides hours of fun. Meanwhile,
for science-obsessed youngsters, we love Learning Resources’ My First
Telescope and the Lego City Volcano Exploration Base.
