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Top 10 Educational Toys

Educational toys have come a long way since alphabet building blocks. These days, with so much competition, top educational toys must be specifically designed to entertain and stimulate kids to support mental, physical, and academic development. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which will capture and keep a kid’s attention, while simultaneously challenging them enough to develop and strengthen skills.

The most recommended toys challenge students, without frustrating them, and match your kid’s interests and abilities. This allows the toy to spark curiosity and engage the child, so they are focused on the entertainment aspect, while the educational benefits seamlessly blend in.

Look no further - we’ve compiled a list of the top ten high-quality educational and affordable toys for children aged 6-10. These are sure to increase your child’s drive for play based-learning, so you can feel at ease giving them some extra play time.

3D Doodler Pen - $49.99

The most expensive on the list, but with good reason. This 3D printing pen will have even the most screen-time addicted kids begging to bring their ideas to life. With no external hot parts and a helpful step-by-step guide, children can develop their STEM skills independently. The wireless 3D Doodler Pen is beginner-friendly and uses unique biodegradable and non-toxic refillable cartridges. It provides limitless possibilities to enhance creativity, improve fine motor skills, and develop a strong sense of spatial reasoning. With the Smart+ Essential Set and just a quick 30 minute power charge, you’ll have everything you need to start creating.

Squishy Human Body - $24

This is not your average skeleton toy. The Smartlab’s Squishy Human Body features removable squishy organs, as well as skeletal, vascular, and muscular systems, - sure to provide intrigue, as kid’s follow along in the detailed 24-page activity book. This hands-on guide allows children to navigate their way through the complex world of the human body. Forceps and an “organ-ization” chart are included to help remove and provide identification for each organ. This 12-inch interactive model sparks curiosity and engages kids in a guided exploration through the inner-workings of the human body. It may be a bit gross, but it’s a lot of fun!

Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle - $14

Get ready to Kanoodle! It’s no wonder why this award-winning, solo game is a crowd favorite. This 3D brain teaser will get kids pushing their critical thinking skills to the max. It includes 200 challenges, ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced, so you can even give it a go while your child finishes their homework. A pocket-sized carrying case makes it the perfect toy to grab for those busy, on-the-go days. Kids will develop their strategic thinking skills as they rearrange the colorful pieces to complete each puzzle. Kanoodle is easy to understand, but takes practice and patience to master.

Multiplication Slam - $28

Quick! Throw away those boring, old flashcards and grab your child the Multiplication Slam! This colorful and interactive table-top game features five slammin’ math games focused on building fluency with math facts, factors, factor pairs, multiples, and sequencing. It’s simple to use - just read the problem, scan the answers, and slam down the one that’s correct. Because we all make mistakes when we’re learning, any incorrect answers are shown and then recycled back through to ensure every player is progressing as they play. It’s every math teacher’s dream, and with a volume control, it’s every parent’s dream, too.

164-piece Creative Construction Engineering Set - $28

Calling all future engineers, this one's for you! Specifically designed by teachers to develop cognitive thinking and problem solving skills, children as young as three years old can begin to connect pieces together. By age six and beyond, kids will become so immersed in productive play by designing structures that they (might) just forget about their tablet altogether. This tool-kit packaged in a storage box includes concepts of geometry and physics, while supporting hand-eye coordination and creativity. Challenge cards are included for inspiration, but kids are encouraged to expand their imaginations as far as they can dream.

Kids Bug View - $12.99

The Kids BugView Magnifier and Quick-Release Bug Catching Tool makes it easy to catch, observe, and safely say goodbye to our six and eight legged friends. Any young explorer or nature enthusiast would be excited to catch and view insects with the 5x power crystal-clear magnifier lens. And amazingly, this one-handed viewer has the potential to help even the most scared kids overcome a fear of bugs. Finally a bug-friendly way to let your little one examine even the smallest of details, without doing any harm. At just ¼ of a pound, it’s the perfect tool to add some excitement to any nature walk.

Coding Starter Kit - $35.99

Put that highly-sought after screen time to good use with the Osmo Coding Starter Kit. With dozens of beginner coding systems to choose from, this one stands out as the winner. Kids think they are immersed in an interactive game, but parents know they are developing the technical coding skills they will need in today’s tech-centric world. A reflector and base are provided in the kit and attach to your child’s ipad (not included) to allow responses to their hands-on actions. Real-time audio and visual feedback helps create a learning environment that is stress-free and engaging (for both you and your child).

Kiwi Co. Subscription Box - $23.95

Why buy a toy when your child can use their skills to build their own? Choose your child’s age and interest to find the subscription box recommended for you. Every month, you’ll find everything you need for screen-free and hands-on engagement delivered at your door. Take the pressure off yourself and feel good knowing that specially designed STEAM projects that provoke inquiry, problem solving, and experimenting, are at your disposal. Over 40 million crates have been delivered already - what are you waiting for? Head over to the website and see which crate sparks curiosity and excitement in your child.

Let’s Go Code! Activity Set - $22

Want to ensure your child is developing the tech skills they’ll need in the future? This is the perfect no-digital way to introduce children to the world of coding and programming concepts in a way their developing brains can understand. Kids will continue to reinforce their listening skills, enhance their directional sense, and strengthen gross motor skills while playing this collaborative game. Perfect for a play-date, kids will work with a partner or small team to create mazes with foam mats and solve them using coding cards. Be prepared for lots of laughs and hops, as kids jump their way into coding.

Nancy B's Science Club Microscope and 22-Page Activity Journal - $22.99

If you’re looking for a hands-on educational experience to spark your child’s interest in science, this is it! For the budding scientists, this toy microscope packs a lot of punch for the price. Choose from 30x, 100x, or even 400x magnifications to view the 4 already-prepared slides included or collect your own specimen using the blank slides and collection vial. The activity journal, which is included, promotes independent learning and features experiments, room for observations, and creative writing. This Nancy B's Microscope offers the potential to unlock a wider interest in science and enhance a kid's exploratory nature, at a price you can’t beat.