Best Educational Toys, Activities & More!

Teaching Cash Register (Learning Resources) This cash register was tested by my daughter.  Since playtime always includes setting up shop and selling her toys, I had to let her test this.  It's a great toy for not only educational purposes, but pretend play.  The cash register teaches coin identification, addition and subtraction.  The coin reader identifies the included play pieces which feel real.  There is a checkout scanner with sound, a working scale and more! It's a toy that gets used daily in my house.  Ages 3 -12, $44.95.  Click here for a retailer near you.

 Leappad Plus Writing Learning System (LeapFrog) According to our testers mother, her daughter is a bit of a perfectionist.  She loved the fact that she could practice writing and that there was an eraser on the end of the pencil!  What they loved about this was that it was fun and educational.  There are also over 60 books, you are not just stuck with the "new" system books, you can use the Leappad books from the previous systems.  This is a fabulous learning tool that both kids and parents love!  Leap Pad Accessories & Books  Ages 4-8, $59.99

Matchbox® Hero City™ Ice Mountain™ Playset: (Mattel) This toy got a HUGE thumbs up in our tester's house because it was avidly played with by a 5-year- old boy, his 10-year- old cousin, and his 7-year- old sister: and EVERYONE had a great time playing it. Their mother liked it's versatility.  She commented," not only can you play with the cars rushing down the tracks, but they can interact with the crane that lifts the cars onto an ice platform (which the kids can then make 'cave in'."   In addition, it also engendered other fantasy play. The 7-year old girl brought her Polly Pockets over and some smaller stuffed animals and positioned them around the track as well; and the five-year old boy brought over he-man action figures and Godzilla which participated. In addition, it was easy enough for a 10-year- old to set up (without instructions).  Needless to say she really  recommended this product. Ages 3 - up, $39.99

Alien Agency (Mega Bloks) Our tester loved it, but noted that it is difficult to assemble.  clear for a child)  That being said our tester played with it a lot.  He loved playing with the Playdoh to make the different aliens and thought it was a great toy for the imagination, just needs adult supervision for assembly. $39.99

Barbie B-Book Upgraded Laptop (Oregon Scientific) Our tester apparently couldn't stop raving about this once she got it.  It's got lots of fun games and learning tools.  Some are good for 5-year-olds, some our tester will have to wait to accomplish.  The fact that it was "Barbie" was also a big plus.  Apparently our tester takes it everywhere now!  The only downside is that the screen is very small.  Ages 5-up, $49.99

Transformers Unicron (Hasbro) Our 6-year-old tester could hardly contain himself as his mom began removing the toy from the box.  This was a process that took at least 5 minutes due to all of the twistee ties.  That being said, he loved it.  Days later he announced to his mother upon arriving from school,  "My transformer is the best transformer of all the transformers!"  Note: The directions are difficult to understand and the toy also contains many small projectiles and parts.  Ages 5 - up, $49.99

 Micro Machines’ Super Stunt City (Hasbro) has been a terrific toy for our 6-year-old tester, keeping him entertained with shooting the tiny cars over various parts of the track in an effort to perform tricks. The cars zip along pretty fast off the launchers, and can flip in the air. He really enjoys that fact that he can open the truck into a mini city with so many different sections of track for the three cars. It was easy to assemble, with adult supervision. And even better, he can easily fold it up by himself. It’s a great toy for the child who loves speedy cars and has great imagination. Ages 4 - up, $29.99

Off the Map Zoom Cam (Wild Planet) Our  6-year-old tester thoroughly enjoyed the Zoom Cam. Although his mother considered this toy one that definitely benefits from parent participation, he enjoyed it regardless. Without direction he happily snapped close ups of the truck we encountered in the parking lot's door panels, an electrical pole and his brother, with direction we shot close ups of the various squirrels, crows and water bugs etc that we encountered on our "nature walk". Although their photos may not turn out as well as those shown on the box, clicking away was very satisfying and we are looking forward to getting the finished product back from the developer. In addition, this toy seemed to be a kid magnet. All the children we encountered on our walk seemed very intrigued and wanted to give it a try.  The one draw back relates to parent participation again, and can be solved with it. There is a window which allows you to count off your shots, but the camera does not stop taking picture when you've reached your limit. They let their 6-year-old neighbor take the last 2 shots and unfortunately she took an additional 20. Her older children were also interested in this toy and would probably do better if there was to be no supervision. Ages 6 - up, $14.99

Spy vision Goggles (Wild Planet) These are night vision goggles with flip-out lights and according to our tester they are "totally cool dude!"  These night vision goggles really do light up the night.  They are great for summertime outdoor games or basement spy missions. Definitely not
for ages less than 6 because the glasses are heavy due to the battery pack at the back of the child's head. $12.99, Ages 6 and up.

Birdsong IdentiFlyer (For the Birds LLC) My daughter who takes Kindermusik (music class) is currently studying birds and their sounds.  Well she was so thrilled to bring the IdentiFlyer to class so she and her classmates could all hear the actual sounds of various birds.  Although they loved the birds it was apparently the frogs that were their favorites.  The sound that this toy/tool generates is amazing.  You can go outside, listen to a bird, and identify it though its call using the IdentiFlyer.  There are 14 different song cards available including: Seashore, Frogs, Marsh and Wetlands and more!  The set comes with Yard birds 1 and 2 and earphones and retails for $35.00.  Each additional card is just $10.50.  A great educational gift that grandparents and grandchildren will both enjoy!

Polly Pockets Magnetic House (Mattel) Our tester cannot say enough great things about this house. Polly pockets are a huge hit with her seven-year old daughter and her friends... They absolutely love the tiny aspects of the pieces and setting up the house. The magnetic feature really seems to capture the girls' imaginations and lets them get even more creative with "placing" things exactly where they want to. Also, they took this on an 8-hour car ride (it folds up and has a carrying
handle--another parental godsend), her daughter was engaged for several hours and no pieces were lost because they stuck to the house!. Would highly recommend this toy for anyone with preschool or grade-school girls.

Leapster Educational Game System (LeapFrog)  This toy is so new we haven't had a chance to review it yet, but we have seen it and it looks really cool!  What does it do?  It's a hand held game system that teaches.  The screen is large, touch activated and remarkably clear.  Children can learn 60 essential skills.  It has increasing levels of difficulty.  What's cool about this?  It can go in the car - you can purchase headphones to keep parents happy and there's a car charger - which means you're not constantly buying batteries.  $79.99, Ages 4-8 Actual review coming soon!

 Powertouch Learning System (Fisher-Price)  Our 3-year-old tester just loved!  First he could use his finger and secondly it came with a Sesame Street book.  His mother loved the fact it was easy to start up and her son could work independently.  They are both looking forward to getting more of the books!  Power Touch Books  $49.99, Ages 3-8

Ginko Tree-To-Be (Potting Shed Creations, Ltd) This is a great gift that you and your grandchildren can do together.  After you've helped them plant it, it can be their job to maintain it, then when it's big enough you can help them plant it in the garden.  Every time they look at it they will be reminded of  you!  Now how cool is that?  Mind you not every grandchild will be thrilled about getting a plant, but if you get them interested in gardening early (not just raking leaves) then perhaps they'll be interested in it for the rest of their lives!  This kit includes everything you need to successfully start and grow a ginkgo tree. An aluminum tag is provided for a personalized inscription to be placed on the tree. $20.00