Finding toys and games for our children isn’t hard. But, finding toys and games that are educational AND fun? That’s not as easy as it sounds. I have a few games, books, and toys that I think are both fun and educational that I’d like to share with other parents and grandparents.
Games
Games are so important for littles to shape their minds, hone their hand-eye coordination, and to open their imaginations. Below are a few games that I really like for littles, ages 4 and up.
Alphabet BINGO
Alphabet Bingo is the cutest game! Unlike traditional bingo, Alphabet Bingo uses letters instead of numbers. Reach in the bag and pull out a token. Each token has a letter on one side and a corresponding picture on the other. For example, the letter B will be on one side and a picture of a butterfly on the other. The child then matches the picture or letter on their Bingo card. It’s straightforward, but extremely cute. My three-year-old granddaughter didn’t quite get it, but she was really good at matching the letters up with the tokens.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Travel Bingo and Matching Games
The Very Hungry Caterpillar makes games! There is a Travel Bingo game and a Travel Matching game. Eric Carle’s popular caterpillar line now includes a couple of fun games to take on the go. These are great for keeping littles busy while on the go. Travel Bingo has illustrations from Carle’s children’s classic stories.
To play Bingo, pick a card, slide it into the board, and open all the window flaps. While looking around at your surroundings, once you spot cars, flowers, bugs, and other items around you, shut the flaps on the board. Get four flaps closed and you win! This would be so much fun on a car ride! To play Matching, pick a card, slide it into the board, and open all the windows two at a time. Find all the matches on the board and win the game. I can see us playing this at a restaurant or doctor’s office to keep my granddaughter busy while we are waiting.
Books
Books are such a huge part of my life, and therefore, they are huge in my kids’ and my granddaughter’s lives. From an early age, books can take you to new places, teach you about things that are not in your everyday life, and allow you to experience many different environments.
Open Wide
Open Wide is a book that explores the mouths of animals. Sharks, tigers, and even dinosaurs have mouths that are different from each other. Do they have sticky spit? How long is that dog’s tongue? What kinds of foods do tigers eat, and how do their teeth help with that? This book is great for letting our kids discover the differences in animals and how their mouths compare to other animals.
First Big Book of Why
Most children go through the “Why?” stage. It’s kinda my favorite because they are so curious. Britannica’s First Big Book of Why is my absolute favorite book for littles. This book answers so many questions with facts, plain words (which makes it easy for littles to understand), and the pictures in it help little visualize the answers. From animals to outer space, the Big Book of Why covers so many topics! This is a perfect gift for any child. My granddaughter loves this book and often brings it to us to look at the pictures and to read some passages.
Home Grown
Award-winning product that was selected by a noted expert in child development, children’s literature, and education, and further tested by an objective panel of kid judges. Judging criteria include kid-testers’ responses along with expert assessment of educational and play value, safety, age appropriateness, and other factors.
Growing Kit and Growing Lamp
Home Grown Growing Kit and Lamp allow littles to grow their own indoor garden from the real vegetables in your kitchen, such as romaine lettuce from a discarded core, green onions from the ends you don’t eat with the roots, and even herbs!
The Growing Kit includes everything you need to start your indoor garden, like cylinders, a plant mister, scissors, labels, and even a plant guide. The Growing Lamp is a USB-powered LED light that mimics natural sunlight. It’s designed to sit on your counter and to hold plant containers.
Your child will learn so much from growing their own plants and vegetables in your kitchen. These kits are recommended for children 8 and older.
My Thoughts on Fun Educational Toys
Anytime you can give your child knowledge, do it. I’ve learned that telling your kids honest answers to their questions is the best policy. They understand more than we think, and by giving them knowledge early on in life, it helps them problem-solve and be more logical. Reading books, playing games, and practical fun activities like starting a garden are not only fun, but they also teach them about life. These educational and fun toys and books are a good addition to any home.
You can find all of these Books and Toys in our
Back to School Gift Guide
