Buzz
Hey there! We’re doing our best to make sure the products we feature will arrive before Christmas, but with shipping times being unpredictable this year, they may vary based on where you live, what you order, and more. Be sure to shop early and double-check the retailer’s website for shipping details so you can ensure your gift arrives by the 25th!
The thing about educational toys is… they’re fantastic, but they should also be fun! As we gear up for the holiday season, I’d love to share some of my family’s favorites so far.
My little guy is doing full-time remote Pre-K this year. Since school is all online through Zoom, I’m looking to supplement his learning with non-screen toys. But hey, we're all doing the best we can here!
I also reached out to some experts for their suggestions. Anne Gillyard and Jodi Arellano, the founders and professional playroom designers (hello, dream job 👋) behind grOH! Playrooms.
Anne and Jodi, former educators turned playroom designers, are passionate about learning through play. Their design expertise ensures that the educational toys they select not only engage kids, but also look great in your home. Parent win!
This list features 5 screen-free picks from me and 19 additional choices from the experts at grOH! — all designed to give little ones a break from screens while still promoting brain development. ✨
1. This 100 Words Book to help kids build their vocabulary in both English and Spanish.
2. This portable number and letters toy, which transforms ABCs and 123s into an enjoyable memory game.
3. This straightforward magnetic maze game to assist with fine motor skills development.
4. This butterfly grow kit to demonstrate how caterpillars are incredibly hungry before transforming into butterflies.
5. A monthly subscription to Little Passports.
Why I love it: We receive the Early Explorers kit (for ages 3-5) each month, and it’s always fun from the unboxing to the activities inside. It’s the perfect chance for me to introduce my little one to different parts of the world. It’s sparked his curiosity about travel, which is something I’m eager to support. They offer kits for kids up to age 12 with themes covering everything from geography to STEM.
Get it from Little Passports for $19.95-$22.95 per month depending on your subscription choice.
6. These charming little dolls that encourage storytelling and imaginative play.
Expert recommendation: These pocket-sized, soft, and flexible Holdie Folk dolls come in a wide range of skin tones, perfect for imaginative play. As kids create stories, they explore narrative structure, practicing concepts like beginning, middle, and end, as well as conflicts and resolutions.
Choose from 18 unique dolls; available from Ollie Ella for $16.95 each.
7. A set of Magna-Tiles — which can help teach your child the basics of geometry.
8. This adorable yet timeless animal figurine set that can ignite a lasting passion for life sciences.
Expert recommendation: Animals become central figures in children's imaginative stories, and interacting with a variety of animals often sparks a deeper interest in animal facts and research. For younger children, making animal sounds also helps develop the muscles needed for oral language skills.
Purchase this set on Amazon for $19.99.
9. This classic stable to set the scene for small world play — and help refine fine motor skills.
10. This vibrant collection of building blocks designed to support language development.
Expert recommendation: Enhance your child’s play experience by adding environmental elements. They can create houses or trees, building their own little community or neighborhood. As their small-world play grows, their stories—and language—become more intricate and engaging.
Get this set of village building blocks from Bella Luna Toys for $73. You can also find a colorful starter set from Melissa & Doug for $16.99 on Amazon.
11. This little kiddie drum — so they can march to the beat of their own drum. (And who knows, maybe it’ll help with those future test scores. 😉)
Expert recommendation: Kids who engage in music tend to achieve better results on standardized tests. Although life isn't solely about test scores, this still highlights the brain's strong connection between music, math, and language. The rhythm, rhyme, and language inherent in music help prime children's brains for learning in other areas as well.
Available on Amazon for $29.99.
12. This adorable ukulele to help launch your child’s musical journey and build their lifelong self-confidence.
Expert recommendation: This ukulele is a great first instrument for aspiring musicians. Children use it both in lessons and during imaginative play. The confidence, social, and emotional skills gained from performing music can, with practice, positively influence other areas of their lives. Plus, you'll get adorable pictures and videos of them performing!
Find it on Amazon (11 color options) for $34.95.
13. A timeless Lego set perfect for your budding engineer.
Expert recommendation: Lego sets are wonderful, but there’s a distinct difference between building from instructions and creating with just bricks and imagination. It requires engineering skills, problem-solving, trial and error, and creativity to assemble a structure from scratch. A healthy balance of both structured and freeform building helps kids develop essential skills.
Get this classic Lego set for $26.99 on Amazon.
14. This awesome and enjoyable scooter that supports focus and strengthens core muscles.
Expert recommendation: Can a scooter be educational? Absolutely! Engaging in physical and gross motor activities helps children focus. Not only do they improve their concentration, but they also build muscle strength and core control, which helps with posture and sitting for extended periods.
Get this adorable scooter (available in 14 colors) for $139.99 on Amazon. Or, check out this Radio Flyer scooter for $32.90.
15. These vintage-style toy cars perfect for racing — and conducting basic physics experiments.
Expert recommendation: These retro toy cars are perfect for imaginative storytelling and community-building play. And we love their cool vintage design! Did you know that every time your kids set up ramps and race cars, they are actually engaging in physics experiments? Inertia! Friction! It's truly incredible what kids can discover through play.
Grab one of these cars on Amazon for $9.95 (available in eight different styles).
16. This marble run set lets your child explore, create, and test different ideas through hands-on experimentation.
Expert recommendation: Your kids will unknowingly dive into the world of physics with this toy, learning about concepts like ramps, acceleration, and friction. But the fun doesn’t stop there — they’ll also practice trial and error and prediction. What happens when a new piece is added to the structure? Test it out and see! Plus, it encourages teamwork and communication, possibly with a sibling.
Find this wooden marble run set on Amazon for $113. For a more budget-friendly option, check out another set priced at $39.99.
17. This toy cash register introduces kids to the basics of math while offering fun playtime learning opportunities.
18. These Colors of the World crayons promote inclusivity by allowing kids to express diversity through art.
Expert recommendation: Art has long been a valuable way to start important conversations about race and culture, especially when it includes crayons that reflect a variety of skin tones. Using art to teach children about anti-racism is a powerful approach. (For more tips on incorporating anti-racism into your child’s activities, check out the blog we wrote on the topic here.)
Purchase this 24-crayon set from Crayola for $2.49, or grab a 10-pack of markers from Amazon for $7.08.
19. These mess-free paint sticks offer a fun way for kids to practice the valuable skill of learning from mistakes.
Expert recommendation: These fast-drying, mess-free paint sticks are a game changer for both parents and kids. Art is an incredibly powerful method of expression. Even the simplest scribbles show children’s thought process, their flexibility, and how they learn to embrace mistakes. Plus, it teaches them responsibility by encouraging cleanup after their creative session.
Purchase a 24-pack of Kwik Stix on Amazon for $18.99.
20. This practical and engaging wood model kit — a perfect hands-on STEM activity.
Expert recommendation: If you have a young Lego enthusiast ready to take on a new challenge, this is the perfect next step. Kids who enjoy the engineering side of Legos will love model building. These National Geographic kits introduce an exciting STEM dimension by incorporating solar power into the fun.
Available on Amazon for $24.99.
21. This nature detective set designed to spark your child’s curiosity about the natural world, which also connects to learning in subjects like reading.
Expert recommendation: Encouraging curiosity is crucial, as research has shown that it helps young children develop their reading skills. This set promotes outdoor exploration, which not only enhances their understanding of science but also offers a great way for them to release their abundant energy through active play.
Find it on Amazon for $8.99.
22. This Kinetic Sand kit to elevate your sensory play experience and take your sensory bins to new heights.
Expert recommendation: Sensory experiences help everyone make sense of their surroundings — some kids may need more support than others. With sensory materials like Kinetic Sand, children can practice integrating sensory input, which can help them in real-world situations, like cleaning up after getting messy with paint or dirt.
Available on Amazon for $19.97.
23. These bath toys that make bath time a productive and fun learning opportunity.
Expert recommendation: Just like with marble runs, children can explore how liquids and objects flow through various channels with these toys. They'll discover how force can move things and will also get the chance to test out their ideas while trying to move water from one container to another.
Available on Amazon for $24.98.
24. This classic train set that also helps teach important skills like planning and spatial awareness.
Expert recommendation: This timeless train set offers more than just fun. From building hand-eye coordination to fostering patience and perseverance, children will also develop planning and spatial awareness as they adjust the tracks to keep the trains on course. It takes focus, which might just give parents a few quiet moments!
Find this BRIO train set on Amazon for $49.99.
For more insights from grOH! playrooms, visit their website or connect with them on Instagram for updates.
Searching for the perfect gift for any occasion? Explore Mytour’s curated gift guides for inspiration!
