Do you want to make learning more fun for your kids? When it comes to shopping for holiday gifts, I always like to find toys that are both fun and educational. It is important to me that the gifts that I give my daughter provide some educational value, whether it is working on a particular skill, providing her with an opportunity to be creative, or encouraging her to explore the world around her. This list of educational gifts for kids offers lots of options for the young learners on your list!

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received some of these items in exchange for my honest review. These are marked with an *. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

STEM Toys

Brackitz*

Encourage kids to pursue an interest in engineering with open ended building kits! Brackitz offers several kits that allow kids to build, discover and engineer their own creations. We tried out the Brackitz Driver 43 Piece Set which provides kids with an opportunity to explore and build a variety of driving machines. The kit includes simple plank pieces and connectors, as well as pieces to create wheels, axles, and rubber band drivetrains.

The booklet that comes with the kit provides images and materials lists for 10 different machines that actually move. The pieces are sturdy and connect easily to one another, so it’s easy for kids to create on their own. Bringing these engineering principles to life through hands-on building will ensure that the lessons stick with them.

Crayola Color Chemistry Lab Set*

For kids interested in STEAM, this set of colorful experiments gives them an opportunity to see science happen before their eyes. This lab set includes easy to follow instructions for 50 colorful science experiments, as well as the materials and equipment to do 15 of the experiments right away. The instruction manual walks you through the experiments with clear instructions, as well as illustrations.

I was thrilled to see a wide range of experiments, and the materials that aren’t included in the box are items that you probably already have on hand (such as cooking oil or paper plates). The experiments in this set are easy to set up, and can be done over and over again, leading to hours of fun learning time! Ages 7+

Little Tikes STEM Jr. Wonder Lab

This interactive science lab for kids is full of hands on STEM experiments which use household ingredients. More than 40 sounds and phrases encourage little scientists to explore on their own and use the included accessories to discover and learn. Some of the activities include a ball maze which allows kids to practice engineering skills, a circuit center that offers a chance to learn about circuits and lights, and instructions and tools to create chemical reactions. This incredible lab offers plenty of ways to get kids interested in STEM concepts, and perform lots of exciting experiments!

Kidzlane Microscope*

This toy microscope is a fun way to encourage the STEM lover on your list. The adorable bear shaped microscope comes with a small petri dish, tweezers, a pretend scalpel, a fake spider and a fake lizard. The 8x magnification and working flashlight give kids the opportunity to look closely at the object under the microscope, while the easy to turn knobs allow them to easily adjust the height and magnification. I love how easy this product is to use, and how sturdy it is. It’s small size and durability means that we can take this along with us on our walks and outdoor adventures. Ages 3+

Related Post: New Educational Gifts for Kids

GeoSafari Jr. My First Telescope

This beginners telescope is a great tool for young kids showing interest in space and exploring the world around them. The telescope is easy to set up and durable, so my 3 year old is able to move it around and use it on her own. The large eye piece is easy for kids to understand, with a nose cutout to help them place their faces properly. The strong 10x magnification allows them to see a wide field of vision. Since the telescope is built for young children, it is already focused and set for their size. The lens cap and easily collapsible tripod make it easy for little ones to use and care for the telescope on their own. Ages 3-6

Coding

Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit*

Have your kids had dreams of going to Hogwarts? This incredible kit not only allows them to live out their wizarding dreams, but also teaches them about coding. Kids can build their own wands and use them to code their way around the world of Harry Potter. This kit is compatible with most iOS and Android tablets, or a Windows or Mac computer.

The kit includes 40+ challenges, including levitating feathers, creating sparks, and enlarging Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Users can also use code to create their own spells, or try out the thousands of effects created by other users around the world. The instructions to build the wand were very easy to follow, and the challenges in the app were a lot of fun. (My sister and I are big Harry Potter fans, and we were completely geeking out over this!). I really enjoyed and learned a lot from the coding side of the game as well. It was a lot of fun to see how the changes I made to the code affected the way the wand worked. This is a great idea for kids (and adults) who are interested in coding. (Or for those that want to live out their Hogwarts dreams!)

Related Post: Harry Potter Gifts

Kano Motion Sensor Kit*

For kids with an interest in coding, this motion sensor kit is a fun way to practice coding and see how it can make things happen. The kit comes with a motion sensor, USB cable, and suction cup, as well as stickers and an easy to follow direction booklet. The directions use colorful illustrations and simple text to give kids an overview of how the motion sensor works.

Once the app is downloaded to your computer, and the motion sensor is connected by USB, kids can follow the directions onscreen to write code to complete challenges and create games. The app walks the user through creating simple code, and shows how the code you are creating affects the program on the screen. The more kids use the app and the sensor, the more comfortable they will become at creating their own codes, and making their own games and apps. Completing the challenges is a lot of fun, and the directions do a great job of explaining why you are adding certain pieces of code.

Kano Pixel Kit*

Show kids what coding can do with this lightboard building and coding kit. Users begin by following the directions in the enclosed booklet, and building their own lightboard. The pieces are all included, and the directions are clear and easy to follow. The manual also gives an overview of LED lights and the mechanics behind the lightboard. After the lightboard is completed, there are several games and features already built in for kids to play and interact with.

Kids can also connect the lightboard to the computer and use the Kano app to write code. The onscreen instructions walk kids through the coding process, helping them to build code piece by piece. It also explains why each step is necessary to make the lightboard react accordingly. The lightboard is so much fun to play with. It is really awesome to see how the code you are writing onscreen, affects the lightboard.

Unruly Splats*

Have some coding fun with these programmable floor tiles, and the corresponding app! By coding the tiles through the app, kids can play games and create their own activities. The tiles are sturdy, so they will stand up to repeated play. The app is bright and colorful, with lots of instructions for beginners. We tried out several of the games already programmed into the app, and my daughter had so much fun with them. From Whack-a-Mole to storytelling, the possibilities are nearly endless.

The app allows space for you to create your own games and activities with code as well. We already created our own version of hide and seek! There are so many options available for noises, colors and actions, that kids can spend hours building code and creating their own games. I really appreciated how easy it was to connect the tiles to the app and start creating code. Also, as the mother of a preschooler, durability is an important factor in our toys. I was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy and responsive these are. These will be a definite favorite for the coding kid on your list!

Related Post: Combining Coding and Play with Unruly Splats

art and music

Fisher Price Think & Learn Rocktopus*

This colorful and engaging octopus provides kids with an opportunity to learn about different styles of music and musical instruments, while also practicing important math skills. There are 3 modes of play: Math, Music, and Game. In the math mode, kids practice counting, addition, subtraction, and comparing amounts. The music mode allows them to add different musical instruments to a piece of music. It also gives them a chance to control the style, sound, and tempo. In the fast paced game mode, kids have to tap the right instruments to keep the arms from turning colors.

Rocktopus interacts with kids in all 3 modes, cheering them on, teaching them new music vocabulary, and helping them to practice different skills. This is a fun and engaging toy for kids who are interested in music! Ages 3-6

Learn more about Rocktopus in my full review!

Self Illustrated Book*

If your child is interested in creating books and artwork, then they will love this opportunity to illustrate a story. Piccuzoo is a company that will take your child’s artwork and incorporate it into a story that is then printed into a real book. You simply upload your child’s illustrations onto the website and their staff creates a unique storybook around the pictures.

My daughter is only 3, so her illustrations aren’t exactly legible yet. The staff did an amazing job of creating a story out of the artwork that I sent. The book is great quality and the story is adorable. My daughter loved that she “illustrated” a book, and couldn’t wait to show it off. I definitely recommend these books for the little artist on your list!

dramatic play

The Ultimate Fort Builder*

The Ultimate Fort Builder from Lakeshore Learning is a fun toy that gives kids the opportunity to design and build their own forts! This kit includes 45 sturdy plastic poles and 25 easy snap connectors which allow kids to create their own ultimate forts! For kids who aren’t ready to create their own designs, the included building guide offers instructions and ideas for 13 pre-planned forts, including a rocket, a castle, and a house. There are so many fun ways that you can use this set for dramatic play, as well as for practicing STEM concepts.

Moodsters Toys*

When it comes to teaching kids about emotions, this set of toys and books is amazing. The Moodsters are a group of mood detectives who help their friends to solve “mood mysteries” and avoid feelings emergencies. Each Moodster character represents a specific feeling and offers suggestions to help kids manage their own emotions.

The Moodster Mirror, Flashlight and Meter each come with a storybook that shows how the Moodsters help three young children to face their emotions. Each plush Moodster toy says encouraging phrases and prompts to help kids handle their feelings, and comes with a sticker activity book to further that learning. These toys have been a huge help for my daughter, and she frequently repeats the lessons that she has learned from them.

Check out my full review of the Moodster toys here!

geography & Culture

Little Experimenter Illuminated Globe*

This 8″ illuminated globe is set on a non-tip base, and includes an LED light for an illuminated night view. The information on the globe is detailed, including deserts, capitals, bodies of water, and continental and international boundary markings. This is a great way for kids to explore the world and learn about the countries, continents, bodies of water, and natural landmarks. The globe is very easy to spin and the LED lighting makes it easier to read some of the smaller names. This is a great starter globe for kids who are interested in traveling the world, and exploring other places. Ages 8+

Eat2Explore Subscription Box*

Do your kids like to cook? My daughter has always loved helping in the kitchen. Since she also has an interest in other countries and cultures, I was thrilled to learn about the Eat2Explore Box. This subscription offers kids the opportunity to learn kitchen skills while trying new foods and learning about other countries. Each month a box is delivered to your door with recipe cards, specialty ingredients, information on the country being explored, and more. The boxes also contain fun items such as flag pins, child friendly cooking utensils, a passport to track your culinary travels, and activity sheets introducing new languages and concepts from the focus country. We had the chance to check out the Morocco box, and I am already excited to try out some of the recipes included. This will definitely be a hit with your little chef or traveler!

Related Post: The Best Activity Boxes for Kids

What are your favorite educational gifts for kids? Share in the comments below!

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