I am so excited to bring you this year’s Play and Learn Holiday Gift Guide. I am thrilled to partner with so many amazing and award-winning companies who provided many of the brain boosting toys on this list so we can share them with you this holiday season.
Since even before I was a parent, when I purchased a toy for a child, I made sure it had a purpose. For me, a toy has to encourage learning, development and growth in some way otherwise what is the point? Toys and games should stimulate the brain, make kids think and reason and/or spark the imagination. Children learn through play so we have to make sure that play is meaningful! After careful consideration, I have come up with a list of some of my favorite toys that you are sure to LOVE this holiday season. Amazon affiliate links are included to make your gift buying experience easier. Happy Holidays!
Sensory Bins
Kids learn best while using all of their senses. They also learn many important skills through play. That’s why I am so excited that Creativity for Kids has released an amazing line of Sensory Bins. Each bin allows kids to use all of their senses to learn about topics like dinosaurs, space, the ocean, and more. Each bin comes with a filler, toys, and digging tools. While playing, kids ages 3 and up will build fine motor, visual motor, and problem solving skills. Each Sensory Bin is under $20 on Amazon.
Spybots
The Spybot Room Guardian offers 24/7 security for your child’s room! (Except for parents, we are always allowed in.) This motion activated robot can be hung on your child’s door to keep unwanted visitors out. It only requires 3 AAA batteries to be activated. When someone approaches the room, the Spybot goes into “armed alert mode.” Enter the correct code, and you are cleared to enter. Enter the wrong code (or no code), and you will get caught! The Spybot’s alarm will sound and lights will flash when an unwanted guest is trying to get in. The words “Intruder, intruder!” will be heard across the house so you better run if you don’t have permission to enter. What I love about the Spybot Room Guardian is that not only does it offer kids independence, it also helps build important STEM skills. Spybot is on Amazon for under $20.
Laser X Revolution
We are big fans of Laser X in our house! We have several sets, and my boys love to play with them inside and outside. Laser X Revolution Ultra Long Range Blasters are a perfect addition to our collection, especially since ALL Laser X toys can be used together. Laser X Revolution comes with 2 blasters, each with a 500 foot blasting range making them perfect for outdoor play. The set only needs 6 AAA batteries, and there is no assembly required. Each blaster can light up blue or red like the other Laser X blasters we have; however, this set offers an additional 18 colors to choose from. This allows for the ultimate laser tag experience with friends and family. Each blaster also offers sounds and light effects adding to the excitement of the game. As a parent, I LOVE Laser X because it gets my kids off video games and encourages them to go outside and play. Laser X also helps build important cognitive skills such as perceptual reasoning, problem solving, and spatial awareness. While playing, kids are also building visual-motor, fine and gross motor, and motor planning skills. You can find Laser X Revolution on Amazon.
Solitaire Chess
If you are family that loves to travel, then Solitaire Chess Magnetic Travel Puzzle is the perfect holiday gift for you! ThinkFun is known for their amazing brain boosting toys and games and Solitaire Chess is no exception. Recommended for ages 8 and up, this game helps build problem solving, visual-spatial, visual-perceptual, and reasoning skills. It offers 120 challenges from beginner to expert allowing for hours of learning fun. Solitaire Chess can be purchased on Amazon for under $15.
Disney Princess Castle Set
BRIO has outdone itself with the release of the Disney Princess Castle Set. It is the perfect holiday gift for the little princess in your house. The set comes with the castle, train, wooden tracks, and 3 princesses (Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty). Recommended for ages 3 and up, this set is perfect for encouraging pretend and imaginary play. It can be purchased on Amazon for under $15o.
Marvel Eye Found It Board Game
We absolutely love the Eye Found It series in our house! That is why I was so excited when I learned they offer a Marvel version. We are a big Marvel family, and we cannot wait to play this game. Eye Found It is a great game to help build visual scanning and discriminating skills as well as encourage teamwork. While playing, kids will explore the Marvel Universe with their favorite superheroes and villains. The Marvel Eye Found It board game can be found on Amazon for under $25.
Marvel Villainous Puzzle
We love putting together puzzles in our house, especially ones from Ravensburger. We have already completed and framed two Disney Villainous puzzles, and we cannot wait to work on the Marvel one. Featuring some of Marvel’s most infamous villains, this 1000-piece puzzle will keep the family engaged for hours. While working on the puzzle, kids (and adults) will build important visual and cognitive skills. The Marvel Villainous puzzle is available on Amazon for under $30.
Play and Grow Woodland Forest
Creativity for Kids offers some my favorite arts and crafts projects for kids and families. When I saw the Woodland Forest Easy Grow Terrarium, I instantly fell in love with it. This bright and colorful kit encourages an interest in science and nature while fostering creativity. Each kit comes with a terrarium jar and lid, potting mix, seeds, colored sand, figures, stones, and stickers. Kids will love watching their very own garden come to life. The Woodland Forest kit can be found on Amazon for under $16.
GeoLogic
ThinkFun has done it again with GeoLogic! With 30 sides, 14 biome tiles, and 60 challenge cards, this brain boosting puzzle offers hours of learning through play. Challenges range from beginner to expert with each challenge only having one solution. GeoLogic is a great game to enhance spatial reasoning, visual-motor integration skills, and deductive reasoning. It can be purchased on Amazon for under $20.
Pottery Studio
This is the perfect gift for the artist in your house! The Pottery Studio from Faber-Castell offers hours of fun for children ages 8 and up. The set comes with an electric pottery wheel, 3 lbs of clay, paint, sculpting tools, and paint brushes. Kids will develop a love of art by making their very own masterpieces. This set is on Amazon for under $60.
Taco vs. Burrito: The Card Game
Created by a 7 year old, Taco vs. Burrito is game everyone will love to play! It is easy to learn and takes only 10-15 minutes to play making it the perfect game for kids who are on the go. While playing, kids will improve strategic thinking, visual processing, math skills, and processing speed. Taco vs. Burrito can be found on Amazon for under $20.
Bold Made
This unique card game takes an educational twist on the classic Old Maid game. While playing, kids will learn about and celebrate amazing women from the past and present. In Bold Made, players win by getting the Bold Made card instead of avoiding it. This fun game helps kids learn about history while building strategic thinking skills. Bold Made offers basic game play and advanced which allows for more ages to participate. It can be found on Amazon for under $25.
Treasure Island
If you are looking for adventure, then this is the game for you! Treasure Island from SmartGames is a unique logic puzzle that takes players on an adventure around an island to discover the hidden temple. There are 80 challenges from easty to expert that will get those cognitive muscles moving. While playing, kids (and adults) will build important reasoning, spatial awareness, visual motor, and problem solving skills. This game is recommended for ages 8 and up and can be found on Amazon for under $25.
Grizzly Gears
SmartGames will take you from the island to the forest with Grizzly Gears! This is another fun logic puzzle where players have to strategically move the trees so they can help get the woodland creatures out without getting caught by the bear. It is a unique game of problem solving that helps develop spatial orientation, visual motor, and critical thinking skills. With over 75 challenges ranging from easy to expert, players can enjoy hours of fun and learning. Grizzly Gears an be found on Amazon for under $25.
Build and Grow Tree House
If your kids love putting things together, then they will love the Build and Grow Tree House from Creativity for Kids. This adorable set allows kids to build, decorate, and grow their very own tree house. Each kit comes with wooden tree house pieces, paint and brushes, mini figures and accessories, seed, jute grow mats, grow trays, fake leaves, painting sponge, glue, and stickers. This kit allows kids to foster a love of science while also building fine motor, visual-spatial, and problem solving skills. The Build and Grow Tree House kit can be purchased for under $25 on Amazon.
Spoof
Get ready for nonstop family fun with Spoof, a new game for ages 10 and up. It’s the perfect way to get in some quality time with your tween or teen. Spoof is a unique board game where players make up facts. Do you think your answers are believable enough to trick your family? Spoof helps build basic knowledge, enhance creativity, and foster family bonding. Spoof can be purchased on Amazon for under $30.
Double Ditto
Another exciting addition to family game night is Double Ditto. This fast paced board game can be played with kids and adults. To play, a card is drawn. Each player writes down 2 answers. If you have the same answer as someone else, you get a point. If both answers are the same, you get Double Ditto. How much do you have in common with your family? Double Ditto is a great game to increase reading, writing, and comprehension skills for kids. It can be found on Amazon for less than $20.
eat2explore
Give the gift of world exploration with eat2explore subscription cooking kits! Each kit includes: 3 recipe cards, a cooking tool, a pin, an explorer guide, non-perishable ingredients, an activity sheet, shopping list, and a passport with stickers. You can purchase one box or set up monthly deliveries. Each month, the box will focus on different countries and cultures. While expanding their palette, kids will also learn about history, traditions, and cultures around the world. Kits can be purchased on their website or Amazon. Price varies based on the number of boxes purchased.
Bonus:
Hüga
If your family loves attending sporting events, then Hüga is a must-have gift this holiday! I have been searching for a long time for the perfect heated cushion to bring to my son’s football games so I was so excited when Hüga reached out to me about their amazing product. This unique cushion has 3 levels of heat and uses a rechargeable battery. It is also very comfortable and easy to carry. Hüga is perfect for games, tailgating, nights by the firepit, and so much more. Order yours today on their website!