Hot Gifts for Kids that Hold Educational Value

hot STEM Toys 2015

STEM gifts are trending under the tree once again!

On your mark, get set, go! It’s time to hit the stores or shop online for the best gifts for 2015! The biggest theme for this year’s gifts in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) toys. That makes this former teacher very happy.  In reality, I very rarely ask Santa to bring anything that isn’t somewhat educational. Yes, American Girl dolls can be considered educational because they encourage imaginary play. (A bit of a stretch but it works for me!)

hot STEM Toys 2015

Along each gift suggestion I include a link to purchase on Amazon or other website. I earn pennies off you purchase, and THANK YOU for your support. Also, if you aren’t yet a member of Amazon Prime you must join! I joined last year to get the perks of FREE SHIPPING as I purchased the Christmas gifts. I have used my membership a gazillion times since then. Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

Ok, onto my list of what’s hot this year!

STEM Gifts

1. LEGO Creator SeriesLego Creator

This was the 9 year old’s birthday present this past October. She loves LEGOS, just like her mom! What I adore about LEGOS is that it uses creativity, math, engineering and more to construct. The kids can “play” for hours. The LEGOS’s brand has all sorts of sets: Friends, Minecraft, Elves, Creator, City and others. The Creator series and City are her favorites.

Retails: Depends on product; Purchase LEGOs Creator

2. World’s Smallest: Etch a Sketch, Rubiks, Duncan Yoyo and MoreWorld's Smallest

These are perfect stocking stuffers or Secret Santa gifts. The classic games that we’ve known in their full-size are just as much fun in their mini version! These also travel VERY WELL. These are great mind activities that keep the kids from looking at a screen and trying to solve a problem.

Retail: $9.99; Purchase the World’s Smallest Toys

3. RoominateRoominate Chateau Review

As you may have read, my daughter bought herself the Roominate Chateau this summer. She LOVED it and spent so many hours playing, building and becoming an engineer. There is an entire Roominate series that are designed with girl interest. It is chock-full of STEM!

Retails: Depends on product, Purchase Roominate

4. Drop Zone Cargo Release Glider
STEM Gifts for 2015

Let your kids use their estimating skills and mathematical reasoning to determine what distance, angles and more to send Stanley the Stunt Pig in the air. The kids will load the Stanley the Stunt Pig into plane’s cargo bay, set the timer to release the payload, and let it fly! When the time is up, the cargo bay door opens and the payload drops. Use the four flags to practice hitting the target while learning how to master timing, calculate angles, measure wind speed and more! With a 28″ wingspan, this durable, easy-to-assemble EPO glider comes with decal stickers to customize the body and two stunt pigs.

Retails: $35;  Purchase the Drop Zone Cargo Release Glider

5. iSeeMe Productsiseeme

Literacy is a fundamental skill for our children. At any moment that we can encourage reading, for independent or read-to reading, we need to go for it. A personalized story, which includes the name and at times a photo of the child is an incredible way to encourage the child to listen to the story or read the book themselves. To sample this product by iSeeMe, I ordered their My Sing-Along Book and Personalized Music for a 2 year old boy. (The quality is so good that I am going to do a full review of this book at a later date.) The book is fantastic and the reaction when little Baby Eddie saw his name and his face in the book was priceless. I ordered for my family The Murphy’s 12 Days of Christmas. I can’t wait to give it to the girls!

Retails: Depending on what you order; Purchase iSeeMe Books

6. Fairytale Theater STEM Toys for 2015

The imagination and creativity is crucial in child development, especially with literacy. “This Fairytale Theater encourages the kids to construct magnetic panels using foundational STEM skills like spatial reasoning and problem solving, and then make up storylines that heighten their language skills. Fairytale Theater has more than 50 costumes and props to spark imaginative play. These new kits appeal to boys as much as to girls making them ideal for sibling play or with the kids next-door.” This is a “toy” that my girls – aged 4 and 9, will receive as a joint gift.

Retails: $34.99; Purchase the Fairytale Theater

7. Bellz
bellz

Another great games that travels well. If you are off to Grandma’s house this winter, you’ll want to toss Bellz into the suitcase. “Just open the travel pouch and you’re ready to play! Players use the magnet wand to pick up bells of only one color. Make a string off the end of the magnet wand, or create a cluster — just don’t pick up bells of any other color or the turn is over. Each player must decide how far to push their luck on every turn. The first player to collect all 10 bells of one color wins! Winner of ASTRA Best Toys for Kids 2015.”

Retails: $19.99; Purchase Bellz

8. IQ BloxIQ Blox

This game reminds me of those games we all get sucked into on our phones and tablets. They are mentally challenging and you just crave to play it again. IQ Blox is an game that travels well and keeps their mind alert and working. The newest addition to SmartGames’ bestselling IQ series, IQ Blox comes with 120 challenges and is appropriate for children ages six and up. Set up the game board with the four white walls and fill in the seven colorful pieces according to the challenge. The compact board and transparent lid make IQ Blox the perfect travel game. The small size of IQ Blox and the other IQ series of games makes them great stocking stuffers.

Retails: $9.99; Purchase IQ Blox

9. ButterfliesButterflies

This takes that popular kids toy to a new level with 48 puzzles in 1! Butterflies is a sliding puzzle game where the goal is to complete the board so that it is filled with complete, whole butterflies. Children ages 6 and up can enjoy this portable, travel game’s 48 challenges.

Retails: $14.99; Purchase Butterflies

10. Penguins ParadePenguins Parade

Another great magnetic travel game. These are so great to have on hand for road trips, airports and times they’re bored at Grandma’s house. SmartGames’ famous penguins return for more fun with the introduction of Penguins Parade, a magnetic travel game. Arrange all the ice pieces on the board so that four penguins are lined up together. Appropriate for players ages 5-10.

Retails: $9.99; Purchase Penguins Parade

11. Lexigo Rushlexigo

This game is right up my alley! With Lexigo Rush, “you have 60 seconds to find as many words as you can using the tiles in the grid. Be creative: only words no one else found will count. The stakes rise every round as score doubling bonus rings are added to the grid. Winner of 2014 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum and Gold Award.”

Retails: $14, Purchase Lexigo Rush

12. Finger TipsFinger Tips Game

A fun, travels-well game for the kids aged 3 and up, Finger Tips is a colorful deck of hand-shaped cards helps children build their matching skills, memory skills and hand-eye coordination, all while having fun. Young players will love the finger-puppet inspired characters. Each deck features 15 different characters. Choose either our Animal or our People deck.

Retails: $11; Purchase Finger Tips

This list is a work in progress. I will be adding to it as I learn of new products that will be perfect under the tree. If you have any recommendation of STEM toys please drop me an email or leave a comment.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

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