Cool Kids’ Gifts That Are Secretly Educational
You can feel good about giving these toys.
’Tis the season for double-duty gifts.PHOTO: TWENTY20
The holiday season is here! If you’re shopping for any youngsters this year, consider giving a gift that looks like a toy but is actually educational. These items will keep the little ones entertained—and educated—for hours.
01
SOLAR ROBOT CREATION KIT
This versatile kit allows you to not only build but completely transform a robot into 14 different modes. It’s perfect for curious kids who might show an interest in engineering, as it hones in on movement and design skills with its unique features. For ages 8 and up
02
MY FIRST BANANAGRAMS
This kid-friendly (and award-winning) version of the classic Bananagrams word game is ideal for pre-readers as well as early learners to help them establish a love for spelling, reading, and wordplay. Next stop: crossword puzzles! For ages 5 and up
03
EXTREME CHEMISTRY LAB
Is your child a mad scientist in training? This all-in-one starter chemistry lab sets the stage for limitless experimenting at your kitchen table. It also comes with a list of household items to use once your mini chemist conducts all 40 included experiments. For ages 8 and up
04
SNOOZY
If you have a little one dealing with separation anxiety at bedtime, Snoozy will come to your rescue in the sweetest way! The plush sheep’s snuggly wraparound blanket can be decorated with“sweet dream pieces” to promote storytelling before falling fast asleep. For ages 3 and up
05
TINKER CRATE
This hands-on monthly subscription service teaches kids about STEM-based topics like space and hydraulics through super-fun projects. Each crate includes project materials, the Tinker Zine, and an illustrated blueprint for whatever you’re “tinkering” with that month. For ages 9 to 16
06
EDUSHAPE SENSORY BALLS
These easy-grip sensory balls are fun for infants to play with and look at, but they also work on a deeper level to soothe and stimulate. They are designed to promote motor skills, hand-eye coordination, socialization, and tactile sensory development, making them the perfect gift for any baby in your life. For ages 6 months and up
07
LITTLE GLOBAL CITIZENS
This interactive subscription box introduces kids to a different country every other month—no passport required. Each box, curated by seasoned travelers, explores what it’s like to be a child in that country through books, arts and crafts, keepsakes, recipes, and more. (They’re fun for parents, too!) For ages 3 to 8
08
MODARRI
No batteries are necessary for these cool cars! Modarri takes your kids’ love of automobiles to the next level with customizable track and race cars that they can build and design themselves. Without even realizing it, they’ll be developing their fine motor skills, sharpening their logic, and testing the limits of their imagination. For ages 8 and up
09
HOMER
Loved by parents and teachers alike, this groundbreaking app is so much fun that kids don’t even feel like they are working on their reading skills. Homer takes into account the their personal passions and current reading level to create a personalized program that they will actually look forward to using every day. For ages 2 to 8
10
VALENCE
Valence teaches advanced chemistry with simple rules…and ninjas! Players draw element cards like hydrogen, sodium, and oxygen—each represented by a different ninja character—and combine them into elite ninja teams to build molecules and win points. Your youngsters will be doing high-school-level chemistry in minutes. For ages 8 to 12
