Family 5: Our Best Educational Toys for First Graders (Ages 4-7)
It's one thing to buy your child a toy that he or she loves. But when the toy is fun and educational? You've struck gold. If you're looking to fill a toy chest with some new treasures that offer your child an opportunity to learn while still having a good time, check these out:
- Kids can start learning about geography with a USA Floor Map Puzzle by Melissa & Doug (www.amazon.com). This 51-piece set includes the state, its capital, and a colorful picture to help identify the state. It retails for $US7.50.
- Add a cute character to the classic Tic-Tac-Toe and you'll make a fan of even the youngest of gamers. Thomas Tic-Tac-Toe (www.educationallearninggames.com) brings several popular trains from Thomas the Tank Engine to a board game that teaches kids about taking turns and building strategies as they try to place three trains in a row before their opponent. The game retails for $US12.99.
- Magnetic Word Builders by Lakeshore Learning (www.lakeshorelearning.com) are perfect for kids on the move to create words. The magnetic foam letters are about 1 ½" tall and come with a small board for phonetic fun. It retails for US$29.95.
- The LeapPad Plus Writing Learning System (www.leapfrog.com) teaches early reading skills and encourages storytelling through easy-to-follow instructions. The addition of a "magic pen" helps kids learn basic writing skills by tracing letters and numbers, playing connect the dots, and various other games depending on the cartridge and book in use. The LeapPad Plus retails for US$49.95.
- The Nitro Notebook by VTech (www.toysrus.com) is a sleek, realistic laptop for kids, who always seem fascinated by computers. It comes with two cartridges with 80 games that vary in difficulty. The games help with early typing skills, reading, and math. The Nitro Notebook also reads aloud. Several of the games can be played in Spanish. The Nitro Notebook retails for US$49.95.
Member Comments On...
Family 5: Our Best Educational Toys for First Graders (Ages 4-7)
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TickleMe Plant -low cost green gift
Another great kid- friendly activity your readers would enjoy is to grow a TickleMe Plant from seeds and then watching the plant MOVE when Tickled! As a first grade teacher I no longer plant Lima beans, as the growing of this interactive plant, proved to be much more exciting and educational for my student's.
I found my supplies for a classroom kit at http://www.ticklemeplant.com but they also sell individual greenhouses and even party favors, with everything you need to grow your own TickleMe Plant from seeds. I assure you your kids will be more excited about gardening, and its just fun to watch the expressions of the faces of children (and even adults) when they see the plant close its leaves and droop when tickled,
