The best educational toys for kids

It’s tempting to get your kid every shiny new toy they ask for. But some toys are better than others when it comes to actually stimulating your child’s brain while also keeping them entertained. The parents on the Engadget staff know this well, and we’ve tried out a bunch of educational toys with our kids, with various results. These are some of the ones that have had staying power with our children — and even we adults have to admit we found them pretty fun, too.Magna-TilesEngadgetThere are tons of building toys out there, from LEGO, to Tegu, to the classic wooden block. But one of my favorites (and my kid’s) are Magna-Tiles. These large, colorful construction toys come in a variety of sizes and shapes and click together, or to other surfaces, with the aid of powerful magnets. They can be combined to form simple shapes like cubes and pyramids, or arranged to make magnetic art on a garage door. Plus there are themed packs that can add windows, staircases or even functional cranes to the playsets.These are open-ended building toys that don’t have set instructions for making a particular scene or item. They’re safe for a three-year-old, and fun for much older kids, too. Honestly, as a nearly 40-year-old man, even I have a blast finding new and interesting ways to create ever more elaborate structures with my son. We’ve built castles, spaceships, racecars and even a ferry terminal complete with a moveable boarding ramp.At $120 for a 100 piece set, Magna-Tiles certainly... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2022-07-20 13:30:09 UTC ]
News tagged with: #aa batteries #kindle

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The best educational toys for kids'


Kobo adds magazines, kids store to its online offerings

Kobo's not quite done with the news tonight. In addition to an e-reader, three tablets and Pocket integration, the Canadian-turned-Japanese company has also got some announcements on the content side of things. First up is the addition of magazines to its store, bringing titles from Conde Nast,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kids store #content side #conde nast #wimpy kid #mobile app


Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 Kids get real, ready to 'make learning fun'

It peeked its head out just a day ago by way of a Korean back-to-school catalog, and now Samsung's ready to let its kid-friendly cat out of the bag. The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids is, as the name implies, aimed at ever more tech savvy young ones, featuring a child-friendly skinned Android 4.1 and a slew... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational apps #internal storage #microsd slot


A Clever Book Kids Need A Flashlight To Read

Remember hiding out reading a book under the covers after you were supposed to be in bed? This brilliant children’s book embraces that tradition. Reading after dark has lost a bit of its wonder. In the era of tablets, there’s no need for kids to rebel in the nerdiest of ways, stashing... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fun twist


New Wimpy Kid cover revealed

Puffin has released the cover and title of the eighth Diary of a Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eighth diary #jeff kinney


Creepy Cute: A Beautifully Illustrated Book of Kafka — For Kids

The author's children were so mesmerized by Kafka's strange, macabre tales that he wrote My First Kafka: Runaways, Rodents and Giant Bugs, an illustrated, kid-friendly adaptation of three classic Kafka stories.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Michaels to be c.o.o. at Macmillan Science and Education

Ken Michaels is to join Macmillan Science and Education at the end of the month as its chief... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ken michaels #macmillan science


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: China Education

In December 2010, China Education Publishing & Media Group (China Education) was formed as a strategic merger to reshape educational publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #china education #strategic merger


This Gender-Inclusive Picture Book Teaches Kids Where Babies Come From

A new book provides a more comprehensive look at reproduction. Imagine a picture book that explains where babies come from--but never references gender. What Makes a Baby is described as "a book for every kind of family and for every kind of kid," which means it doesn’t matter if parents are... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture book


Brightest kids from poor backgrounds 'lose out in reading'

Some of the brightest children from disadvantaged backgrounds can have reading levels two and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading levels #disadvantaged backgrounds


Wimpy Kid overall winner at BMS marketing awards

Puffin's campaign for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney [pictured] was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wimpy kid


Entertain Your Kids with Mind-Enriching Apps

Technology is a powerful tool, especially for helping develop young minds.  Children today are growing up immersed in 3D graphics and complex games, and using a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen interface is second nature to them.   With convertible Ultrabook systems able to transform from tablet... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #powerful tool #learning tool


The best non fiction kids' books

While a high-calibre jury of writers and critics ponders the nominees for this year's Children's Book Awards, we have asked the true experts. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high-calibre jury #critics ponders #book awards #true experts


Macmillan Science and Education opens China head office

Macmillan Science and Education is opening a new regional office in China, based in Shanghai.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan science #regional office


Too cute: Kids reviewing books

While a high-calibre jury of writers and critics ponders the nominees for this year's Children's Book Awards, we have asked the true experts. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high-calibre jury #critics ponders #book awards #true experts


A Beautiful Kids’ Book That Combines Interactivity With Good Old-Fashioned Text

The Jörgits, an indie fantasy novel for kids nine and up, uses interactivity as a supplement to the story, not a stand-in for it. If there’s one reading experience that truly has been transformed by the interactive wonders of the tablet, it’s got to be the children’s book. Apps like The... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #moonbot studios #main themes


Interactive book to 'open' kids' minds

An interactive children's book to help kids think outside the box is the May showcase winner of data competition Mix & Mash. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #interactive children


Competition: Kids review picture books

Stuff is teaming up with the NZ Post Children Books Awards in an initiative to promote the importance of books and reading, and to inspire New Zealand's future writers and illustrators. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Macmillan Education in ELT partnership with Knewton

Macmillan Education has announced a global partnership with personalised learning specialists... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan education #global partnership


Hodder Education acquires Galore Park

Hodder Education has acquired Galore Park, publisher of textbooks, revision guides and past... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder education


Not enough heroines in kids books

There is a 'girl power' void in new books for Kiwi kids, according to judges on a children's book awards panel. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kids books #girl power