Our Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by NY1 News to show the best toys to get kids’ brains in gear to go back to school. Click the photo above to watch or check out our list below for the best toys to do the trick!
GeoSafari Jr. Jungle Crew Lab Set (Educational Insights)
- Roar into scientific exploration with this sturdy, 6-piece, animal-themed science set.
- Fun animal-shaped scientific tools introduce preschoolers to the wild side of science, and 10 hands-on activity cards offer fun, simple experiment ideas using ingredients found in your kitchen or backyard!
- Perfect for STEM learning.
- Supports early math skills and understanding of measurement.
- Activities provide hands-on experience with physical science, the senses, and more!
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $48.49
- Little chefs can enjoy hours of pretend-play fun with learning secretly baked in.
- The Number Lovin’ Oven talks, sings, and gets number skills cooking through more than 30 songs and phrases.
- With 16 fun ingredients and so many ways to play and explore, the Number Lovin’ Oven offers the perfect recipe for teaching counting, sharing, parts of a whole, and more.
- Ages: 2+
- MSRP: $24.99
Discovery Kids Talking USA Puzzle (Tek Nek Toys)
- The Discovery Kids Talking USA Puzzle” identifies the state name, capital city and nickname for each of the 50 states.
- The 44 removable puzzle pieces help children learn geography and conveniently fit in the storage drawer.
- The puzzle also features additional Discovery Fun FactsTM , as voiced by a child, for things like the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag.
- The large 18″x13″ format is easy to read and the easy grip handle fits different sized hands. It includes a bonus poster with a fun fact matching game and 2 AA batteries included.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $29.99
Kurio Smart Windows Tablet (KD Interactive)
- Kurio Smart, the tablet for students, is the first Windows device from KD Interactive.
- This 2-in-1 tablet computer is designed with young scholars in mind, taking them from homework to play.
- Combining the best of both productivity and fun, this sleek, lightweight and portable Windows tablet-and-laptop-in-one has a 9” touch screen and includes a detachable keyboard.
- A great first computer and educational took, Kurio Smart is perfect for writing papers, reading e-books, studying, and safely browsing the web.
- It is also packed with free educational and entertainment content, so it’s ready to go right out of the box.
- Kurio Smart comes preloaded with more than 40 apps and games (a $200 value), having kids running, jumping, and even dancing.
- Kids can take photos and videos, stream music and videos from Spotify, YouTube Kids, Netflix, Skype, and stay connected with kid-safe email. Parents can access hundreds of thousands of more apps through the Windows Store.
- The Smart comes with powerful parental controls.
- Initial units will ship with Windows 8.1 OS (users can easily upgrade to Windows 10) and a free year of Microsoft Office 365 Personal; units produced after September will come with Windows 10 and the new Microsoft Office Mobile apps.
- Additional tech specs: Quad-core Intel Bay Trail-T processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 32GB of built-in storage, front- and rear-facing cameras, micro USB port and micro HDMI port, which allows Kurio Smart to be connected to a TV.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $199.99
- Experience the marriage of letters and numbers with a game of WOO!
- Starting with four letter tiles in hand, players take turns drawing a tile, playing a spelled number, and discarding a tile.
- Your goal is to gain points by spelling out the numbers one through ten using the letter tiles.
- Spell “six” and you get 6 points, and so on. If you spell T-E-N, then you’re really on a roll, but look out! – If someone else has the WO-O tiles, then they can steal your T-E-N and turn it into a O-N-E plus T-WO for themselves!
- Easy to fun, fun to play, this game introduces simple addition and spelling concepts.
- Ages: 6+
- MSRP: $15.99
VEX Robotics Hexcalator Ball Machine (Hexbug)
- Think all wheels are round? Think again!
- This sophisticated machine was inspired by cutting edge medical devices and uses a hand crank to power 3 hexagonal indexing wheels to transport balls uphill while they are released onto the return ramp.
- Once constructed, this machine will move the balls in a continuous loop at a rate of 1 ball per second.
- Over 260 easy connect snap pieces.
- Motorize your machine with a motor kit.
- Collect and connect all of the VEX Robotics Ball Machines, or give your VEX Robotics Ball Machine a powerful boost with the VEX Robotics Motor Kit.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $29.99
Remote Control Machines: Animals (Thames & Kosmos)
- Construct a whole zoo’s worth of remote-controlled animals with mechanical insides covered by colorful plastic “skins.”
- The animals all move using different mechanisms, each one mimicking the movement of the real animal it represents.
- A two-button remote control unit moves the small, lightweight motor forward in reverse, allowing models to move forward or backward.
- Build an elephant that walks, a scorpion that crawls along, and a cute little penguin that waddles. Construct a rabbit that bounds forward, a crab that scurries sideways, and an orangutan that climbs hand over hand along a string. You can even build a couple of dinosaurs: a Tyrannosaurus rex that walks on two legs and a Pteranodon that “flies” along a cord. Learn about animal locomotion and biomechanics as you build each model. When you are done, use the same 100 building pieces to dream up your own mechanical animal creations! You can even mix up the animal skins in funny ways to make outrageous hybrid animals.
- A full-color, 36-page step-by-step illustrated manual helps kids assemble all of the models and teaches them about the animals they are modeling and the way different animals move.
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $49.95
Strand Bands Designer Kit (The Bridge Direct)
- Kids can make, wear, and share their own one-of-a-kind accessories with ease!
- The Strand Bands Designer Kit includes everything fashionistas need to make fashion-inspired accessories with more than 180 feet of peel-apart Strand Bands.
- The included Strand Styler features an open center for easy weaving, slits on the bottom to hold the bands in place, and can be used on a lap or tabletop.
- There are so many styles to create: kids can fringe the ends, change the thickness, and create accessories that reflect their own individual styles.
- The jewelry creations are so easy to take on and off, and are water-proof.
- Kids can visit StrandBands.com for even moredesign inspiration and ideas.
- Three collections to choose from: Purple, Pink and Teal.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $17.99
