Looking for toys that are as fun as they are educational? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo joined Family Circle Magazine Lifestyle Editor Suzanne Rust for another installment of their “10 Days of Toys” series. In today’s installment, Marissa shows off some of the season’s best and brightest toys that teach as well as entertain. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.
I DIG IT! DINOS EXCAVATION KITS (THAMES & KOSMOS)
- I Dig It! Dinos are excavation kits with scientifically accurate models and educational manuals that teach about paleontology. Kids can play the role of fossil hunter and go on their own real-life paleontological dig!
- Use the finely crafted hammer and chisel to discover skeleton reliefs, fossilized dinosaurs, and more from the surrounding soft plaster block.
- These are the first six releases in a larger I Dig It! Dinos collection from Thames & Kosmos and include the 3D T. Rex, Glow-in-the-Dark Pterosaur, Glow-in-the-Dark T. Rex, Giant Dinosaur Skeleton, Dino Eggs, and T. Rex Tooth!
- Age: 7+
- MSRP: $12.95 each
- Available: Amazon
3DOODLER START HEXBUG MAKE YOUR OWN MICRO ROBOTIC CREATURES PEN SET AND ACTIVITY KIT (3DOODLER)
- Kids love HEXBUG! Kids love creating with 3Doodler Start! Now kids can make their own eccentric-looking HEXBUG creatures that behave like real bugs.
- Doodle your bug’s body and legs using the insect-themed DoodleMold to create your very own pet insectoid, then let it crawl around to explore its environment, conquer obstacles, or race your friends.
- Part of the 3Doodler Start STEM Series, this set fosters STEM learning by allowing kids to design and experiment with different robotic structures.
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: Pen Set $59.99, Activity Kit MSRP (without pen) $24.99
- Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Michael’s
CLICFORMERS FLOWER 21PC SET (MAGFORMERS)
- Let your imagination blossom with the Clicformers Flower Set! Fold, build, and stack to create tulips, roses, and sunflowers.
- Once you’re done following along the included idea booklet, you can work to build your own ideas and creations!
- All Clicformers sets are compatible, allowing the building possibilities to be truly endless.
- When playtime is over, use the clicking mechanism to simply stack and store.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Amazon and specialty stores
