Back to school is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean that summertime play can’t also be educational. Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht stopped by WGN Chicago to show off some smart, educational toys perfect for the new school year. For more on these great products, check out the product info below, and be sure to check out our complete rundown of the top educational toys of the summer.

My Fairy Garden (Play Monster)My Fairy Garden (Play Monster)

  • My Fairy Garden includes three unique versions for children to choose from or to collect them all.
  • Willow’s Tree Hollow— A charming, bright fairy home! The set includes the adorable tree hollow with opening doors, bottom tray, Willow the fairy, her friend, and gardening accessories and tools.
  • All sets include potting soil and quick-germinating seeds to get your garden started! Children can add other flowers or plants if they want, too!
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $14.99

 


   Gift ‘ems 3-Pack Assortment (JAKKS Pacific) Gift ‘ems 3-Pack Assortment (JAKKS Pacific)

  • Gift ‘ems is a collectible mini doll line that features a universally known gift box to delight and surprise girls with a friend from different cities around the world, there are 84 to collect!
  • Each Gift ‘ems box will open to reveal the doll’s name, city and country, and transforms to showcase iconic scenes from the doll’s home town, as well as an image of the country flag.
  • Each Gift ‘ems doll is marked on a rarity scale as common, rare, ultra rare, special edition and limited edition and has four main components that girls can pop and swap to mix and match thousands of fashion fusions and make their own unique Gift ‘ems doll for endless fun.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MRSP: $9.99

Get Ready for Preschool Learning Set (School Zone)Get Ready for Preschool Learning Set (School Zone)

  • Set up a pretend classroom at home!
  • School Zone Publishing is proud to introduce boxed bundles of fun! These packages come complete with School Zone’s award-winning workbooks and flash card sets, as well as coloring pads, stickers, crayons, lotto boards and more for endless hours of educational entertainment.
  • Get 1 traditional workbook and flash card set, 1 wipe-clean workbook and flash card set, 1 write & wipe clock, 1 practice pad, 1 coloring pad, 8 sticker sheets, 8 crayons, jumbo pencil and dry erase pen and eraser.
  • Ages: 3-5
  • MSRP: $19.99

 


pokemon_my_friend_pikachuPokémon My Friend Pikachu (TOMY)

  • Tighten your bond with your beloved Pikachu. Hug this feature plush Pikachu to make its ears move, cheeks light up and activate cute sounds.
  • Hug Pikachu to make its ears move, cheeks light up and activate cute sounds
  • Available at Amazon and Toys R Us
  • Batteries Included
  • MSRP: 29.99

VEX Robotics Snap Shot (Hexbug)VEX Robotics Snap Shot (Hexbug)

  • Wield the power to defend your turf by building your own handheld space blaster!
  • Open construction with snap-together pieces allows for a glimpse at the planetary gears and real working shock absorber style springs.
  • Has simple gear ratios and spring energy.
  • Ages: 14+
  • MSRP Canada: $27.99

VEX Robotics Zip Flyer (Hexbug)VEX Robotics Zip Flyer (Hexbug)

  • Ready? Set? Take to the sky! The VEX Robotics Zip
  • Flyer is a re-invisioned take on airborne adventures. This robotic gadget is capable of shooting propellers over 30 feet in the air!
  • Pull the zip-cord stick to release, the faster you pull, the higher they’ll go. The excitement doesn’t stop there, because the VEX Robotics Zip Flyer can be built
  • for both hand-held and tabletop action. Two ways to build, two ways to launch.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP Canada: $18.99

3Doodler Start (3Doodler)3Doodler Start (3Doodler)

  • With the new 3Doodler Start your creative kids can finally bring all of their wonderful and imaginative ideas to life in 3D. The 3Doodler Start 3D printing pen extrudes an eco-friendly plastic that cools and hardens rapidly, allowing kids to literally draw in the air!
  • The 3Doodler Start is specially designed to be clean & safe for kids aged 8+, with no hot parts or messy resins or glues to contend with.
  • The 3Doodler Start is seriously easy to use too, there’s only one speed and one temperature and no software or technical knowledge required – just turn it on, insert a strand and start Doodling in 3D.
  • Ages: 8-13
  • MSRP: $49.99

Real Cooking Ultimate Baking Starter Set (Skyrocket Toys)Real Cooking Ultimate Baking Starter Set (Skyrocket Toys)

  • The Ultimate Baking Starter Set includes real cooking tools and two perfectly proportioned mixes
    to make eight scrumptious Sprinkle Surprise Cupcakes and eight tasty Tuxedo Cupcakes, complete with edible toppings and decorations.
  • The set contains kid-friendly equipment, including two mixing bowls with an interchangeable suction base to keep it stable, a unique egg cracker that allows kids to crack eggs without the mess, and a silicone mini cupcake baking sheet.
  • Perfectly-sized cooking utensils include three measuring scoops, one scraper, one whisk, sixteen cupcake liners and four pastry bags with coupler tip to expertly frost cupcakes with a swirl.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $29.99

3-in-1 Double Easel (Grow-N-Up Kids)3-in-1 Double Easel (Grow-N-Up Kids)

  • Inspire little artists to discover their budding talents and express their creativity with this magnetic double-sided Crayola kids easel
  • The 3-in-1 easel features a magnetic dry erase and chalkboard that provides large work areas and ample space for your budding Picasso to enjoy painting, drawing, and writing
  • Includes 1 Crayola eraser and 77 magnetic letters and numbers
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $39.99-$49.99

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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