The Best Learning Toys For Boys and Girls

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Looking for some brilliant educational gift ideas that are also fun? Look no further! With a little help from our expert panel of children, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of the best learning toys for kids. To make things even easier, we’ve divided it up by age. From board games and STEM kits to clever interactive gadgets, here are our top picks!

Top Learning Toys for Kids by Age:

  1. Wild Animals Wooden Stacker (1+)
  2. Alphabet Flashcards – Montessori (2+)
  3. 1-2-3 Build It – Rocket, Train, Helicopter! (2+)
  4. Robot Engineer – 53 piece Building Set (3+)
  5. My First Microscope – For Little Hands (3+)
  6. Cycle Gears – 30 Piece Set (4+)
  7. Stars & Planets Science Kit – Little Labs (5+)
  8. Aqua Dragons – Live Underwater World (6+)
  9. Human Body Science Kit – 26 Fun experiments (6+)
  10. Horrible Histories – The Board Game (8+)
  11. Tower Crane Construction – Two Feet Tall (8+)
  12. 12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit (8+)
  13. Engenius Contraptions – Perpetual Marble Run (10+)

Best Learning Toys for Ages 1-3:

Wild Animals Wooden Stacker ,  £19.95 £19.95

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12 happy animals to stack & tumble!

Use the twelve wooden animals to create fun shapes, stacking and slotting them together into a funky pyramid! From a happy hippo to a cheeky monkey and a smiling zebra, each 7cm animal is brightly coloured with friendly features. The set includes a 26cm board with a circus design to build on.

Alphabet Flashcards – Montessori ,  £15.95 £15.95

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WH is for WHale!

This clever set includes 36 sturdy alphabet cards measuring 10cm. Each one features a fun illustration on one side and a letter or phonetic sound on the other. In no time, your little one will know that A is for Apple, T is for Tiger and Ch is for Cherry, of course! The bold letter on each card has a tactile sandy texture to help with finger tracing.

1-2-3 Build It – Rocket, Train, Helicopter! ,  £29.99 £29.99

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See it, think it, build it!

Choo-choo, fun building set coming through! This brilliant construction set for toddlers and little ones contains 17 easy-to-assemble pieces. Children can have great fun using the pieces to build a rocket, a helicopter and a train. The chunky, durable pieces are designed to fit perfectly in tiny hands. A fabulously simple and fun introduction to engineering!

Robot Engineer – 53 piece Building Set ,  £29.95 £29.95

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Build your robot friend!

ollow the story of two inquisitive kids, Ty and Karlie, during their adventure to a candy factory. Along the way, they need to build various robots to perform tasks and solve problems, like the taffy-pulling robot and the drone that coats candies in sprinkles. The ten colourful robots all have moving parts, wheels and gears, built with large plastic building pieces, easy for small hands to put together. For each humorous section of the adventure, learn something new about robots and machines.

My First Microscope – For Little Hands ,  £29.95 £29.95

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See the world in a new way

Young scientists will love exploring the mini-world all around them with this fully functional microscope! The sturdy design is chunky, which makes it easy for little ones to use. Children can peer through the extra-large dual rubberised eyepieces, so there’s no need to close one eye. This cool gadget also features low 8x magnification and an oversized knob for simple focusing. The LED light enhances close-up viewing, and there are no slides required. An ideal first microscope!

Best Learning Toys for Ages 4-7:

Cycle Gears – 30 Piece Set ,  £24.95 £24.95

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Many ways to build!

Engineering has never been so much fun! Bright young minds can use the chunky pieces in this set to build motorcycles that move as the gears turn and the wheels spin. The gears snap together easily with multiple ways to build, so children can use their imagination and creativity to make something special. A clever way to encourage STEM and critical-thinking skills, and the kit also comes complete with an activity guide to enhance learning. Top Gear!

Stars & Planets Science Kit – Little Labs ,  £19.95 £19.95

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Inspiring aspiring astronomers!

Do plants grow on other planets? Why does the moon have a face? The answers to these questions and many more can all be found in this inspiring kit with easy hands-on experiments. Great way to learn all about outer space and have fun investigating the solar system. Also useful for NASA job applications.

Aqua Dragons – Live Underwater World ,  £21.99 £21.99

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Raise your own horde!

Aqua dragons look like tiny three eyed, long tailed , hairy headed dragons and can grow up to 2cm long. Bring them to life, hatching them out of their hibernated egg state by putting them into the aquatic habitat. Easy to do, care for them and you will see them eat, grow, swim and play. Fascinating creatures and so much cooler than goldfish!

Human Body Science Kit – 26 Fun experiments ,  £29.95 £29.95

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Biology, Anatomy, Fun!

Explore the external aspects of the human body with 26 fun experiments to learn about the inside anatomy. Examine your fingerprints to learn how unique you really are and find out what happens to the food you eat. Build a stethoscope, listen to your own heartbeat and learn about your heart pumping blood. Relate your experiments back to the human body systems, including the internal organs, skeleton, muscles and the circulatory system. With clear and accurate illustrations, a great aid for future doctors.

Best Learning Toys for Ages 8-11:

Horrible Histories – The Board Game ,  £19.99 £19.99

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Calling all history buffs!

Learning about history has never been this cool! This board game, based on the wildly popular book series, is packed with trivia, foul facts, and side-splitting laughs. Learn about the Rotten Romans and the Vile Victorians as you move around the board, answering from 600 multiple-choice questions or performing a history-themed action. Educational and sure to keep the whole family entertained!

Tower Crane Construction – Two Feet Tall ,  £39.95 £39.95

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Taking it to new heights!

Build your own giant functional crane with this brilliant engineering set. Simply follow the illustrated instructions to assemble the 830 pieces using an easy snap-together building system. Standing over 2 feet tall when completed, the crane has 360° rotation, a latching hook to transport loads – and even a functional lift with two mini construction workers to ride in it!

12 in 1 Solar Hydraulic Construction Kit ,  £29.99 £29.99

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Harness the power of water and sun!

Know a young inventor or future engineer? They’ll love this highly entertaining STEM kit, which contains everything kids need to build 12 moving models. The best part? No batteries needed, as everything runs on solar or hydraulic power! Build a snapping crocodile, a running ostrich, and a digging excavator. Watch them all come to life with unique mechanical moves. Comes complete with a solar panel, mechanical gear box and a hydraulic transmission. Brilliant building fun!

Engenius Contraptions – Perpetual Marble Run ,  £29.95 £29.95

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Behold the incredible power of perpetual motion

Young engineers will enjoy hours of entertainment with this awesome marble run from Engenuis Contraptions. Assemble the laser-cut plywood sheets, then add the electric motor. Next, watch as the marbles are raised to the top of the lift, roll the spiral and the zig-zag track, then rise back up the spiral to start again, in perpetual motion. Mesmerising, satisfying and an excellent introduction to physics.

Frequently Asked Questions about Learning Toys:

How can I choose a learning toy that my child will enjoy?

Educational toys are a great way to encourage your child’s learning, but it can be tough to find one that they actually enjoy playing with. The best way to pick a toy they’ll love is to start with their interests. Does your child like science? Try a STEM kit. Maybe they prefer pretend play… If so, find a toy that allows for more creative possibilities. It’s also extremely important to choose a toy that’s suitable for your child’s age range and abilities. That’s why we’ve arranged our recommendations above by age, and it’s also why we have options to browse by age on our website!

Are board games and card games a good way to promote children’s learning?

Yes, absolutely! There are all kinds of board games and card games for all ages, and even the ones that aren’t marketed as ‘educational’ still have many learning benefits. For instance, to play a game, kids must follow directions, understand the rules, and use critical-thinking and communication skills to engage with the game and other players. Of course, games that incorporate elements of general knowledge, maths, and other academic subjects are also a great way to reinforce those concepts and get kids excited about learning!

How do educational toys help children’s development?

Introducing educational toys into your child’s early life can be extremely beneficial to their development. These types of toys can spark their curiosity, imagination, knowledge and social skills. More specifically, educational toys can enhance the development of motor skills and physical abilities, hone problem-solving skills, increase concentration, build social skills and encourage creativity and a sense of wonder in the world. Children learn through play, and toys are a vital part of this process!

What makes a good educational toy?

The answer will vary from child to child because the best educational toy is one that your child actually enjoys playing with! Use our handy information above, as well as our list of recommendations, and you’ll be on your way to choosing something just right!

For more brilliant educational toys for kids, check out what’s popular on our website!

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