Who says learning can’t be as fun or as addictive as playing games? Board games for children are incredibly effective learning tools as they promote teamwork and boost self-confidence, while ensuring fast-paced learning inspired by healthy competition. Today there are many games available to educate the young; here we have selected the top ten award winning educational games for children.

1. Blokus Board Game

   Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game. Winner of over 20 prestigious awards.

   Blokus encourages creative thinking and has received a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity. It is simple to understand, but the game’s complexity is revealed shortly after everyone begins to play. It can be addictive, even for those not normally into abstract games. Blokus is a catalyst for spatial thinking, as players form images in their mind before placing the pieces on the board. Children and adults can play together for hours of competitive family fun.

   
   Blokus Board Game

2. Set Game

   SET is a card game of quick recognition and deduction. It is for one or more players, for ages six and above. Winner of many awards and featured on the New York Times bestselling games page.The object of the game is to identify “sets” of three cards. Each card is unique in its four features; color – red, green or purple, symbol – diamond, squiggle or oval, shading – solid, striped or open, and number – 1, 2 or 3. A “set” consists of three cards on which each feature is either the same on all of the cards, or different on all of the cards. This game contains complete instructions for play, 81 cards, and a durable plastic carrying case.

   
   Set Game

3. Passport to Culture – The World Culture Game

   This is a unique, exciting board game where players circle the globe, uncovering the mysteries of our amazing world. A game that’s an international education unto itself, Passport to Culture™ is part quiz, part cultural exchange, and all fun.

   Designed for ages 10 and up, with fascinating, fun-filled questions about people and places, food & drink, world treasures, greetings and gestures, or customs and traditions for all of the world’s countries and encounter surprising scenarios while traveling the globe. A Cultural IQ™ score measures each player’s global smarts, and no one ever really loses because everyone always learns something new. Passport To Culture™ is the Winner of Museum Tour Product of the Year award and Winner of National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

   

   
   Passport to Culture – The World Culture Game

4. Totally Gross Game

   Winner of iParenting Media Award, this unique game engages kids to learn and understand all the major scientific disciplines. From biology to chemistry to zoology, there are over 220 science questions and activities.

   A dose of gross helps science make sense! Did you know snot keeps your lungs clean? Or that some bullfrogs are cannibals? Learn this and more as you travel around the game board answering queasy questions. Land on a Gross-Out space, and you may have to check another player for toe jam or describe the last time you threw up! Every time you answer a question or complete a Gross-Out, stretch your slime on the score line. Stretch it to 10 and complete a Lab Experiment to win the game! Full of action and information, it’s an educational game they’ll actually enjoy. Designed for ages 8 and up.

   Totally Gross Game

5. Mars 2020 Board Game

   Learn tons of facts with over 500 multiple-choice questions related to space science and technology. Choose a spaceship and a crew member and try to land on Mars first. Along the orbital path, players must answer questions to fix malfunctions that occur. Kids love the “cool” spaceship playing pieces and becoming a crew member. Mars 2020 captures the excitement, the challenge and the science involved in reaching the red planet. Mars even continues to orbit throughout the game, which provides an added challenge. Unexpected messages from Mission Control add excitement to the play. Ages 8 and Up, 2-6 Players.

   

   
   Mars 2020 Game
   

6. The Play’s the Thing Board Game

   This is a game to play and preform. Kids will learn about Shakespeare in a way that captures the spirit of his work and the pure fun and excitement of the theater. So besides learning the characters, plots and quotations from Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, players will experience the stage mishaps and the much anticipated reviews! No knowledge of Shakespeare is required. Ages 8 and Up, 2 – 6 Players.
   

   The Play’s the Thing Board Game

7. Where in the World Game

   Where in the World was introduced 16 years ago it launched the trend in geography games. Today, this game remains the most comprehensive world geography games that families and classrooms love. The game has been updated to include the latest facts about every country in the world including capitals, major imports and exports, languages and religions. With 6 games in one, it’s possible for players of all abilities to play together providing challenge and a world of fun for everyone. Ages 8 and up, 2 – 6 players.

   Six games on six levels of play offer players of all ages a complete up-to-date tour of world geography. Learn the names, locations and vital facts of all 196 countries! Players will learn facts about every country in the world including; country name, continent, flag, capital, population, rank in size, literacy rate, monetary unit, languages, religions, imports, exports and seacoasts.Game includes 6 region maps (Africa, Asia, Europe, North American, South America and Oceania), 196 country cards, 6 wild cards, 1 spinner, 1 bodies of water reference board, 120 playing pieces and instructions.

   Where in the World Game

8. The Whole Brain Game

   This fun, fast paced interactive game challenges the mind, creates outbursts of creativity and causes the players to “Think out of the Box”. The concept is simple: It’s not what you think, but how you think it. Players are challenged to take unlike words or situations and create similarities, as one playing example. It causes the players to spontaneously think and shout out responses to the questions rapidly to beat the clock.

   A mentally and intellectually stimulating, educational and fun game all at the same time! “Right brain” activity is stimulated as players generate ideas, use their imaginations and work out patterns and relationships. At the same time the “left brain” quickly structures responses using language, logic, sequences and details. Great for families, parties, schools, and anyone that dares to think differently.

   

   The Whole Brain Game

9. Level Minded

   Level Minded is an exciting, educational, competitive family game designed to promote social and moral development. This balancing contest of principles, values and beliefs is an educational tool, winner of many awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children Products Award, Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award, iParenting Media’s Best Products Award. Ages: eight and up. Number of players: 2 to 8.

   Players score points by navigating a ball on a unique three dimensional labyrinth path and writing the most “level minded” responses to questions about ones personal principles, values and beliefs. The questions asked can be quite challenging, but since the players written responses are submitted anonymously, the answers can be clever, insightful or just plain silly. Level Minded includes the Junior Principles, values and beliefs deck, of questions but maybe played with multiple card decks.

   Level Minded

10. Stare!

    Winner of the National Parenting Center Seal and the Teacher’s Choice Award for the Family, this is a fun game for kids that develops memory, concentration and imagination. For 2 to 6 players (up to 18 players with teams). Ages 6-12.

    Kids can test and train their visual memory skills and have a blast doing it. In Stare! Junior – the game – players have 30 seconds to stare at an image on a card. Images are varied and fun for kids to look at. It might be a movie poster, funny photo, comic, work of art and more. When time is up, an opponent will flip over the card and ask the player a series of questions about the image to see how much they can recall. What was the clown holding in his left hand? What color was the girl’s hat? Guess right and advance on the game board. Kids can play individually or on teams. The revised Second Edition includes larger image cards containing all new images and questions! Includes 960 questions on 160 image cards, game board, sand timer, playing pieces, die, and instruction sheet.

    Stare!

Technorati Tags: educational, games, children, board games, learning

What makes a good toy great? Let’s see… A great toy should be fun and interesting, inspiring a play that will develop our child’s mobility and skills. It should comply with all the safety precautions, and ideally, keep the children entertained for prolonged periods of time, so that we can also get things done for ourselves. Here are our top ten toddler gifts.

1. The Learn To Walk Trainer

   This four-wheeled, wide-legged ride-on is an award-winning ride-on toy. Shaped like a friendly, smiling face, the steering wheel’s two cut-out “eyes” serve as handholds. Its two front legs extend in all directions, providing stability and support while a child develops balance for walking.

   With adult supervision, it can also assist children 9-12 months old in developing the balance necessary for independent walking. Minimal assembly using the included tools. Supports one child up to 44 lbs. Ages 9-36 months.

   
   The Award Winning Learn To Walk Trainer

2. Scuttle Bug

   Scuttle Bug is innovative foot to floor trike for toddlers. Designed in Belgium, it has quickly conquered Europe with its usefulness and practicality. Scuttle Bug folds in three easy steps, so you can  carry it anywhere. It has great maneuverability and is very versatile; kids love it. Available in blue and pink.

   Scuttle Bug

3. DUPLO® Deluxe Brick Box

   This deluxe DUPLO® set is the perfect introduction to creative building and play for younger children. Storage box with transparent lid includes a building plate and lots and lots of safe, durable and colorful construction bricks, with plenty of special shapes and designs to help imaginations grow. Includes large 8 stud x 16 stud DUPLO baseplate! Includes lots of special elements like windows, a swing, wagon bottom and more!

   
   DUPLO® Deluxe Brick Box

4. Nursery Trampoline

   Nursery Trampoline is the favorite toddler activity toy. It has an easy to grip handle and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Made with a tough weatherproof mat and tubular steel frame with a durable coated finish. For extra safety, the padded cover around the mat cushions the frame and prevents children from stepping through the bungee cord. The handle simply screws off and the legs fold down for ease of storage.

   

   Nursery Trampoline

5. Potty Reminder Watch

   Reminder watch vibrates or sounds an alarm to remind children to go to the potty. This is an outstanding watch. It is mid-sized and accommodates a series of helpful options. The watch will provide children with a “friendly reminder” over the course of the day to avoid accidents. It helps with daytime incontinence, bed-wetting accidents, constipation, urinary infections, urgency and other potty problems.

   

   Potty Reminder Watch

6. Preschool Laptop

   As any parent will tell you, nothing gives more joy to toddlers than having the opportunity to press buttons, anywhere they can find them, on a microwave, washing machine, stereo equipment…  The Preschool Laptop is thus an ideal toy, packed with fun activities and rewarding lights and sounds – a great way to introduce kids to computers. The realistic mouse activates a matching games, while the colorful buttons teach numbers and makes sounds. Pictures light up on the screen when clicked to provide visual stimulation and teach cause-and-effect.

   

   Preschool Laptop

7. Haba Sevilla Building Blocks

   These beautiful wooden blocks are inspired by the work of Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi who conceived the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. The blocks depict Gaudi’s famous unique style and highly individualistic designs and cylindrical structure. The colors and forms of these blocks inspire children’s imaginations and structural possibilities. Contains 25 wooden blocks of different shapes and colors. This set include a block with rattle, bell, mirror, prism, magnifier and peep hole.

   Haba Sevilla Building Blocks

8. Monster Bowling

   The fuzzy Monster Bowling Set will bring countless hours of entertainment to the family. This wacky bowling set features six furry, funky-textured pins and one beasty ball.

   Monster Bowling

9. U-Play Mat

   As the name suggests, this is a large U-shaped mat designed to facilitate easy and playful interaction between the child and the parent or a tutor. The child sits inside the opening of the “U” with full visual and tactile access to the mat, without having to crawl atop. Fifteen theme-based cards are inserted into transparent pockets on the mat surface to engage the child in a variety of exercises. This great cognitive development tool was invented by Dr. Jen, pediatrician and mother of two sets of twins.

   U Play Mat

10. Retro Rocket by Radio Flyer

    A beautifully designed old timer, The Retro Rocket features classic styling and quality craftsmanship that can be passed on for generations of imaginative children to come. There is a 3-2-1 Blast Off feature that puts kids “in the driver seat”. Rolling wheels activate working lights and realistic astronaut and space sounds. This Radio Flyer’s ride-on makes childhood dreams soar.

    
    Retro Rocket by Radio Flyer
    

Technorati Tags: baby toys, toddlers, babies, toys, toddler toys