As I’m sure you know, there is no shortage of toys on the market, but finding toys that are thought-provoking, creative, and meaningful usually requires a little more digging. So to save you the trouble, I did the digging myself.
Here are some innovative toys that I found that are guaranteed to challenge children in a variety of skill sets while being fun.
Please note: I am a participant of the Amazon Services Associates Program and have included “affiliate links” for all the toys. This means that when you click the pictures or links provided and make a purchase, I receive a small commission on the toy at no extra cost to you. You can read more about the Amazon Associates Program here.
1) Blockitecture by Areaware
Blockitecture are city like architectural wooden building blocks that come in uniquely designed shapes and fit together to help kids design their own cities. These blocks come in a few variety packs which allow for the creation of multiple distinct and realistic buildings. Kids will be intrigued by this toy as they explore the blocks and engage in imaginative play.
2) Electro Dough Kit by Tech Will Save Us
The Electro Dough Kit teaches young kids about electricity while sculpting with conductive dough (includes a diy recipe). How cool is that?! Kids will love watching their creations light up. This set is recommended for ages 4 and up, but makes a fun family activity. If you have older kids, I also really love their Electro Guitar Kit, which is recommended for kids 8 and up.
3) First chess Set by Vilac
The classic game of chess has endless cognitive benefits. It promotes logical reasoning, decision making, working memory, thinking ahead, and so much more. This fun design with adorable characters will intrigue kids and likely make the process of learning the game so much more exciting.
4) Chimalong XR Musical Toy by Woodstock Chimes
The Chimalong is a xylophone-like musical instrument that comes with a 28-page instructional songbook with 16 songs, 2 mallets and a detachable music stand. This beautifully designed toy allows children to stand to play a musical instrument like a real musician. Following instructions in a song book to play a musical instrument promotes visual perceptual skills, visual scanning, hand-eye coordination, and concentration.
5) Beginner Sewing Kit by Sew First
This Sewing Kit includes real sewing tools and 4 stuffed animal projects that will teach children to sew with step by step directions. Great activity for building independence, promoting a sense of accomplishment, and refining motor skills.
6) Acrobat Game by Janod
The goal of the game is to stack the tower as tall as possible. Except there is one catch. Children have to figure out how to best position the acrobats so that the discs don’t fall over. Great game for working on problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, grading pressure, turn-taking, and more.
7) Collages for Little Ones by Djeco
This unique collage kit includes 4 picture boards, glue, and a ton of other craft pieces for children to create their own animals or other objects. It introduces kids to abstract art, fosters open-ended play, encourages creativity, and helps refine motor skills.
8) Keva Junior
Keva Junior is a simple stacking and building toy that comes with 20 wooden planks and activity picture cards for inspiration. Using picture cards to replicate designs promotes visual perception while stacking and building encourages motor skills and hand-eye coordination in young children. Love the simple concept of this design.