Cars 2 Educational Gift Ideas for Kids

With the release of Cars 2, youngsters everywhere will be enjoying the fun of the new Disney film, and observing every tie-in product under the sun.  For some educational fun, you may want to consider interactive software for electronic learning systems.  For example, LeapFrog has a Cars 2 learning cartridge which works with the Leapster Explorer, and which will also be compatible with the iPad type electronic learning tablet for kids, the LeapPad Explorer (pre-orders begin June 29, 2011). 

Other educational tie-ins to Cars 2 include Cars 2 watches.  The age range of children who will especially appreciate the movie are those in the pre-school and early elementary school levels, and learning to tell time is an important skill that is broached in these early learning years.  A fun watch is a great way to practice.

Cars 2 Back to School supplies which highlight the fun Cars 2 characters will be a fun way to encourage your youngster in preparing for the coming school season.

One of the best educational activities for kids is pretend play.  Children can narrate, or re-tell, the story, create their own variations, and spend hours of creative time.  Sets of Cars 2 vehicles can provide plenty of creative fun.  Find fun Cars 2 diecast cars for hours of pretend play fun!

Cars 2 Cartridges for Leapster Explorer and LeapPad Explorer

Cars 2 releases June 24, 2011, and there are many educational tie-ins to provide your youngsters with fun learning!

LeapFrog has released its Cars 2 cartridge for Leapster Explorer, which will also be compatible with the coming iPad type product for kids, LeapPad Explorer.  LeapPad Explorer will be available for pre-order beginning June 29, 2011, and is a great way to provide a hands on tech experience for your 4-8 year olds, without having to give up your iPad.

You can find a full line of LeapFrog products available for purchase through Amazon.  LeapFrog products are outstanding tools for learning reinforcement, and educational play.

Bead Bazaar Kits: Beading Supplies for Girls

Papillon Mini Bead Chest by Bead Bazaar

One of the best informal activities for developing math number sense is sorting, and beads lend themselves perfectly to sorting, grouping, and re-grouping.  More fun, beading kits allow an informal environment for children to experiment with creating their own patterns.  I love this sort of informal play for my children, and there are many types of kids' toys that facilitate this sort of manipulative work.  Beading kits developed for girls are great, and Bead Bazaar Kits are varied enough that you will have years' worth of gift ideas to equip your daughters with crafting projects that serve an educational purpose, as well.

Bead Box Kits by Bead Bazaar

Bead box kits include several types of beads, and materials for stringing.

***Images are clickable, for current Amazon pricing and availability.

Alpha Bead Kit by Bead Bazaar

Bead Bazaar Mini and Medium Bead Box Kits

Bead Bazaar Bead Barrel Kits for Girls

Bead Bazaar Bead Barrel Kits for Girls

Bead Bazaar "Just for Fun" Barrel Kit

Bead Bazaar Sweet Treats Bead Barrel for Girls

Bead Chests by Bead Bazaar

BeJeweled Bead Chest by Bead Bazaar

Le Petit Mini Bead Chest, Butterfly Garden by Bead Bazaar

Bead Bazaar Bead Medley Kits for Girls



Bead Bazaar Kits are fun, and cute, a great choice in gifts for your own daughters, nieces, or granddaughters, or perfect for your daughter to take as a gift for a friend's birthday party.

Computer Gifts for Children: Netbook vs. Laptop for Kids

Laptop computers used to be the ideal of young, and old, alike.  A decade ago, the prices seemed preclusive for average families, and madness ensued at the hint of a deep discount sale.  Since, though, prices on both laptop computers and desktops have dropped significantly, and have made computers a terrific birthday and holiday gift choice for children.  Netbooks have really climbed in popularity in the last 3 years, and are an affordable for gifting to children.  Further, the quality of netbooks have improved greatly, meaning that today, you get more for less.

If you are deciding on a laptop for a kid, vs. a netbook for a kid, there are some considerations to weigh, as both can be quite affordable, but management will not be completely equal.  Since a netbook doesn't have a DVD drive, any supplemental DVD software will require an external DVD drive.  This isn't a difficulty, but it does mean that your child won't be able to operate those programs on the go.  For a homeschooling family using Switched on Schoolhouse software, the DVD drive is necessary.  For the child who will use a netbook in more of a research and recreation capacity, this isn't a problem.  A laptop incorporates a DVD drive, and may be a better choice in a kid's PC, if DVD's are to be used.

Size can be a problem with some laptop computers.  A large laptop provides the most screen space, which is nice from an eyesight consideration.  However, even adults have a tough time keeping a 17 inch laptop well balanced, when using it in a portable setting.  I've experienced some serious close calls when my children (teens included) try to work with my laptop.  14-15" laptop computers reduce the screen size, but are a little more manageable for young computer owners. 

A netbook tends to be in the 10 to 11 inch size range, which means much smaller area of vision.  However, given many handheld devices children use today, this is still better by far than handheld video game sizes.  The size is much easier to manage, and easier for stowing in a tote or backpack when  you are on the road.

Whichever type of computer you select as a gift for your child, be sure to establish strong ground rules about where the computer is used, and where it shouldn't be taken.  Kids like to do the unexpected, and it wouldn't be difficult to sneak a netbook into a school bag.  Oversight is important for any type of computer for kid.

Read more about Tween Computer Choices. 

Research the current bestselling netbooks at Amazon.

Age Ranges for Touchscreen Toys and Electronic Learning Systems

Vtech Innotab in Blue

As you hunt for that great electronic gadget for a child, you may wonder just how well it will be received.  Depending on the age and personality of your youngster, you may be concerned that the touchscreen tablet toy, or the electronic learning system, will not hold your child's interest.   

Leapster Explore Learning Game System
Recommended for ages 4-9, but in my experience, the cutoff
for child interest is age 7-8, depending on the child.

***Images are clickable, for current Amazon pricing.

Observing my children in the past several years, we've especially enjoyed LeapFrog's Leapster, as well as an old Pixter.  The child who received the Leapster was 5 years old, when it was given as a birthday gift, and it still holds his interest at age 7.  Older siblings have used it a little bit, but my now 9 year old has absolutely no interest.  This has been a fairly constant case for my older children, who by age 10, were much more interested in handheld video games. 

Comparatively, Apple touchscreen gadgets for older folks hold their attention completely, whether at age 3, or age 15.  iPad is obviously not a toy, nor is it priced as such.  Electronic learning systems, including soon to be released LeapPad Explorer(pre-orders begin June 29, 2011), and VTech InnoPad, are safer in terms of being able to be left in the hands of a pre-school or elementary school student, without much supervision.  On the other hand, an iPad 2 is an expensive loss, if an accident happens.  The learning potential with such a device is amazing, but it's better for young children to use that tablet PC under adult supervision.  Tweens, ranging from age 9 to 13, may handle an iPad tablet more responsibly, but be sure to set guidelines for its use, as you don't want that iPad disappearing into the oblivion of a tween backpack, never to be seen again.  A tablet pc can be an excellent tween gift, given an understanding about its use. See the latest release in educational electronics for kids at Amazon. 


Don't miss pre-orders on the newest learning tablet toys, VTech InnoTab and LeapPad Explorer, at Amazon.

MobiGoTouch Learning System

MobiGo Touch, ages 3-8

***Images are Clickable, for current Amazon Pricing and Availability.

 MobiGo, by VTech, is a touchscreen learning toy, with a slide out QWERTY keyboard.  VTech has provided learning toys for years, and has a track record for integrating great learning games, along with popular current technology trends, mirroring the action and style of grown up tech items.  Just as the slider cell phones are popular with teenagers, so the slide out style of this toy will appeal to their younger siblings.  Cartridges are sold separately, though the initial MobiGo system comes with a first game cartridge.  MobiGo retails at approximately $50, and is available in the yellow-orange-blue design pictured above, and in a pink-purple design, pictured just below.

MobiGo Touch for Girls

Having been introduced in past years, and with VTech set to unveil it's Innopad in the fall of 2011, just in time for the holiday season, you may see some good deals on this system, come holiday shopping time.  There are educational systems in many price ranges, and if your budget is tight, this is a more cost effective device for your youngster.  As age goes, this type of learning toy still appeals to my 6 and 7 year old youngsters, by age 8, might be a little too immature.  You can read a set of reviews of the MobiGo Touch here.

Encourage Artistic Creativity with Sidewalk Chalks

Do you need some worthwhile outdoor summer activities for your children?  Encourage their artistic side with sidewalk chalks.  Crayola has taken the big box of many colors idea from the crayon, and extended it to the 52 pack of sidewalk chalks.  There are 52 sticks, in 24 different colors, an amazing assortment, and perfect for your outdoor chalk artists. 

Hold a neighborhood chalk drawing challenge, and select judges to decide the winners.  Wind up the event with a viewing of Mary Poppins, with a famed Chalk Art scene.  Treat chalk art as visual journaling for your children, and give them a fresh topic each day.  Take pictures, so you can scrapbook their creativity!

The Crayola 52 Ct. Chalk Carton is on the top 10 list of bestsellers in the arts and crafts portion of Amazon's toy department, and it's not tough to see why.  For a sturdy carrier, of course, there is a 52 ct. Crayola Bucket, as well.

While sidewalk chalk is a great choice, be sure to check out some of Crayola's other sidewalk art selections, including brightly colored sidewalk crayons, and sidewalk paints.