Magazine Subscriptions for Kids Make Fantastic Educational Gifts

As a grandparent, aunt, or uncle, you may be struggling with gift ideas for your young family members.  Sometimes, the toys on the market seem like such "twaddle" (mindless, unchallenging junk!), and you don't want to simply throw away your money, in order to satisfy an obligation.  It's much nicer when you know that your gift is meaningful, that it will be enjoyed and appreciated. 

My parents took the magazine subscription approach for a couple of years, and it was really a pleasant experience for the kids.  I don't know about you, but I love it when a new magazine arrives, and my kids equally enjoy the experience of thumbing through and looking at pictures, reading articles, and discussing their observations.  If you are looking for a great way to boost a particular interest, or to encourage reading skills, this could be just what you are looking for.

There are so many magazines available, that you shouldn't have any trouble finding something suitable.  My youngest daughter received High Five from Highlights for two years, while an older child received the actual Highlights Magazine.  My youngest son received Thomas and Friends.  Another son received Spider.  Dig, Muse, Ranger Rick, and National Geographic Kids have also been pleasing choices for the kids.  Older children received titles suited to their interests:  Polymer Clay, Cooking, Baking.  The activities, articles, and photos are great.  The kids have loved looking forward to that monthly arrival in the mail, and have dreaded that "final issue" notice. 

Back to School Supplies: Dry Erase Crayons

If you have a youngster who likes to color, but is constantly leaving drawings everywhere, you might really appreciate the new Dry Erase Crayons from Crayola.  Although you won't be able to save the brilliant art created in this medium, you can provide the artistic youngster with hours of drawing fun. 

A dry erase board is ideal for using these, and Crayola has a set of dry erase crayons and dry erase board, for a great price.  You can also find dry erase wall decals, which can allow you to make a convenient practice board in virtually any location in the house, perfect for working math problems, or practicing spelling words.

The crayon box includes a sharpener, and an erasing mitt.  Stubborn smudges come off easily, with a little water.  Sounds too good to be true, but I tried it out, and was very pleased!  These are topping my back to school list, for at home practice, but you may want to treat a favorite teacher to a set, too!

Netbook or Tablet? Why Not Both!

Inspiron Duo combines the best of both worlds, with the compact size that netbooks have made popular, and the touchscreen tablet features that are taking the world by storm.  Given the costs of tablet PCs, it's interesting to find the combined features of the Inspiron Duo are able to provide multiple means of interacting in the computing environment.  If you are looking for an educational tool for your tween or teen, this is worth a look.  You can read full specs and consumer reviews on the Amazon page related to the Inspiron Duo.  Read more about the decisions between laptops for kids and netbooks, here. 

Lego Calculators

If your kids love legos, then a lego calculator is a fun gift consideration.  While many parents consider calculators to be disallowed in the school setting, the reality is that most math curricula include appropriate calculator skills.  After all, what good is a tech tool that an individual doesn't know how to use correctly?  And a calculator doesn't guarantee a correct answer, which makes it a helpful tool in teaching number sense. 

You can find lego calculators for kids at the link provided at left, in blue, black, or green!

Back to School: Fun Binders for Girls

Back to school supply shopping may seem routine enough, but there are some fun binder designs available, that can contribute to your daughter's excitement about the approaching school year.  Colorful and cute can make for a great attitude, and getting off on the right foot can be the catalyst for a great year! 

Case It binders are great helps in the area of organization, and provide some fun color contrasts, as well.  After all, academics don't need to be dull, and neither do school supplies.  Roxy has put together some cute binders, as well, and this popular brand is well received in the tween and teen world.

Dakine has a rather colorful binder selection...details available through the image, below, at Amazon.

Dakine Colorful School Binder

Case It Binder for Girls

Roxy Binder for Girls
Cute Pinks

Outside Playground Equipment

Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber
***Links are clickable, for Amazon pricing and details.

While outdoor playground equipment may seem more of a physical item, than educational, the fact is that an outdoor playground set can be the source of a great deal of pretend play, and imagination takes wings in such an environment.  Children can become their favorite superheroes, re-enact their favorite fairy tales, and re-tell their beloved stories.

Commercial outside playground equipment can be pricey, but there are many worthwhile swing sets and activity sets to consider.  Individual pieces can be less harsh on the wallet, yet provide hours of entertainment and inspiration.

Gym Dandy Teeter Totter

Lifetime Ace Flyer Airplane Teeter Totter

Dizzy Quad Merry-Go-Round

Wooden Outdoor Playground Equipment

Champion XP Outdoor Playset

Step2 Naturally Playful Adventure Lodge Play Center

Gorilla Outdoor Playground Set
Big Skye II

Little Tikes 8-in-1 Adjustable Playground

Lifetime Big Stuff Adventure
Outside Playground Equipment

Gorilla Playsets
Outside Playground Equipment

Christmas Puzzle Game Ideas

When holiday time rolls around, it's always fun to find great puzzle games for stockings, gift exchanges, and party prizes.  Christmas puzzle games provide brain puzzle fun in a small package, and aren't strictly holiday oriented, making for great diversion on a rainy day, or a road trip.  There are varying types of brain puzzles for young people, with some trending more toward game, while others trend more toward the manipulating of pieces, together, and apart.

Wire Brain Puzzle Games




Wire brain puzzle games involve figuring out how to separate, and re-connect wire shapes.  You can find individual wire brain puzzles, or sets.  Perfect as stocking stuffer gifts, or as an entertainment device for rainy days and road trips.

Brain Bogglers Sets
Images are clickable, for current Amazon pricing.

Wood Brain Puzzle Gift Ideas

Interlocking wood puzzles make striking and interesting small gifts, but can be very challenging to re-assemble.  Great for the visual or kinesthetic learner.  Additional wood puzzles include those with gameboard style play, moving pieces about.






Maze Puzzles

Perplexus Puzzle Balls are interactive brain puzzles, which involve guiding a metal ball through a series of paths inside a clear plastic ball.


ThinkFun Brain Puzzle Games

Strategy and logic are challenged and stretched with popular ThinkFun Brain Games, including Rush Hour, River Crossing, and others.

Cards and Facts Brain Puzzle Games:  MindTrap

MindTrap is an interesting game, suited to older (upper elementary and above) children.  Interesting questions challenge thinking.  Mind Trap questions dare you to examine the question for the potential clues, and to think beyond those drill and kill facts that are memorized and forgotten in a traditional school setting.  My tweens and teens love MindTrap, and are endlessly catching me unable to answer.