These Brain-Engaging Toys & Activities Will Round-Out Your Shopping List

You know we love games (understatement, I know), but we also have long been fans incorporating of STEM / STEAM into our lives. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Those decisions likely set our now college-aged daughters on their chosen career paths. One is studying cello performance and the other on a pre-med track. While balancing school, extra-curricular activities, sports and free play, we always found ways to pique their interests in collections, hobbies and other family bonding activities. This list includes several brain-engaging and hobby-launching gifts for a variety of ages. No pressure to raise a future musician or doctor, but definitely encouragement to enjoy these gifts together if there’s someone on your list who might gravitate to them.

Hero: Sound Sensing Robot

Thames & Kosmos

Open your ears, Hero hears everything! Through its three directional microphones, this robot perceives and reacts to sounds. Have fun with Hero’s four play modes! Hero can locate you, follow you around, be remotely controlled by your sound commands, and even play against you in a wild game of tug-of-war — all by sensing sounds!

BobBee is the ultimate water toy, made with 100% pure dishwasher safe silicone, designed to provide a unique play experience that combines STEM education and social-emotional development. With its versatile 3 boats in 1 design, children can explore different boat configurations, enhancing their creativity and problem-solving skills. Bob is a big barge with towing and storage capacity. Bee is more agile and quicker. Combine them for the most efficient boating and shipping.

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Mega Cyborg Hydro Blaster

Thames & Kosmos

Explore hydraulics, mechanics, and robotics with a buildable, handheld water blaster and claw! Using over 180 plastic pieces, assemble this awesome device which shoots a stream of water and grabs onto targets with its huge gripper — no motors or electricity required

The Grinch “Poppin” 1000pc Puzzle

The Op

As cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel, Dr. Seuss’ Mr. Grinch will steal your presents and chop down your tree to keep Christmas from coming in this colorful 19″x27” puzzle.

Winnie & Piglet’s Water Adventure

PLAYMOBIL

With the Water Adventure bath set inspired by Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, playful water exploration becomes a breeze. Your child develops their fine motor skills while having a blast in the tub, and they become more comfortable in the water.

Talk & Teach Farm / Talk & Teach Bus

The Learning Journey

Little ones will harvest an abundance of learning with The Learning Journey Talk & Teach Farm ($19.99 for ages 2-5) and The Learning Journey Talk & Teach Bus ($19.99 for ages 2-5). The new toys help expand vocabulary and reinforce sight word recognition in a fun and interactive way. The Talk & Teach Farm includes 60 learning cards teaching numbers, colors, food, and things found on the farm. The Talk and Teach Bus includes 60 learning cards that teach alphabet, shapes, school items, and things that go. (Requires 3 AA batteries).

Gecko Run: Starter Set

Thames & Kosmos

Gecko Run takes classic marble runs to the next level with new creative challenges and less restrictive building requirements. This innovative marble run uses a specially designed system of flexible tracks that does not require any support structures. Traditional marble runs require lots of pieces to create vertical height, but with Gecko Run, your doors, windows, cupboards, bookcases – virtually any smooth surface – become part of your track, allowing you to build higher with fewer pieces.

Just Add Baking Soda

Griddly Kids

Unlock the wonders of science and art at home with Just Add Baking Soda! This extraordinary kit is all about unleashing creativity and curiosity by utilizing supplies you already have, making it the perfect go-to for at-home science and art experiments. Just Add Baking Soda takes the hassle out of searching for supplies. Future scientists and artists alike will be thrilled by the explosive array of more than 20 captivating science and art activities. From crafting Bath Bombs to creating dazzling Ornaments, and even conjuring up a fascinating Baking Soda Volcano, the possibilities are endless!

World Baking Kit – Europe

Eat2Explore

Explore new adventures in your kitchen this holiday season with eat2explore’s holiday world baking kits. Travel to new culinary destinations at home with your little foodies with eat2explore’s award-winning global baking kits. Learn about the history of Swedish Chokladbollar (chocolate oatmeal balls), Croatian Gingerbread, Austrian Linzer Cookies in the Europe Kit. The Global Kit will teach you about Japanese Mochi, Turkish Sekerpare (Semolina cookie), and Colombian Natilla (Christmas custard). Meanwhile, the German box brings a bit of those classic German Christmas Markets to your kitchen.

Each box comes with easy-to-follow recipes, a shopping list, a brochure, and nonperishable ingredients. If dessert isn’t up your alley, eat2explore also offers savory boxes from 20+ countries/regions. Kids will gain a mindset of respectful understanding and appreciate that people have similarities and differences while learning life skills in the kitchen. The boxes can be purchased one box at a time, or through a monthly subscription.

TreeMendous Ornament Decorator & Accessories

Hey Buddy Hey Pal

The perfect DIY craft to embrace the holiday season! The TreeMendous Ornament Decorator is a fun and easy way to make perfect, hand-decorated ornaments for the holiday tree! Place one of the included ornaments into the tree-shaped decorator and let the fun begin! The machine holds and spins the ornament while the markers are used to create stripes, line and other designs! Now with a new accessory pack that comes with three quick-drying makers, adhesive jewels, glitter snowflakes, and foam letters and numbers for even more holiday fun!

Wow in the World: High-Flying Air Rocket

Thames & Kosmos

Blast off to hilarious science fun with your own high-flying air-powered rocket kit. Kids (and adults!) are in for an active afternoon of laughter and learning as they stomp to launch their rockets, making silly fart and whistle sounds in the process. The goofy sound effects jumpstart scientific investigations into physics and air pressure as kids learn how farts are, in fact, kind of like rockets!

Although these are thought-provoking and engaging gift ideas, don’t feel the need to label them as anything other than fun. Puzzles, cooking, robotics and toys are all things that can be enjoyed without adding an educational spin. If the kids are enjoying these things without realizing they are educational, then that’s an extra win.

Which hobbies and activities do your friends and family enjoy most?

 

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