HowToLearn.com is proud to bring you the
Best Educational Toys 2011.
Our team personally reviews each toy, so that you have the highest quality and best educational toys as your go-to resource right at your fingertips throughout the year.
We thank MrsPinkelmeyer.com, this year’s sponsor for the Best Educational Toys and encourage you to visit their website MrsPinkelmeyer.com
Submit a site to be considered for the Top 101 Best Websites.
Active Reading Games
uKloo is a new concept game that helps children gain reading confidence and promotes independence. It gives beginner and struggling readers an active alternative to sitting with books or computer games. uKloo introduces research skills and basic sentence structure.
Alphabet
ABC Squiggle® Game makes it fun for kids to get practice in letter recognition, vocabulary building, creativity and penmanship! Ages 4+.
Animals
Moo, oink, cluck, beep: move over for some barnyard fun! The Funtime Tractor is a delightful toy, with its working horn and headlights and busy little farmer toting five talking farm friends in his handy trailer. Ages 12 months+.
Arts & Crafts
Tons of fun and environmentally friendly too! This fun modeling dough is made from natural ingredients, free from artificial dyes or chemicals. Not your ordinary kids’ play dough, this stuff is safer to play with and good for the planet too.
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Jiggly, Wiggly, Squiggly Art! This wacky lap desk wiggles while kids work, turning their drawings into wild works of art! Ages 5+.
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There will be no spineless creatures here! Not when you bring this Model Magic Wiggle Bones Dragonfly to life. Ages 6 and up
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Designed, Sealed, Delivered! Make-Your-Own Cards Kits are jam-packed with everything kids will need to turn their very own, one-of-a-kind artwork into invitations, thank you’s, and more. Ages 4+
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The Giant Art Jar is crammed with hours of creative and crafty fun. Ideal for parent/child play. Ages 4+
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Shure Creativity Sets. Each of these cool craft sets is accompanied by a full-color, illustrated book that shows kids how to make anything their creative minds can imagine.
Autism Apps
Practicing Street crossing is designed for parents, teachers, therapists, and caregivers to practice the concept of street crossing safely with children and adults. The App can be used to help individuals practice where, when, and how to cross a street safely.
Autism Tweens & Teens
Squag™ is a beautiful corner of the web where tweens and teens on the autism spectrum can experiment with the big idea of friendship and gain some confidence to take with them wherever they go.
Babies
Babies stop crying and fall asleep in minutes with these accurate womb simulation audio CDs/MP3’s. Besides time with Mom and Dad, the best “toy” to help an infant is truly sound sleep. The Miracle BabySleep System™ CDs, features the world’s leading WombEffect™ music technology.
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The MusicMath System™ is a new music technology that can give your baby a head start and foundation for learning math and physics. Just play this music in the background and it presents math and physics concepts through scientifically-designed musical tones.
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EvenFlo.com
ExerSaucers promote learning through play and encourage your baby to engage in object exploration and tactile development. Ideal for a variety of ages, our baby activity centers are safe, educational and tons of fun for your little one!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/EvenfloBaby
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/EvenfloBaby
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The 2-in-1 Elephant Musical Stack & Play keeps the littlest explorers totally engaged. The ball tower has lots of soft-textured, brightly-colored pieces that babies can take apart…and put back together. Ages 6+ mos
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Kids are naturally curious, and Surprise Inside Elephant is a cuddly, portable, brightly colored elephant filled with lots of safe stuff to amuse and satisfy a child, at home or on the road. Ages 9 mos. +
Bath Toy
CreativeKidStuff.comBig Fun for Little Squirts! Bath time is fun time with Magical Stack & Spray Tub Fountain! Kids can stack the play pieces lots of ways to make the fountain swivel, spout and squirt! Ages 1+
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VTechKids.com
The new Submarine Learning Boat from Vtech has many different activities to keep kids engaged. It squirts water, plays music, lights up and teaches colors, numbers and letters…all in the tub!
Books
The alphabet has never looked more beautiful. The illustrations by Kim Krans from The Wild Unknown are ethereal and unexpected, and just so much fun to look at. A great gift for any age.
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ScienceKit.com
Oh, Yuck! Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty. Kids will love to talk about all the fun facts found in this book. Ages 8+
Boys
The new Tonka Ricochet RC Vehicle is a fast-moving and fun RC car that’s easy to control. It screams over all types of obstacles and flips over and runs upside down without slowing down.
Brainy
Rovin’ Robot is a toy, a robot, and a learning opportunity all in one! Robotic Rover teaches kids basic programming as they set their robot to navigate a course! Ages 8+
Building Stacking & Construction
Chaos Tower. Not only is this an entertaining toy, as balls rocket down tracks, spin, and fly off jumps, but it also meets the U.S. Curriculum Standard for physics, grades 3-12. Ages 10+
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KaplanToys.com
Laser Pegs® Light Up! Watch the excitement as kids connect building pieces, with LEDs in each one, to create fun, illuminated toys! Ages 7+
Classic Toys
This is the place to find the best quality, safe toys made exclusively in the USA. Find toys that will both stimulate your child’s imagination and help to develop many learning skills.
Creativity
Designed By You Fashion Studio lets kids Dream up their own designer originals and get ready for the runway. Ages 9+
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Oodles of Fuzzy Fun! It’s non-stop creative play with a twist, as kids imagine, bend and accessorize their very own fun, fuzzy noodle characters—over and over again! Ages 5+
Dexterity
This Is One Busy Bird. Children will love to feed our soft, cuddly Hungry Pelican that teaches dexterity and cause and effect. Ages 9 months+
Doll
Learn to Dress Dolls. Kids will delight at the opportunity to dress their very own doll (and then themselves!) as they learn how to button, tie, lace and more! Ages 18 mos.+
Eating Healthy
Make mealtime constructive and fun, even for fussy eaters, with our Constructive Eating Plate and Utensils! All Ages
Eco Friendly
Root-Vue Farm. A garden laboratory designed to make it easy to watch the roots form and spread out. Ages 4+
Electronic
The Leapfrog LeapPad is designed to provide children with a fun and exciting learning tool. It is compatible with over 100 cartridge games, apps, digital books, videos and flash cards. Ages 4-9
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Loopz kids pass a flat hand through the C-shaped openings in the Loopz tower to break a beam of light. Their motions become fluid and faster and the gameplay and music follow.
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A game that reads your mind! 20 Q™ is an electronic version of the classic game of 20 questions. Ages 8+
Eye – Hand Coordination
Squeals of grossed-out delight will be frequent when children figure out What’s In Ned’s Head? Ned is a plush noggin, complete with hair. Ages 4+
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Wooden See and Spell Set is a skill-building puzzle that combines their love of learning with hand/eye coordination. Ages 4+
Geography
OutOfTheToyBox.comThe Family Road Trip Box of Questions is the perfect travel game for kids on the road! Quizzes, games and conversation starters are sure to keep the little ones busy for hours of fun on the highway!
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The electronic voices of the Geosafari Talking Globe teach kids geography the painless way. Children can learn alone or include the whole family in a quiz game. Ages 8+, Jr. Globe 6+
Girls
Crafty kids will love making their own friendship bracelets with Friends 4Ever Bracelet Set and giving them to family and friends! Ages 8+
Imagination
Construction Carnival Magformers! Rainbow-colored magnetic building set uses powerful encapsulated magnets to connect simple geometric shapes into complex 3-D models. Ages 6+
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Story Cubes® Game is ingenious, pocket-sized, storytelling fun! Kids roll the dice, then let the pictures spark their imaginations as they concoct a story that connects the images. Ages 8+
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Zoom Zoom Garage is full-service fun for kids! Three cars “vroom” around the ramp, the push-button gas pump “glugs”, the air pump “hisses” and the elevator “dings” as it goes up and down! Ages 12 mos.+
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Toddlers earn their junior licenses navigating the easy-to-operate Remote-Control GoGo School Bus encouraging hours of imaginative play. Ages 2+
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Playhouse HANGout hangs from a whimsical, cloud-shaped coat hook to provide kids with hours of imaginative play! Ages 2+
Interactive Play
KiddieLandToyStore.comQuelf. This game is full of random rules. Pick one of the 8 crazy characters to be when maneuvering the game board. Ages 12+
Knowledge
HasbroToyShop.comCranium Brain Breaks is a collection of 200 different one minute games that challenges players to work together to successfully as many activities as possible.
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The All-American Trivia Board Game Junior Edition poses more than 2,000 questions in four categories-geography, history, arts, and general knowledge. Ages 9+
Language
MusicInMotion.comOld Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Doll & CD. This story-telling doll encourages language development and learning through rhyming, repetition and creative play-acting. Ages 5+
Learning
Klutz.comNo one, of any age, will have to grow up after reading the Klutz Encyclopedia of Immaturity. Ages 8+
Math
Motion Math Zoom is a fun, engaging way for elementary school children to master one of the foundational pillars of math: place value.
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Monopoly Crazy Cash, the latest addition to the Monopoly line of games, is for players as young as five and helps teach basic math skills as well as logic and reasoning.
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Add the Toppings Early Math Game is fast-food fun, as kids listen to the talking chef’s orders, then add or subtract toppings from their pizzas to build the perfect pie! Ages 4+
Memory
It’s four SIMON games in one! The WONDER-LINK technology lets the cubes know where you shuffle them, when you win and what you scored. Ages 8+
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Mix & Match Doughnuts Memory Game Perfect for Pre-K to 2nd grade, this toy is a tasty twist on a familiar memory game. Kids will place all the doughnuts frosting side down, mix them up and start searching for matching pairs.
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Kids will hone their mental skills with the challenge of Quick Play. Quick Play has four different games of shapes, time, music, and numbers. Ages 5+.
Motor Sensory
Bright, engaging Butterfly Spinner helps little ones discover cause and effect as they press the handle, then watch and listen as butterflies and ladybugs chatter and spin in a kaleidoscope of colors! Ages 6 mos.+
Movie Toy
Woody’s Run Around Roundup Game challenges kids to tag the correct Toy Story 3 characters with the electronic tagger.
Musical
Sing-A-Ma-Jigs are unique, singing toys that harmonize when you play with two or more. They sing different notes but they’re all tuned so they sound good together.
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The perfect addition to your child’s musical collection!
A great value for teachers and a must-have for every children’s library media collection
Nature
The whole family will enjoy the fascinating glimpse of bird life possible with Nest View. All ages.
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Grow-A-Frog. Watch your child’s amazement as he/she witnesses one of nature’s wonders: the transformation of a tadpole into a frog in six weeks. Ages 3+.
Numbers
Ratuki, the newest in Hasbro’s line up of card games for ages eight and up helps with number recognition and basic math skills.
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Pretend & Play Teaching Cash Register features four interactive learning activities with multiple levels of play. Ages 3+
Observation
I Spy Eagle Eye test the powers of observation and speed. Ages 5+
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Your children can experience the wonder of metamorphosis by watching caterpillars create chrysalides and finally emerge as butterflies with the Live Butterfly Pavilion. Ages 4+.
Outdoor Play
The Razor Sole Skate is a three-wheeled skateboard that fits in a backpack or school locker. It is specially designed to stop rolling if the rider falls (or jumps) off. Ages 8+
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The E-Z Bat was invented by a dad, probably because he was tired of pitching then retrieving 5000 baseballs a day. It’s a simple concept that works!
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All Surface Swingball is tennis without chasing the ball! Action-packed game kids can play anywhere. Ages 6+
Personalized Baby Blankets
Personalized baby blankets with a GIANT mission! For every blankie purchased, you get to give one away to a child in need with our one to love, one to give campaign.
Physical Play
Giant Piano Mat. Soft, oversized piano mat provides hours of fun—gets kids moving as they tap their toes on the giant 6′ keyboard to play their favorite tunes. Ages 3+
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TeachingSupplyStore.com
Not Your Grandma’s Jump Rope! Super Skipper harnesses all that wonderful, natural energy in one exciting motion. Ages 3+
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Big Game Hunting. Hide-&-Seek Safari is an engaging, active game of hide and seek with a jungle twist! Fun for all ages.
Preschool
Dance Star Mickey is a fun, musical toy for toddlers and preschoolers. The variety of music and cute animated movements kept kids entertained and got them moving.
Pretend Play
Powerful, official-looking Spy Vision Goggles are just perfect for exploring deep, dark uncharted areas . . . like scary bedroom closets! Ages 6+
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For secret agents undercover, the Micro Spy Set has everything to get the job done! The utility belt straps on, allowing hands-free sleuthing and easy access to clue-busting tools. Ages 6+
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Pretend & Play Doctor Set is the perfect prescription for fun! With enough equipment for a whole team of young doctors to set up a practice, it can even help kids feel better about their own medical visits. Ages 3+
Puppet Play
This portable theater dazzles little puppeteers with its unique “special effects,” like a show time clock, interchangeable sky box messages, and a photo pocket for your future star. Ages 3+
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The Puppetees™ Theater is a perfect stage to create and Perform!
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Create your own show and have the Playmobil characters act it out with My Take Along Puppet Theater.
Puzzle
Wonderfoam Giant USA Map Puzzle engages hands and minds. Brightly colored, thick foam interlocking pieces guide children through the geography of the United States, including pop-out state landmarks and the locations of the Great Lakes. Plus they’ll learn state capitals! Ages 3+
Reading
Double Duel Sound-Alike Word Game challenges kids to think fast. Great vocabulary-building fun! Ages 7+
Self Esteem
Mrs. Pinkelmeyer, Silliest, Warmest Know-It-All, and her lovable dog Moopus McGlinden inspire self-esteem in children through their love, warmth and silliness. Snuggle up with their plush, singing dolls, dance along to their music and enjoy the Pinkelmeyer book series. These award winning characters and products warm the hearts of all that know them.
Sensory Stimulation
Designed by a mom, Taggies are colorful and exciting, soothing and comforting…all at the same time! Taggies Big Soft Blocks are stackable, have plastic links that attach together for stroller, car seat and high-chair play. Ages from birth
Science
Magic School Bus Going Green Science Kit Ms. Frizzle and her students take young scientists on a wild ride by going green with experiments and activities that can save our Earth! Ages 6+
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HexBugs Are Real Micro Robots! Kids are crazy about HexBugs®, the amazing micro robotic creatures that respond to sound, light and touch! Ages 8+
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Star Rocket streaks up to 300 feet in the sky . . . again and again! They’ll learn about propulsion: how baking soda and plain-old vinegar produce enough CO2 gas to send a rocket zooming. Ages 8+
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Keep an open mind as you take an amazing tour of the wonder we call the brain.
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Dig at Mystery Rock. Kids will “dig” unearthing the 10 treasures buried in this special clay rock deposit. They’ll also master the methods of real archeologists and paleontologists, including patience! Ages 8+
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The Talking Microscope engages kids in the awe of discovery at an early age. Twelve prepared slides reveal close-up views of insects as the “talking” microscope explains fun facts and tests new knowledge with the Bug IQ quiz. Ages 5+
Shapes
Cool Tools Activity Set turns little ones into big helpers! Bright plastic tools make junior carpenters more aware of colors and shapes. Ages 18 mos.+
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Kids shape recognition, matching skills and creativity will flourish with all these fun multicolor pieces and patterns. Ages 3+
Sign Language
PlayAbility See It and Sign It Game introduces kids to American Sign Language. Ages 6+
Speech
Tongue Tanglers™ will have everyone laughing as players draw cards and create tongue-twisters for their opponents to repeat out loud—with comical results. Ages 8+
Spelling
Scrabble Turbo Slam is for ages eight and up and challenges players to think fast and come up with creative and new words to get rid of all their cards to become the victor of this take on the classic word building game.
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Scrabble Alphabet Scoop is the first word game for spellers as young as six and is a great game to help kids with spelling and word recognition.
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Scrabble Flash is made up of five two-inch square blocks with LED screens on top. Each shows a letter and the player slides them around to make five-letter words.
Swings
The Chilly Swing Set lets kids hang out! Super strong, super comfortable, and super colors makes this a fun item for your home or backyard.
Time Teacher
The world’s 1st all stainless steel kid’s Time Teacher watch line. It is the only watch lead free, nickel free, mercury free, and cadmium free, allowing parents to be 100% worry free!
Tolerance
Odd combinations of animals jumbled together teach children that it’s okay to be different; it’s okay to mix black and white; it’s okay to mix tails and bills and bellies to make unusual but perfectly lovable little beings. Ages 4+
Video Games
Play golf with Ernie Els and his friends. Here is a fun video game for the ENTIRE family. Play with touch screen, speech recognition, most accessible gaming devices AND traditional devices like a mouse, keyboard or XBOX 360°™ controller. A portion of each sale goes to the “Els For Autism Foundation” to support their mission.
Water Toys
Kids can’t resist a water table, and action-packed Super Splash Table will have them scooping, straining, sailing and squirting for hours! Ages 18 mos.+
Writing
The A to Z Magnatab provides an outline for each capital letter with arrows showing little writers which direction their “penstrokes” should go in. “Writing” each letter over and over again lets kids practice writing without using pencils, markers, crayons, or anything else that might make a mess. Great for take-along learning. Ages 3+
Pat Wyman and HowToLearn.com is happy to bring you the best educational toys 2011.
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