While there are many unique products that will captivate a gifted child, parents don’t always have time to search local specialty toy stores and browse the Internet for the perfect holiday, special occasion, or “just because” gift. What are the best on-line stores catering to kids who love learning?
MindWare -- Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages
The MindWare motto of “brainy toys for kids of all ages” sums up their strong selection with broad appeal. Parents will find themselves purchasing toys and games, not so secretly wishing to play too! MindWare has an easy online interface, allowing shoppers to browse by age or category. MindWare is a great source for Thames & Kosmos Chemistry and Physics Workshops, award-winning games like Equate, lateral thinking workbooks, 3-D puzzles, and monument building kits.
There isn’t much of a selection for gifted preschoolers, but for gifted kids five years and up, MindWare should be the first stop for shoppers. Catalogs are available and MindWare excels in last minute shipping of rush orders.
Educational Toys Planet -- Your Online Partner in Raising Intelligent Children
Educational Toys Planet wants to be “your online partner in raising intelligent children.” The selection of toys and games at Educational Toy Planet reminds a shopper of their favorite local specialty toy store, with the addition of giant foam preschool quality climbers, tunnels, and mats by The Children’s Factory. Educational Toys Planet has a strong selection for gifted children under eight, but less for the older crowd.
There is a pleasant mix of crafts, building sets, learning toys, and games along with outdoor toys and fitness equipment. Educational Toys Planet allows parents scared of lead paint contamination to shop for “Made in the USA” products or conversely find their favorite European toys and games by HABA or Danish bead kits by Hama.
Constructive Playthings
To encourage creative play and imagination in gifted preschoolers and toddlers, Constructive Playthings is a fantastic supplier of toy kitchens, plastic produce, cookware, tea sets, dress up clothes, dolls, blocks, puppets, peg puzzles, and Play-Doh. Although the selection is still small, Constructive Playthings also includes a “Play Green” category of toys made from renewable materials with water-based coloring. Shoppers should remember to check for online item exclusives and sale items. Catalogs are available and there are currently eight retail stores nationwide.
Learning is Fun -- The Education Candy Store
While Learning is Fun is technically a teacher supply store, their reputation as “the education candy store” brings in educators, parents, and learners alike. Learning is Fun has a nice selection of math and language arts games, manipulatives, flashcards, building sets, science kits, puppets, puzzles, easels, and bulk craft supplies. Learning is Fun also provides a great resource for homeschoolers with specialized curricula and thematic units available. Check for great clearance prices on seasonal items. Five retail stores are located in the southwestern U.S. and Washington state. CD-Rom catalogs are available.
WonderBrains
WonderBrains stocks a variety of developmentally appropriate early learning toys. Parents can shop for developmental toys by skill area or for those complementing the Montessori Method. WonderBrains carries an excellent selection of Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles, classic toys, and puppets. WonderBrains also has a nice range of Thames & Kosmos and Ein-O science kits, Snap Circuits, and Logiblocs.
Although WonderBrains carries an array of games, some of the most popular for gifted kids are conspicuously absent. Parents of gifted teens will find a category dedicated to this age group, but few of the selections seem challenging enough for an academically talented teenager and most items had lower suggested age ranges.
Discovery Channel Store
Gifted students that love dinosaurs, bugs, and nature love Discovery Channel. At the Discovery Channel Store, parents will find unique educational gifts like an interactive lion cub, ant habitat, and butterfly nursery. Older kids will delight in the Evolution Game, hydrodynamics building set, and electronic gadgets galore. The Discovery Store also has a great selection of educational books like the Encyclopedia Prehistorica and DVD series including Extreme Engineering and MythBusters. Parents searching for other great educational series should also consider ShopPBS, the retail arm of public broadcasting.
Timesavers When Shopping Online for the Best Educational Toys and Gifts
While all these on-line stores are excellent resources for educational toys and games and offer products for most age ranges, each has its own area of specialization. Parents should start at Constructive Playthings and WonderBrains for gifted toddlers and preschoolers, shop Learning is Fun and Educational Toy Planet for gifted early elementary students, and head straight to MindWare and the Discovery Channel Store for gifted upper elementary and middle schoolers, gifted teens, and adults.
Contact information:
Constructive Playthings- 1-800-448-7830
Discovery Channel Store- 1-800-627-9399
Educational Toys Planet- 1-800-557-0430
Learning is Fun- 1-800-290-5437
MindWare- 1-800-999-0398
WonderBrains- 1-866-U-BRAINS (1-866-827-2467)
Carla Marie Boulianne - Background and Interests I am a former feature writer for Parenting a Gifted Child. I relish combining personal parenting and childhood ...
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