15 educational toys and activities for elementary-age kids who are on break from school

Alicia BetzApr 21, 2020, 23:11 IST2020-04-21T23:11:29+05:30

Brain Quest cards for when you need them to do a quiet activityBrain Quest Kindergarten, available at Barnes and Noble, $12.95Brain Quest Grade 1, available at Barnes and Noble, $12.95Brain Quest Grade 2, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest Grade 3, available at Barnes and Noble, $9Brain Quest Grade 4, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest Grade 5, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest cards are filled with questions and answers that are targeted to your child's age and are based on national curriculum standards. Each card in the pack is set up with questions on one card and answers on the next. Questions are short and sweet and labeled with learning categories like language arts, math, or science. There is a good mix of easy and challenging questions, which keeps kids engaged. This is a great tool to supplement learning in all subject areas. Recommended grades: K-5AmazonBrain Quest Kindergarten, available at Barnes and Noble, $12.95Brain Quest Grade 1, available at Barnes and Noble, $12.95Brain Quest Grade 2, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest Grade 3, available at Barnes and Noble, $9Brain Quest Grade 4, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest Grade 5, available at Barnes and Noble, $12Brain Quest cards are filled with questions and answers that are targeted to your child's age and are based on national curriculum standards. Each card in the pack is set up with questions on one card and answers on the next. Questions are short and sweet and labeled with learning categories like language arts, math, or science. There is a good mix of easy and challenging questions, which keeps kids engaged. This is a great tool to supplement learning in all subject areas. Recommended grades: K-5Hands-on activity books that appeal to every interestKlutz kits, available at Fat Brain Toys, starting at $10Klutz kits were a hot commodity when I was young, and they still appeal to kids today, offering everything you need for hands-on activities. Projects vary from science kits like making an arcade claw game to art kits like making your own string art. The instructions often include pictures, making them easy for children to follow on their own. These kits are especially great for crafty kids who don't have crafty parents. Recommended ages: variesFat Brain ToysKlutz kits, available at Fat Brain Toys, starting at $10Klutz kits were a hot commodity when I was young, and they still appeal to kids today, offering everything you need for hands-on activities. Projects vary from science kits like making an arcade claw game to art kits like making your own string art. The instructions often include pictures, making them easy for children to follow on their own. These kits are especially great for crafty kids who don't have crafty parents. Recommended ages: variesA building toy that makes shapes come to lifeMagna-Tiles Clear Colors, 100 piece set, available at Walmart, $120Magna-Tiles are magnetic building tiles that kids can use to make 3D creations. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and the magnets easily link together for kids to build. Kids love to play with them, so they don't realize they're learning skills like symmetry, spatial recognition, problem-solving, design, and architecture. If you have a younger child in the home as well, these are perfect for working on shapes, colors, and motor skills (just be careful with kids under 3).Recommended ages: 3 years old and upMagna-Tiles / FacebookMagna-Tiles Clear Colors, 100 piece set, available at Walmart, $120Magna-Tiles are magnetic building tiles that kids can use to make 3D creations. They come in a variety of shapes and colors, and the magnets easily link together for kids to build. Kids love to play with them, so they don't realize they're learning skills like symmetry, spatial recognition, problem-solving, design, and architecture. If you have a younger child in the home as well, these are perfect for working on shapes, colors, and motor skills (just be careful with kids under 3).Recommended ages: 3 years old and upSnap circuits for your budding scientist or engineerSnap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit, available at Walmart, $62.99Kids can create over 300 different experiments with this STEM circuit kit that teaches them to make things like a lie detector and an AM radio. There are no tools required; they simply snap the pieces together to engineer their creations. If your child is into engineering or science experiments, this kit will engage them for hours, and older kids will be able to use it independently. Advanced science skills can be difficult for parents to teach, so kits like this challenge and engage your kids with minimal effort on your part. Recommended ages: 8 years old and upAmazonSnap Circuits Electronics Exploration Kit, available at Walmart, $62.99Kids can create over 300 different experiments with this STEM circuit kit that teaches them to make things like a lie detector and an AM radio. There are no tools required; they simply snap the pieces together to engineer their creations. If your child is into engineering or science experiments, this kit will engage them for hours, and older kids will be able to use it independently. Advanced science skills can be difficult for parents to teach, so kits like this challenge and engage your kids with minimal effort on your part. Recommended ages: 8 years old and upWorkbooks to help them practiceScholastic Kindergarten Skills Workbook: Handwriting, available at Scholastic, $4 Big First Grade Workbook, available at Barnes and Noble, $11.99Big Second Grade Workbook, available at Walmart, $10.88Scholastic Reading and Math Jumbo Workbook Grade 3, available at Barnes and Noble, $14.99Scholastic Reading and Math Jumbo Workbook Grade 4, available at Barnes and Noble, $13.67Brain Quest Grade 5 Workbook, available at Michaels, $9.59Children learn best through hands-on experiences, but if you're homeschooling or doing your best to support your child's education with no background in education yourself, often a worksheet or workbook is necessary. Workbooks help explain concepts in ways that kids understand, and they are also great tools to help you assess areas where your child needs extra practice. These workbooks cover all subjects and include simple instructions, engaging illustrations, and organized pages that won't overwhelm kids. Recommended grades: 1-5ScholasticScholastic Kindergarten Skills Workbook: Handwriting, available at Scholastic, $4 Big First Grade Workbook, available at Barnes and Noble, $11.99Big Second Grade Workbook, available at Walmart, $10.88Scholastic Reading and Math Jumbo Workbook Grade 3, available at Barnes and Noble, $14.99Scholastic Reading and Math Jumbo Workbook Grade 4, available at Barnes and Noble, $13.67Brain Quest Grade 5 Workbook, available at Michaels, $9.59Children learn best through hands-on experiences, but if you're homeschooling or doing your best to support your child's education with no background in education yourself, often a worksheet or workbook is necessary. Workbooks help explain concepts in ways that kids understand, and they are also great tools to help you assess areas where your child needs extra practice. These workbooks cover all subjects and include simple instructions, engaging illustrations, and organized pages that won't overwhelm kids. Recommended grades: 1-5A subscription box that gives them a project to look forward toKiwi Crate (ages 5-8), available KiwiCo, from $17/monthAtlas crate (ages 6-11), available KiwiCo, from $17/monthDoodle crate (ages 9-16+), available at KiwiCo, from $17/monthTinker crate (ages 9-16+), available at KiwiCo, from $17/monthKiwiCo Crates are subscription boxes that arrive for your kids monthly, and they're full of fun activities that focus on either science, technology, engineering, art, or math (STEAM), depending on the crate. Each crate is full of hands-on projects made with quality materials that kids can complete mostly independently. Examples of projects include building a wooden clock; learning how to make quinoa con leche, a local Peruvian treat; or creating a glowworm that actually glows.Read our full review of the KiwiCo Panda crate for babies and toddlers. Recommended ages: 5 years old and upKiwiCoKiwi Crate (ages 5-8), available KiwiCo, from $17/monthAtlas crate (ages 6-11), available KiwiCo, from $17/monthDoodle crate (ages 9-16+), available at KiwiCo, from $17/monthTinker crate (ages 9-16+), available at KiwiCo, from $17/monthKiwiCo Crates are subscription boxes that arrive for your kids monthly, and they're full of fun activities that focus on either science, technology, engineering, art, or math (STEAM), depending on the crate. Each crate is full of hands-on projects made with quality materials that kids can complete mostly independently. Examples of projects include building a wooden clock; learning how to make quinoa con leche, a local Peruvian treat; or creating a glowworm that actually glows.Read our full review of the KiwiCo Panda crate for babies and toddlers. Recommended ages: 5 years old and up

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