Making a List...

Oh, how fast the year has passed and it is that time of the year again, the holidays and gift giving. You either love it or hate it. Each holiday season I tell myself how important it is that the children receive at least one gift that will help them academically.

We, as parents, are bombarded with so many educational toys and it is important that we purchased the best tools for them. Generally, I would pick toys with a technology twist, but this year I wanted to look back at some of the popular as well as thought provoking educational games.

I have many of these games at home or in my classroom and the kids love them!

• Hi Ho Cherry O - Ages 3-6
  Great board game for introducing counting skills


• Boggle Jr. - Ages 3-6
  Letter dice are arranged to spell beginning words as shown on large colorful picture cards. Great for children learning letter recognition as well as letter sequencing.


• Scrabble Jr. - Ages 5-10 or Scrabble - Ages 8-12
  Classic crossword game where children can test their vocabulary.


• Twister - Ages 6-10
  Get off the floor and enjoy getting tied up in knots.


• Twister Hopscotch - Ages 4-6
  Movable rings help you create your own hopscotch design. Children will get a motor skills workout.


• Purchase arts and craft items: Play-Doh, crayons, models.
  These gifts are great for the imagination and fine motor skills. Good for all ages.


• Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Wooden Blocks, and Legos are all toys where the children must use their imagination. Remember to consider the age of the child before purchasing chosen set.


• Musical instruments
  If you know your child loves music, there are many stores that sell instruments that are very real looking and are reasonably priced.


• Going along with the music theme, small boom boxes are great for kids to get up and move.


• Puzzles
  Great for critical thinking skills and for all ages.


• Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders - Ages 3-6
  These games are great for teaching numbers and colors.


• Checkers or Connect Four Ages 7-up
  Fun games that teach strategic thinking.


• Clue Board Game - Ages 8-up or Clue Jr. Ages 5-10
  Higher level thinking skills are taught and practiced with this game.


• Allowance Game - Ages 8-14
  Great board game where children can practice math skills, while earning money, making purchases, and saving.

Have fun with your purchases and playing these games with your children. I’m sure you will bring back memories of your childhood playing these thought provoking games with your own children.

Picture Book The Skin You Live In By Michael Tyler This picture book takes a cheerful look at human diversity by focusing on skin.	Grades 2-3 My Lucky Day By Keiko Kaszo When a young pig knocks on a fox's door, the fox thinks dinner has arrived, but the pig has other plans.
Grades 4-6 Poppy By Aui Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.	Teens The Kids from Nowhere By George Guthridge From the world-award-winning writer comes the gripping, true story of a group of Alaskan Eskimo students who, despite nearly impossible odds, achieve one of the most stunning educational feats in the history of American education.
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