As children transition into the early elementary years, typically around age five, they face enormous social, emotional, and cognitive growth. During these formative years, children become independent thinkers, begin to read and write, and work hard to improve their social skills. The best way to support this development? Toys that teach educational concepts surrounded by fun.
With over 50 years of experience in early childhood education, Kaplan understands play's impact on a child's growth and development, even those stepping into their independence and early elementary setting. Play is a catalyst for learning, and this belief fuels our commitment to deliver durable, safe, and developmentally appropriate toys to classrooms and homes throughout the United States. With age-appropriate materials, play prompts, and guidance, there is no limit to what children can learn.
If you are searching for gift ideas that will be a lasting favorite well beyond the holiday season, keep reading. This article highlights our top 10 educational gifts for children ages five years and older.
Ages: 5 years and up.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America! Follow the trend by gifting the beginner and experienced players on your list with this Youth Pickleball Paddle Set. Children can play on the courts at a local park, in their driveway, or on a hard indoor surface. This set includes two or four paddles, depending on how many players you need to equip.
Skills Taught: Pickleball is a fun game that provides a full-body workout without being too strenuous for young children. It improves gross motor movements, balance, hand-eye coordination, and effective communication skills. While playing the game, children must learn to follow rules, take turns, and what it means to be a good sport.
Gift Companions: A set of pickleball paddles is the perfect gift to pair with a Gradient Moon Ball or any outdoor active play toy.
Ages: 5 years and up.
Children will love connecting the Plip™ Kit Silicone Set pieces to create swirling patterns, complex shapes, and architectural structures. This 46-piece set includes arches, sticks, and X-shaped pieces made of 100% food-grade silicone. The ball-and-socket connectors hold strong as children build and create a satisfying "POP" sound when pulled apart. This set includes a washable storage bag that keeps pieces neat and tidy when not used.
Skills Taught: Young imaginations will flourish as children build, sculpt, and create using the Plip™ Kit Silicone Set. The use of these silicone pieces encourages spatial reasoning, critical thinking, and fine motor dexterity.
Gift Companions: If you are looking for multiple gift options to please the construction lovers on your list, consider pairing a Plip™ Kit Set with the Colorful Magnetic Tiles Ball Run or any of Kaplan's block play items.
Ages: 5 years and up.
Animal lovers will not be able to contain their excitement when they open a box of LEGO® Classic Creative Pets. Children can use the pieces to create a dog, cat, hamster, rabbit, and bird, utilizing a range of colored bricks, eyes, mouths, and accessories. An included instruction manual will inspire children as they begin their builds and will make model assembly quick and easy.
Skills Taught: While playing and building with LEGO® pieces, children will use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fine motor movements, and creativity as they stack bricks to create specific animals and relevant accessories. If children use the instruction manual as they play, they will build on early literacy skills when they read and follow simple step-by-step instructions.
Gift Companions: Combine this LEGO® set with a set of LEGO® Classic Creative Transparent and Solid Bricks or the LEGO® Classic Creative Houses to encourage even more creative building.
Ages: 3 years and up.
Sail, ho! High-seas adventures are in store for every young buccaneer who unwraps the Adventure Pirate Ship. This durable wooden ship is full of authentic details such as a trapdoor, dinghy, plank, and pirate flag. Featuring two masts, this ship also has a functioning cannon that will send felt cannonballs flying through the air towards enemy ships. Children can even hoist the sails, just like on a real ship. Remove the ship's sail and masts to make storage in your playroom a breeze.
Skills Taught: As children play with the Adventure Pirate Ship, they immerse themselves in a world of role-playing scenarios, helping to improve their communication and social skills. Adults can give the children play prompts that encourage the use of critical thinking skills. For example, children can imagine a storm is quickly approaching, and the crew must prepare the ship before the waves get too rough.
Gift Companions: The best companion gift to go alongside the Adventure Pirate Ship is a set of Adventure Pirate Bending Dolls.
Ages: 4 years and up.
The GeoSafari® Jr. Talking Microscope will entertain aspiring scientists and researchers for hours on end. This fully functioning microscope features two comfortable eyepieces, 20 slides with 60 photo-quality images, and multilingual audio that shares 100 facts and questions with children as they view animals, plants, and household items. Once playtime is over, the slides can be stored in the included storage compartment. It requires 3 AAA batteries to operate.
Skills Taught: Children will look, listen, and learn about nature and scientific concepts while they play with this talking microscope. As they explore the slides, they will use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to determine their observations. The speaking function of this microscope improves a child's ability to retain information.
Gift Companions: A great gift option to wrap alongside this talking microscope is a pair of GeoSafari® Jr. Rocknoculars™ or an Explorer Activity Set.
Ages: 5 years and up.
Young fashion enthusiasts can show off their style with this Magnetic Fashion Dolls Best Friends Playset. A modern twist on classic paper dolls, this playset includes two cut-out dolls, two stand supports, and more than 50 magnetic clothing pieces. The excitement is never-ending as children swap styles and dress their dolls for every occasion.
Skills Taught: These magnetic dolls not only provide opportunities for young children to be creative but this toy also improves fine motor and cognitive skill development. As children host doll-sized fashion shows, they will learn about magnetism, cause-and-effect, and spatial concepts such as stability and symmetry. If playing with friends or family members, this gift will encourage early social skills and collaborative play.
Gift Companions: If magnets are the theme of your holiday gifting this year, consider pairing this doll playset with a Magna-Tiles® Farm Animals or Magna-Tiles® Dino World Set.
Ages: Birth and up.
A tried-and-true cuddle friend, the Warmies® Microwavable Plush Sloth is the perfect gift for stuffed animal lovers and those children who need extra comfort throughout the day or night. Place the plush sloth in a 1000W microwave for 60 seconds to enhance the relaxing lavender scent and provide children with a soothing remedy for tummy troubles, anxiety, and nighttime stresses.
Skills Taught: Adults can use this cuddly sloth during nightly story time to enhance early literacy skills and comfort anxious children. They can also warm it up and offer it to children with tummy troubles or other illnesses. Children can use this plush friend to play pretend while gaining compassion, empathy, and caretaking skills.
Gift Companions: A cute and cuddly sloth will fit perfectly in the My First Toy Pet Stroller or as a friend to the Warmies® Microwavable Plush Capybara or any of our other plush toys for children.
Ages: 4 years and up.
Creativity will run wild as children craft and build with the Spaghetteez Flexible Construction & Building Set. This set of 100 soft, flexible building sticks easily click together to make colorful creations, 3D structures, and twisty towers. The Spaghetteez Flexible Construction and Building Set also includes a step-by-step guide and various accessories to inspire innovative construction.
Skills Taught: Children will stimulate their creative thinking skills as they click, twist, and create with the flexible pieces of this kit. Not only that, but their motor skills will flourish as they use their hands to pinch, grab, and hold their creations. This building set is a great way to introduce young children to 2D and 3D shapes and objects.
Gift Companions: When one flexible building kit is not enough, consider pairing this gift with a Plip™ Kit Silicone Set.
Ages: 3 years and up.
Get ready to rock with the TinkerTar Tiger Guitar! This 1-string guitar is an ideal beginner instrument that will ignite a passion for music and musical expression. Why one string? This is intentional and makes it easier for beginners to concentrate on coordination, finger placement, and pitch so that learning to play a musical instrument stays fun and frustration-free. The included songbook contains 12 ready-to-play songs that children know and love.
Skills Taught: For musicians in the making, this guitar uses colored and numbered finger positions to help children with color recognition, counting, and hand-eye coordination. This toy also provides a pitch-perfect introduction to sound and vibrations, especially as the children pluck the single string while strumming a tune.
Gift Companions: Combine the TinkerTar Guitar with a "Groovy Beats" Piano or "Groovy Beats" wooden drum set to gift a full musical ensemble.
Ages: 3 years and up.
Made to fit perfectly in a playroom or nursery, the Country Cottage Wooden Doll House will be a dream come true for the imaginative players on your holiday shopping list. This doll house encourages realistic playtime experiences by featuring a kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, and rooftop terrace, plus realistic interior features and illustrated decor. The open front makes it easy for solo or collaborative play. Suitable for dolls up to 5 inches long.
Skills Taught: Children will improve their fine motor skills as they grasp and move doll figures (not included) around the different levels of this doll house. This toy also prompts storytelling and imaginative play that helps children build their early literacy and creative thinking skills.
Gift Companions: To complement the Country Cottage Wooden Doll House, be sure to include a set of wooden dolls and additional doll house furniture.
Visit the Kaplan Toys That Teach Holiday Gift List to find inspiration and ideas that will delight every child on your list. Start shopping today!