Unknown to some parents, playing is actually a form of early education for kids. When kids play, they get to use their imagination, problem- solving skills and planning skills. While these are facts, it also helps buying your child toys that were especially made for learning. These toys were designed to be educational and fun at the same time, which benefits kids by entertaining them and helping them learn skills that they can use when they grow into adults. Here are our top educational toys for kids.

BENDAROOS

Bendaroos are building sticks coated with special wax to make them easy to bend. These are a lot like Lego blocks where you use the pieces to form anything you want. This toy encourages the use of imagination and allows kids to use their energy in a creative way. Bendaroos has been a recipient of several awards such as the Gold Seal Award from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval. Bendaroos can be purchased in a set of 100 or 200 pieces online or from your favorite toy store.

WORD SHOUT

Word games are excellent for building your child’s vocabulary, and you can do just that with Word Shout. One of the players would have to throw the letter blocks on the floor, and everyone would have to form a word using the letters on the block, shout the word then grab the blocks before someone else does. This is such a fun game that it was rated with 5 stars for the fun category. You can buy this toy online for around $7.

UNCLE MILTON MOON IN MY ROOM

The Moon in my Room by Uncle Milton is the perfect toys for budding astronomers out there. The “moon” is a like a nightlight, except that it goes through several phases like the actual moon. It can be mounted on the wall, making it a perfect decoration for space- themed rooms. What’s great about this is that it automatically shuts off during the day, and turns on by itself during the night. It even comes with a CD about the moon which your child can watch on a computer. This can be purchased in several online stores at around $20.