As a mom and an educational consultant, I believe in the power of play. A few carefully chosen toys can boost creativity and problem solving–here are a few of our top picks this year. With the best educational toys, your children will not even realize how much they are learning!

This is one of my favorite categories of toy. My mom recently brought out an old pull toy of mine and it is a classic that just keeps on giving. Push and pull toys delight babies, amuse toddlers, and occupy preschoolers. Some, like the sophisticated and clever mix-and-match Automoblox, are collectibles suited for older children, teens, and even adults.

The selections from our Hottest Holiday Toys Awards are engaging, interactive, and made from high-quality and often eco-friendly materials.

Kids love tracing. My daughter will set there filling page after page, tracing numbers and letters. In an attempt to save a few trees, I got her a dry-erase book for copying her letters and numbers. Which works pretty well until she forgets to clean it or the pen dries out or her baby brother gets ahold of the marker and tries to eat it.

Even better? The LeapFrog Scribble & Write…

We’re fans of the Plan Toys philosophy of making quality play things that are healthy for kids, contribute to our communities, and are good for the planet.

Plan Toys has a knack for creating fresh twists on classic toys that promote children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development. We love their simply delightful, clever, and stylish takes on wooden push and pull toys, like the new Plan Toys Push-a-Long Duck.

Kitchens are a classic toy for toddlers up through young school aged children. Just like the adults, children at a play date congregate around the kitchen. With the Step2 Fresh Market Kitchen (Step2.com – $200), there is room for several children to play side-by-side or engage in imaginative games of grocery shopping and cooking with friends…

The name “Radio Flyer” evokes memories of flying down the driveaway on my tricycle and, of course, hauling freshly picked apples in a classic red wagon. A beautiful thing about parenthood is the opportunity to relive those memories with my children.

Just in time for apple-picking season, Radio Flyer sent me their Ultimate Comfort Wagon, a fresh take on a classic toy…

Whether your child is eagerly or anxiously anticipating the first day of school, doll play is a perfect way to work through these emotions.
My daughter adores her collection of dolls, caring for each as if it were a real baby. Now that she is a preschooler, Corolle sent her Annabelle (re-Christened “Calliope” by my daughter), the latest addition to the Miss Corolle collection. Miss Corolle dolls are perfect pals for preschoolers, kindergartners, and school aged children.
Like many preschoolers, my daughter is learning self-care and hygiene. She already …

A kid’s work is play. And toddlers and preschoolers learn primarily through exploring the world around them. A few high quality toys, like the gorgeous sustainable, fair-trade toys available from Plan Toys, are enough to spark their imaginations. The tactile feel of real wood, the non-toxic, bright colors, and the open-ended nature of these toys make them perfect for flexible, young minds.

Plan Toys sent us three items from their catalog of Developmental Toys for Preschoolers and they have quickly become favorites in our house: Animal Domino Memory Game, 30-Piece Construction Set, and Stacking Tree.

We love when innovative products, responsible companies, and good causes come together.

Automoblox mix-and-match cars are fun for any kid and they can deliver big play-therapy benefits for children with special needs.