Tips for Playing Board Games with Kids

Board games are like the video games of the past, but they never go out of style and are more educational. If you want to get your children excited about board games, follow our tips below in choosing the right games. If you intend to teach and playing games with your kids, it’s important also to be understanding and patient — and it wouldn’t hurt to let them win!

Age Appropriate

When thinking of what board games to buy your children, first consider their age and where they are in their development — you want something age-appropriate. If you purchase something beyond their skill level, they may get frustrated and not want to play. But if you choose something way too easy, your kids will get bored and also avoid the game. So it’s a fine line you must walk to get something that is going to stimulate their brains and entertain, while not being too complicated to learn or reach the goal. 

Many traditional board games are made for older kids, but your young ones will enjoy our selection of games that build their cognitive development and fine motor skills — and also help them learn the alphabet, colours and get them counting. These games also have larger pieces so your children can grasp, but not swallow them. To get your kids on their feet and to help build hand-eye coordination, we love Melissa and Doug’s magnetic fishing and counting game. 

Themes They Enjoy

One of our most popular and best-selling board games is City of Zombies. But not every kid is keen to play a game about zombies because it might give them nightmares — ao if your kids aren’t into zombies, this probably isn’t the game for them. You want to choose themes they will enjoy. If your children are girly, then choose lighter themes with animals and fairy tales. If they are really into science or solving problems, choose board games with spy elements or experiments. There’s a board game for every kind of hobby, passion, or interest, so choose accordingly.

Coding games have become very popular. They develop coding thinking and problem-solving skills, so they are fun and educational, too. This double-sided board game requires planning and creative thought to program the route and cross the finish line of a variety of different environments.

Educational and Fun

We love it when a game or a toy is educational as well as fun. Board games fit the bill — although some are more educational than others. One of our favourites is the Money Bags game, which teaches kids both about money and mathematics. This clever game helps children with addition, subtraction, recognising coin denominations, and understanding equivalency.

The new Bee Logic board game is a tactical game that stimulates the brain and teaches your children patience. They must use the challenge cards to place the bees in the hive to get the desired result. 

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & presents for kids that inspire and entertain. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of board games for kids today.

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What Is Coding for Kids?

The internet is code; your mobile phone works thanks to coding. Coding is programming where you set up a series of actions so a computer can complete specific tasks. Code surrounds us. If you have a very inquisitive kid who’s into gadgets, you may have a future programmer on your hands. Coding for kids is a way for them to understand the complex structure more easily. There are drag-and-drop visuals on the computer that teach kids the fundamentals of programming. You can also find offline board games that show the principles of cause and effect. 

Why Teach Your Kids Coding?

Technology is not just the future anymore — it’s everything! Computer science is the fastest growing industry with a wealth of opportunities. While every kid wants the latest video game or won’t put phone apps away, you can explain to them how these things work to get them interested in coding. Participating in games that include coding offer many more skills to your kids than the trendiest video game. Put their screen time to good use!

Many great books teach your kids about computer programming and coding. We have many in our online shop. Computer Programming: Learn it, Try it! is part of a book series on understanding computing that will get your kids started in the world of coding.

Educational and Fun

We love it when an activity is educational as well as fun. Computer science fits the bill and coding can be fun while helping your child develop creativity, as well as problem-solving and communication skills. When a child programs something and achieves the desired results, they gain a great sense of satisfaction and a boost to their confidence.

If you are curious if your children will be into coding, start them off with this Code Master programming logic game. It doesn’t require a computer and is fun for the whole family with sixty different logic puzzles to attempt. This game teaches the principles behind programming, but will also teach your kids about planning, sequential reasoning and how to solve problems. It’s a single-player game, but even kids as young as six years old have had success with a bit of parent help.

Improves Maths Skills

Coding is the language of maths. If your kids show a growing interest in maths and science or maybe they aren’t doing so well in their maths classes, start doing coding board games with them. Kids can get frustrated with maths because the concepts are so abstract and often not something they will ever use in real life. But coding produces results and solves real-life problems. It makes maths so much more satisfying and fun for children.

Good Job Opportunities

While worrying about your child’s future career is far off in the distance, it doesn’t hurt to take into consideration that, according to Code.org, 71% of all new STEM jobs are in computing. If it turns out that coding is something your kid enjoys, it’s not a bad idea to foster that interest and steer them towards high education in computer science. Not only are there plenty of jobs available in the field of computer science, but the jobs are also well paid. 

Coding games are popular with all ages. This double-sided coding board game requires planning and creative thought to program the route and cross the finish line of a variety of different environments. This is a great game to play with your young ones, ages 4 to 8, to see if it sparks an interest in coding. 

Do you think it’s time to start coding with your kids? Have fun with it!

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & presents for kids that inspire and entertain. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of great toys and gifts today.

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Benefits of Remote Control Toys

Buying remote control toys for your children comes with several benefits besides being a blast. The greatest skills a remote control toy can offer your kids are hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Small children will follow them around, while the lights and sound effects will build imagination. Bigger kids will grasp the understanding of how actions with the remote make the object perform in different ways. This cause and effect learning is so important for their development skills. Remote control toys are also interactive, social, get kids moving and enjoying the great outdoors. There’s no limit to the number of benefits they provide your children.

The Best Remote Control Toys

There are several types of remote control toys on the market today that will appeal to kids of all genders and ages. Some are super easy to use right out of the box with minimal setup — just put in the required batteries to get started. You’ll find some are more complicated and require assembly, but this can be a fun project in itself. Below are some of our favourite remote control toys.

Cars, Trucks, Tractors and More on Wheels

Cars and things on wheels are probably the most popular remote control toys. One of our coolest remote control cars is the Stunt Racer 360. It not only spins, races, and performs amazing tricks, it also lights up providing a fun light-show your kids will enjoy.

In the 1980s, the Big Trak was all the rage. This six-wheeled truck has a programmable membrane on the top that gives the car the power to do over sixteen actions right out of the box. 

The Geosmart Flip Bot is an exciting and thrilling remote control space creature on wheels. This remote control toy takes STEM learning to the next level and is great for kids ages five and up. 

Animals

Part spider, part sci-fi creature from your favourite comic book, the Hexbug Battleground Spiders will be great for those who love science fiction. These two bugs fight and race each other with a laser and sensor that detect hits so you can have an epic battle. Join your friends who also have these spiders for fabulous two on two battles.

Robots

This wire controlled Robot Arm will spark curiosity and play with older kids. First, you’ll build it then learn all about the science of robots and how machines work. Five motors control all the joints of the arm and allow for the gripping claw to be completely functional. This remote control toy will be fun for hours!

Rather than being controlled by a hand device and radio waves, the Tobbie robot uses hand motions and senors to move. We wanted to include him on the list because he’s one of our best-selling toys and is a great teacher of electronics. Every child will have a brilliantly satisfying STEM experience with this AI robot.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & presents for kids that inspire and entertain. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of remote control toys today.

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Do Your Research

Did your children give Santa a gift list? Take a look at it and ponder if the items are realistic. Ask yourself if the gift will require a lot of effort for them to use it or can they give it a go straight out of the box? If it’s something that will be a chore for your kids to put together or take many hours to learn, they may be less than enthused. Below are other things to consider when thinking of presents for kids this year.

Look at Toy Trends

Every year there is a list of toys marketed as the “it” toy. These trends become all the rage that every child is talking about. It may be tempting just to buy things on the trend list, but are they really worth it? We think the trends below are worth taking a look at for your gift list this year.

1. Robotics

Robots were considered the future many years ago, but the future is now! There are many cool robots available for kids on our site, which are trending. Artificial Intelligence is cool for all ages, and robots give children the chance to experience this technology up close and personal. Some are guided by remote control, while voice commands control many. The Xtreme Bots Spy Bot has a remote control that can be programmed to carry out fifty actions.  

2. STEM Learning

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. These toys have an educational component that takes the toy to the next level by stimulating problem-solving skills and creativity, along with developing hand-eye coordination and more. STEM toys should be at the top of your list for gifts this year. The Pendulonium STEM Challenge game lets your children have fun knocking over cones while learning the fundamentals of speed, distance and other physics concepts.

3. Eco-Friendly Toys

There are many great toy companies manufacturing toys from recycled materials that are better for the environment than their plastic counterparts. You might want to consider buying sustainable toys this Christmas — especially if you are trying to reduce your family’s waste. The Green Toys submarine takes bathtime to the next level with underwater exploration fun.

5. Wooden Toys

Wooden toys are often considered old fashioned, but we think they are timeless! Wood is an excellent material that rarely breaks, is long-lasting and can be passed from child to child, also making it an eco-friendly choice. We have wooden toys for all ages — toys that build hand-eye coordination for little ones and educational toys that help with learning the alphabet and counting for bigger ones. Bigjigs Triangular Activity Centre will help your children do both.

6. Video Games

Although we aren’t necessarily proponents of video games and screen time for kids, we must include them on the list since they are very popular. Just be sure to get games that have an educational component that helps grow self-confidence.

Ask Other Parents (or Aunties and Uncles, etc.)

There’s no shame in asking your community what they are buying their kids for Christmas. It takes a village, right? You may be tempted to Google what the trending gifts are, but keep in mind that many blogs feature products gifted for free, rather than items that were researched. So ask around at the next football match or school drop-off to see if your peers have good ideas for presents.

Look at the Longevity

One of the main problems with gift-giving and consumerism is the constant need to buy something new each year, rendering older toys useless. We encourage you to look at the longevity of the toys you are buying your kids — is it a novelty item or could it still be used in a year? Or maybe it’s something you can pass on from child to child? We are filling the landfills faster than is sustainable, so perhaps consider buying activities or an experience for your kids instead of material gifts.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & presents for kids that inspire and entertain. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of toys and gifts today.

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GeoSafari Junior Kidnoculars

Among our best-selling gadgets for kids are the GeoSafari Junior Kidnoculars. Let your children go on a safari expedition trip around the neighbourhood with these colourful binoculars. These are designed just for kids, with a special wrap-around eye section that helps them put their face in the right position to see out of. Encourage your kids to get outside the house and explore flora and fauna nearby — children can see bugs, birds, flowers and more up close with focus-free precision.

The Geosafari Kidnoculars are not only very sturdy for outdoor play, but they are also lightweight to hold, with easy-grip handles for smaller hands. This, along with the breakaway neck strap, makes them great for smaller children. With nice and clear 2x magnification, these are the perfect first pair of binoculars for all nature lovers and would-be secret agents. 

Tobbie

Robots are all the rage, so your kids may have added one to their Christmas gift list. We have several cool robots at BrightMinds, but one of our best-sellers is our friend Tobbie, the cutest self-guiding Artificial Intelligence Robot we have ever seen. Your kids get to build Tobbie themselves, and then they will be entertained for hours. Tobbie has two modes — “Follow Me”, which requires simple instructions from your kids, and “Explore”, which allows Tobbie to move about any obstacles you set out for it. 

Music Playmat

Do you have a music lover on your hands, or maybe a budding DJ? You must check out this music playmat. It has everything your kid will need to create their new masterpiece — eight musical instruments, three scratch pads, four different drum sounds with drum pads, a 24-key touch-sensitive keyboard and a DJ scratch disk. You can connect an MP3 player to play a wide selection of music through the mat’s speakers, and if you want to get the whole family involved, you can sing your favourite tunes karaoke-style using the microphone headset!

Gears! Gears! Gears! Beginner’s Building Set

This seems like a simple toy, but your child must put together a structure connecting axles and gears in a way that allows the system to work. The Gears building set is perfect for those creative thinkers who love solving problems. If your kid can get lost in a puzzle for hours, then they will love any of the Gears! Gears! Gears! building sets. There’s almost no limit to the number of creations that can be built using your child’s imagination.

GeoSmart Moon Lander

For the kid who loves planets and the moon, consider this GeoSmart Moon Lander robot. After your child puts it together in a number of different ways with easy snap-together magnets, the robot is easily controlled using a remote control. It’s bright, dynamic and allows for their creative juices to flow.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts and gadgets that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of cool gadgets for kids today.

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For the Kid into Science

Science can include a number of studies like geology, biology, chemistry and physics. If you want to nurture a love of science in your kids, we recommend any of the Wonders of Learning sets. They are all engaging and informative. Who knows, you might have the next Darwin on your hands!

If your kids are showing an interest in science, our special STEM toys will encourage critical thinking, reason, problem-solving and more. One of our favourites science gifts for kids is the John Adams Chemistry Set, which offers one hundred different experiments for your kids to try. You can find many cool John Adam stem toys on our website that focus on science learning.

For the Kid Obsessed with Animals

We think all kids love animals, but some children want to know everything about them. Let your kids learn about the anatomy of the Great White shark while entertaining them at the same time. This Great White Shark Anatomy Model shows how the organs work together, allowing an insight into the species and evolution itself. It’s the perfect gift for kids obsessed with sea creatures.

For kids who love animals and want to draw imaginative scenes with them, this animal stamp set with creatures from the rain forest by Melissa and Doug is perfect. It comes with twenty rubber-faced, wooden-handled stamps, and is a great way to expose your children to animals they might not usually see like bats, exotic birds and lizards. 

For the Kid Who Loves Making Things

Some kids are into playing with dolls, while others get an itch to create things with their hands and imaginations. We have an entire arts and crafts section that is just for those creative kids who love to make things. As a parent, you might steer your kids away from crafts because of the mess, but these types of activities have many physical, social, and cognitive benefits for your kids. 

One of our favourite crafts is the Amazing Flower Kit because it doesn’t require glue or scissors, making it a safe and easy to clean up activity for kids five and up. Your children can unleash their imagination and create a stunning bouquet. The kit includes 48 multi-coloured foam flowers like the daisy, primrose and poppy, along with facts about each flower. So it’s not only fun but educational! This flower kit includes many gorgeous blooms that are easy to build with by pushing each piece onto the stems. Create your own unique bouquet. 

There’s nothing more enchanting than this Fairy Garden. It’s one of our top sellers for kids who love to create their very own fantasy in real life. This kit includes everything your child needs to build a beautiful living garden with grass seeds, gravel, fairy cottage, fairy dust and more.  

For the Kid That Wants to Save the Planet

Has your kid become an eco-warrior, eschewing plastic strays and trying to do less harm to the planet? Or are you the one who wants to create less waste in your household and try buying alternatives to plastic toys? Parents who have become aware that some plastic toys cause harm not only to their children but to the planet, can choose from the many companies making toys from recycled materials. One such company is Green Toys. They are making toys made from recycled plastic milk bottles, and you can’t even tell the difference between them and their plastic counterparts. This forward-thinking company also makes sure the toys come in fully recyclable packaging. 

One of our favourites from Green Toys is this single-seater plane featuring a spinning propeller, two-wheeled landing gear and rounded wings. The lightweight design and tapered, easy-to-grasp body shape lets even the littlest aviators ascend through flight school with ease. Safe, non-toxic; contains no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings. Get this adorable red plane for that special child in your life who loves to travel and play with planes.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, crafts, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of wonderful gift ideas today.

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Much of what you spend on your kids each year is on toys. Parents in the UK spend more on their children’s toys than any other country in Europe — more than £365 in the first two years alone. But toys and their packaging create a lot of waste, so eco-friendly parents are looking to alternatives. There are many classic, environmentally friendly options for your kids, and now toy companies are making sustainable toys from recycled materials to help the planet. Today, we share a few of the best eco-friendly toys for those eco-conscious families trying to tread lightly on the earth. 

Books & Puzzles Never Go out of Style

Childhood favourites that never go out of style are books and puzzles. Whether early learning books or young adult novels, books are environmentally friendly if passed on from child to child. Good old-fashioned colouring books are a great option if you use eco-friendly crayons. Many companies are making crayons that are non-toxic and have natural dyes. Then you have wonderful activity books that not only entertain but teach your children a wealth of knowledge. Puzzles are a classic activity that keeps your kids entertained for hours. They are also a great family activity, and as long as you don’t lose any pieces, can be used time and time again. 

This Peter Pan classic tale is beautifully presented in a cloth-bound cover that your children will fall in love with.

This Brain Trainer Puzzle not only entertains, but it also helps your kids with memory, matching, observation and sorting activities.

Toys Made from Recycled Materials

Parents who want to have the convenience of plastic toys without causing harm to the planet can choose from the many companies making toys from recycled materials at affordable prices. We already talked about why toy companies are considering alternatives to plastic toys. Both the packaging and the toys themselves end up in oceans and never break down in landfills. 

You might choose plastic toys for their lower cost, but many toys made from green alternatives are competitively priced. So if the price is a concern for you, consider buying fewer toys for your children and choose one or two items you know they will love. Green Toys makes their toys from recycled plastic milk bottles, and you can’t even tell the difference. They are committed to providing safe, earth-friendly and long-lasting toys that are BPA-free and supplied in fully recyclable packaging. 

Take bath time to the next level with this submarine made 100% recycled materials.

This car carrier is non-toxic, contains no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings.

For ages six and above, take along this matching game set on your next holiday and keep them entertained for hours.

Don’t Forget about Wooden Toys

The classic, timeless plastic-free toy is a wooden one. Wood is an excellent material that rarely breaks, is durable and long-lasting, so it can be passed through the generations from child to child, making it a great environmentally-friendly choice. Simple wooden toys help small children learn fine motor skills and develop their hand-eye coordination, while bigger kids will grow their knowledge with number puzzles and counting sets.

Many companies making wooden toys use sustainable practices for their manufacturing. Since we know wooden toys are long-lasting, they are by default better for the environment than their plastic and electronic alternatives. And we promise wooden toys aren’t boring! The ones below are great for children of all ages so consider some of these as gifts.

If your child is starting to walk, introduce them to this adorable Peter Rabbit push along.

When your children start to learn their ABCs and to count, they will love this wooden activity centre with five sides of activities.

Consider Buying Less

Polls show parents admit to throwing away perfectly good toys or overbuying toys their kids never touch. If you want to be environmentally-friendly, then use Christmas to buy less. Think about the eco-friendly toys for eco-conscious families we’ve shared with you today, and enjoy the holiday with toys that make the whole family feel great.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of eco-friendly toys today.

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Probably your parent groups are talking about how you and your children can be good stewards of the planet. Eco-friendly is a buzzword you read all across the internet, and the toy industry is no exception. With the holidays right around the corner, you might be asking yourself, what are other options besides plastic toys? Today we share why it’s important to consider plastic-alternatives for your children.

Why Make Toys from Plastic Alternatives?

In the 1960s, plastic toys hit the shelves and became the cheapest toys for your children. Many of these toys were made in China and other countries that didn’t have safety regulations in place. Not only did they contain harmful chemicals, but the pollution from the manufacturing process was causing harm to the planet. It’s not until recent years that we started considering the impact of the toy industry on Mother Earth. 

Over the last decade, many clever toy companies have started making toys from recycled materials. Even though plastic toys are not considered “single-use”, most of them can’t be recycled, so they sit in landfills and end up in our oceans. Many companies are creating “sustainable” plastics that don’t have the harmful chemicals that studies have shown regular plastic toys contain. 

There is mounting concern about PVC, phthalates, lead, BPAs and other toxic chemicals in toys, which could cause harm to your children. Studies show that long-term exposure to these chemicals can be detrimental to your kid’s health. The United States and the EU stepped up and put regulations in place, but when you buy toys made in other countries, you may take a risk. 

Types of Plastic Toy Alternatives

Many excellent toys are plastic-free or use alternatives to plastic to consider for your family. Most of these options are comparative in price to their plastic counterparts and will be healthier for your kids and the planet. 

Toys Made from Recycled Materials

Companies like Green Toys are finding innovative ways to make toys from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. They make their toys from recycled plastic milk bottles that are BPA-free and long-lasting. Green Toys goes a step further to make their packaging all recyclable. Toys create a lot of waste with all the packaging surrounding them. So if you can choose toys that have recyclable or less packaging, you are doing the planet a great service.

This fun build-a-bouquet will spark hours of creativity while helping your child develop hand-eye coordination.

Wooden Toys are Timeless 

The classic, timeless plastic-free toy is a wooden one. Many companies are using sustainably-farmed wood from FSC certified forests, so seek out those companies to go the extra mile. As we know, babies will stick anything in their mouth. Be sure to choose an unpainted wooden toy that isn’t painted with non-toxic paint. Or you can buy plain wood toys you can paint with your kids.

If you’re looking for a fun wooden toy that brings everyday activities to life, check out this grocery store by Melissa and Doug.

Books Never Go out of Style

We guess most kids wouldn’t consider books to be toys, but they are a wonderful plastic-free alternative that is educational too. Books are a wonderful gift that can be passed on from child to child throughout the generations, making them very environmentally sound and long-lasting. 

This adorable early-learning book introduces numerous animals to your child, along with search-and-find and lift-the-flap, to discover where the eggs are hiding.

Organic Cotton Options Are Available

If you want to take your kid’s dolls, rattles, and plushies to the next level, consider buying toys made from organic cotton and untreated fabrics. Conventional cotton is one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pesticides so if that is a concern for you, seek out alternatives.

These are just a few reasons to consider plastic toy alternatives for your children and the wide array of choices available that also help the planet. Consider some of these eco-friendly options this Christmas. 

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of environmentally-friendly toys today.

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With the holidays right around the corner, you might be asking yourself, why buy wooden toys for your kids? Some may say they are outdated, but we think wooden toys and gifts are a timeless choice! Whether you are looking for wooden baby toys or something for kids a bit older, there are many wonderful benefits to offering wooden toys to your children. Here are some of the top reasons why we love wooden toys.

Wooden Toys Are Long-Lasting and Safer

We all know wood is an excellent material that rarely breaks, making it one of the safest materials to make toys from. As a parent, you don’t have to worry about pieces breaking off and injuring your child. Babies will stick everything in their mouth, so safety is a significant factor when choosing toys for your small children. An added benefit of wooden toys being durable and long-lasting is that they can be passed through the generations from child to child. This feature also means you can buy wooden toys second hand and save a few pounds if you are on a budget. 

You may think that children will outgrow more basic wooden toys, but in reality, they grow with the child. Take wooden blocks and shapes, for instance. Kids can build and design more elaborate structures, combine them with other non-wood toys like dolls or action figures, or even paint the blocks as they develop their art skills, creating fantastical scenes that unleash their imaginations.

If you’re looking for a fun wooden toy that helps your baby develop coordination and fine motor skills, check out this shape sorting set by Melissa and Doug.

Wooden Toys Improve Fine Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination

From an early age, toys help babies develop fine motor skills like squeezing, grasping, stacking, moving their wrists, reaching, etc. Simple wooden toys help kids with their hand-eye coordination — like when they are building towers, placing shapes inside different shaped holes, creating patterns and connecting puzzle pieces or pushing a toy on wheels. One of our favourite designers, Melissa and Doug, make wooden toys that grow with your child as they develop logical and spatial skills. 

Wooden Toys Are Better for the Environment

Most companies that make wooden toys are using sustainable practices for their manufacturing. Since we know wooden toys are long-lasting, they are by default better for the environment than their plastic and electronic alternatives. The pollution that comes from producing toys made from plastic or electronics is far greater, so when you buy wooden toys, you are showing your commitment to the planet. 

Not to mention the amount of plastic included in the packaging of toys. Both the packaging and the toys themselves end up in oceans and never break down in landfills. Polls show parents admit to throwing away perfectly good toys or overbuying toys their kids never touch. If you want to be environmentally-friendly, then use the holiday season to buy wooden toys for your children that will last. And as a side bonus, they will be able to connect with nature a bit with the touch and feel of the wood.

If you’re looking for a fun, long-lasting wooden toy that brings everyday scenes to life check out this grocery store by Melissa and Doug.

Wooden Toys Help Develop Real-Life Skills

It’s common for wooden toys to be in various shapes like squares, circles, and triangles. But they also come in the form of everyday things like people, food, animals, cars, houses, etc. You can buy more elaborate wooden toys that mimic kitchens, the grocery store or a doctor’s office. Children can use such toys to act out scenes with their parents and friends. This kind of play can do wonders for the development of real-life skills and self-esteem. Since wooden toys don’t have audio recordings, buzzers, bells and other noises that direct the child, they will develop problem-solving skills and expands their decision-making smarts. 

Wooden Toys Decrease Screen Time

The children of the last couple of decades don’t realize that not long ago, wooden toys were the only choice! Children are exposed to phones and electronics at such a young age, offering wooden toys earlier can help limit the desire for screen time. Simple toys encourage the imagination of your children to go wild while helping keep them calm because noises from electronics can be overstimulating. Modern toys and gadgets can be a distraction and offer very little in the way of learning or education. So give your kids simpler toys to continue stimulating their brains — with the bonus of keeping the noise down for everyone around.

These are just a few of the many benefits your children receive when you choose wooden toys. We like to think wooden toys will never go out of fashion — no matter what age your children are. So consider buying wooden toys this holiday season. 

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Each purchase is backed by our extraordinary customer service. Check out our selection of wooden toys for all ages today.

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We are big fans of wooden toys here at BrightMinds. There are so many great benefits to purchasing wooden toys for your children this holiday season. Wooden toys help develop a wide range of skills, from coordination to building and fine motor skills. The feel of a traditional toy made from wood is unparallel. Wooden toys are long-lasting and durable, making them safer than plastic alternatives, and they can be passed on through generations and from child to child. Not to mention, they are great for parents who want their kids to have an environmentally-friendly option that is educational too. We could all do with less screen time, and wooden toys offer your kids a chance to get their creative juices flowing. We could go on and on about how much we love wooden toys, but today we want to share with you the top five best wooden toys for all ages.

1. Geometric Stackers

Wooden toys like geometric stackers are great for building hand-eye coordination and developing fine motor skills. You can introduce a basic stacker toy as soon as your baby is sitting up, so they can practice squeezing, grasping, and other motions with their hands. Since the pieces come in a range of sizes and colours, geometric stackers also help your child improve cognitive abilities and memory. Older children will love practising their colours, numbers, and counting and more complicated shapes to manoeuvre and match.

A few of our favourite geometric stackers:

This stacking rainbow is great for small children since it has fewer pieces while the bright colours hold their attention.

Children up to age five will enjoy the more complex shapes and sizes and can use this counting shape stacker from Melissa and Doug to learn numbers and practise counting.

2. Construction Activities

Wooden toys that are entertaining and give your kids a project to work on offer construction activities like hammering, using a wrench and building things. These types of toys encourage manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination, making them excellent for all ages. For older kids, think about getting a toy big enough for two, and then they will learn how to work together as a team. And construction toys are not just for boys — all children receive benefits from working with their hands in this way.

A few of our favourite construction toys:

For younger children, start with this basic hammer set with adorable mushrooms.

Older kids will enjoy more complicated toys like this Tidlo workbench. The workbench comes with forty-three accessories and tools including construction pieces, nuts and bolts, a saw, hammer, screwdriver and more.

3. Puzzles

Puzzles come in a variety of shapes and sizes from traditional jigsaws to wooden toys where children combine pieces to form works of art. Puzzles also encourage hand-eye coordination and build fine motor skills. You are probably seeing a pattern now of how beneficial wooden toys can be for children. Puzzles, in particular, help with matching skills and spatial awareness.

A few of our favourite puzzles:

This wooden puzzle is six in one! It helps your child develop dexterity, matching skills and concentration with six different adorable animal scenes.

These artboards guide your child on how to make real-life shapes and works of art with colourful pieces in various shapes.

4. Cars and Trains

Children of all genders and ages love cars and trains  — they are a childhood classic! Although your children won’t be getting their driver’s license anytime soon, they will love building and driving their wooden cars and trains in the sets below.

A few of our favourite train and car sets:

Start your younger children off with a simple wooden track and bridge then you can add their favourite train pieces.

For something more involved, this car garage will keep your kids entertained for hours

5. Real-Life Events

For older children, we suggest more elaborate wooden toys that mimic everyday activities. Children can use such toys to act out scenes with their parents and friends to develop real-life skills. The sets below help your kids develop problem-solving skills and decision-making smarts.

Kids learn all about cooking with this adorable cooking set that has a stove and wooden toys in shapes of food and ingredients to make the perfect meal.

Help your children choose healthy food options and learn how to speak to others in public with this amazing grocery store set.

These are just a few of the best kinds of wooden toys for kids. We like to think wooden toys never go out of fashion — no matter the age of your children. So consider buying wooden toys this holiday season and help kids unleash their imaginations.

BrightMinds has a world-class range of educational toys, games, gifts & wooden toys that inspire and entertain your children. Our extraordinary customer service backs each purchase. Check out our selection of wooden toys for all ages today.

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