(Learning Resources $16.99) A wonderful collection of magnets that introduces young children to all kinds of STEM experiments and learning. The 39-piece set includes a magnetic want, a magnetic post and two ring magnetic rings, a bar magnet, horseshoe, string, and 30 Color chips. Let the beginners do some exploring first before you pull out the guide with ten experiments. Gradually you can talk about the basic ideas here of opposites attracting, etc. But the bigger idea here

(eeBoo $21.99) New images by illustrator, Monika Forsberg, brighten this set of classic cardboard blocks. Perfect for stacking, nesting and knocking over with hands-on understanding of size and position concepts of bigger, smaller, inside, under, over, etc. Also use them for “knowing and naming” talk that expands vocabulary and for playful counting fun, as well. 2 and up. Ages: Toddlers Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2019

(Epoch $25) Who doesn’t love a Pizzeria? For a slice or the whole pie, this mini- setting is scaled for a Calico Critters pizza party. The setting includes a store front with furniture and a pizza oven with the “wooden” pizza shovel and plenty of pie. Although there are 30 pieces in the set, please note, there’s not one single critter in the box. That's generally true of the Calico Critter settings, but because they are shown on the box, it’s easy to assume they're in there.

(American Girl $115) Meet Blaire, a 10-year old redhead who’s actively involved in her family’s restaurant, inn, and farm. Young readers will relate to Blaire and her desire to be taken seriously. She has a lot of great ideas as well as an allergy and problems with her BFF. In other words, she’s pretty typical of so many 10-year old problems. With her summery cotton sundress that’s covered with tiny bees, Blaire wears wooden soled sandals and looks cool as a summer day in the

(Learning Resources $14.99) This geometry-themed building STEM set is going to challenge fine motor skills as well as visual problem solving. The 58-piece set includes 30 sticks in three sixes, 12 curves and 16 ball shaped connectors, all of plastic, that can be used by following the models in the activity guide or used free form for discoveries. We suggest using it without the guide for starters and then introduce the activity guide with ten building challenges that introduc

(eeBoo $9.99 ) Take these along for your next road trip. Four little booklets, each with a classic game plus four color pencils for playing. Stop the Monster is played like Hangman with players trying to guess It’s word before It draws it. There’s a Tic Tac Toe and Dots & Boxes game book, Out of the Box, a number maze game, and Find the Differences, where a player compares a pair of pictures and must find 10 differences. This last one can be played solo. All good choices for

(Fashion Angels $21.99) A crafty way to get kids outdoors. Fashion Angels String Art kit comes with big heart—a template that's used to guide kids in shaping the outline of the heart with 25 big lawn stakes. Once in place, the template comes out, but the numbered pattern can be used to make a complex design…or… forget the company's numbers and create an original criss-crossed design with the 40 yards of thick multi-colored yarn in the kit. You may need to explain that their c

(Hape $169.99) Kids will find lots of role play with the child-size setting, a pop-up shop with plenty of shelf space for stocking up food to sell or buy. It’s outfitted with a chalkboard to post the day’s specials and a hand held scanner that beeps and flashes with a press of a button. There’s a calculator to tally up customer’s purchases. Here’s a sign of the times—forget play money! It’s a no cash shop. Only credit cards that beep when swipe. Who uses money? Right?This big