(Snap Circuits $25.95) Our toy tester really enjoyed working with this 58 piece set that gives you the instructions for building 10+ models with the light up brick pieces. While you're having fun putting together your build, you're also learning about circuits. "I love that it comes with wheels" -- our tester built a small vehicle powered by a 9 volt battery (not included). Unlike a lot of STEM toys, this is not overwhelming. Marked 8 & up -- a good parent child kit to explor

(Smart Games $19.99) An elegant brainteaser for teens and adults. The black circular board comes with a rainbow of pieces -- each has a different shape and includes spheres in three different sizes. The game play is simple but challenging. In each of the 120 challenges you are told which pieces to start with on the board. The challenge is to then fit the remaining pieces on the board so that all are used. The level of difficulty increases as you go through the book. Designed

(Vango $14.99) If you loved playing the card game Spit as a kid, you'll really enjoy this twist. The cards have the ingredients and toppings for mac 'n cheese. See a match between the card on the pile and the card placed down -- if you are the first to smack the oversized piece of noddle -- you get to claim that match. Smack down incorrectly and you have to give up one of your matches. The first player to get all the ingredients, toppings, bowl and utensils wins. A fun fami

(Spinmaster $19.99) Here's a fun "Rubiks" inspired toy that's designed for the rest of us. The goal here is not to solve the cube, but to create three in a row on the grid. Colors light up and you have quickly find where you can push the third button to make three of the same color. You can play this solo or as a game for up to 4 players. Marked 7 & up. Ages: Early School, Tweens Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2026

(Thames & Kosmos $19.99) Here's a fun and challenging word game from Thames & Kosmos. Each player picks their "drink" colored dice (ice coffee, lemonade, grape soda or fruit punch), their plastic tumbler and drinking straw boards (where you build your words). For each round, a player takes a turn rolling the four dice that go into the ice cube tray. The goal is to create words that include the letters in the tray. You get points for matching the letters and for the length of

(Vango $59.99) Here's the perfect summer outdoor game for mixed ages. The idea is to land your cone in the center spot (for which you get three points). All other placements are worth 1 point. But here's the fun -- you can steal your opponent's point by capturing the same spot. First player or team to get to 11 points wins the round. We love that this game can be played in teams and by everyone. Our younger players just stood closer when tossing. You can also play this gam

(Zip String $44.99) Think cooler than a yo-yo. Think Spiderman but his web lights up when it goes -- and that's Zip String's new Aracna. The more you practice, the better you'll get at creating really amazing loops that shoot out of the container you wear on your wrist. Our testers LOVED that it lights up. The set comes with differ colored strings to try. It recharges with a USB (also a plus). Really a a great option for tweens and teens. It's the type of toy that everyone

(Mindware $49.95) If you have a child interested in cooking with you, this new Foods of the World Kit would be a great set to explore together. There are recipes from 13 different countries including pierogies, fairy bread and hummus. The set also includes tools you'll need including: a bamboo steamer, molcajete and tejolote, pasta wheel cutter, chopsticks, molinillo, a juicer, measuring cups, a child-safe knife, space jars and a funnel. There are 14 recipe cards with clear

(Creativity for Kids $16.66) Here's a fun twist on the retro craft of Latch Hooking. The set comes with the materials to create five fuzzy patches. There's a panda, a rainbow, a heart, smiley face and a donut printed on the canvases, a hook latch, six bundles of acyrlic yarn, adhesive frames (to give your patch more sparkle), felt backing, felt stickers and instructions. Once you get the hang of latch hooking, the process is very satisfying. Marked 7 & up -- will need adult

( ooly $5.95-$16.95 and up) If you have a Girl Scout in your life, you're going to want to take a look at this new collab between Ooly and the girl scouts. Our testers LOVED the Cookie Scented Gel Pens ($5.95) that are inspired by our favorite cookies: "Peanut-Better Together" and "Mint to Lead" were two of our favorites. There are also Scented Markers in the collab. Schoolwork can be even more fun with the set of three Cookie Scented Erasers that are in the shape of the coo