With 2 young boys, our house quickly became overwhelmed with battery-operated toys that are SO loud, yet take so much creativity away from playtime. A year ago, I set out to remove these toys from our home and intentionally replace them with educational, open-ended play toys that enrich young minds and can be enjoyed for years. Here are my favorite educational toys and books for toddlers and preschoolers!
1
Nilo Kids Table
A special place just for them
$249.99NILO makes all-wood tables that can be used for generations! With the raised edge, toys can't fall off, which makes this table perfect for messy activities, eating, and even preschool activities. Our kids have enjoyed having their own special place to sit together.
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Kinetic Sand
Keep them entertained for hours with zero mess!
13.49Kinetic sand is magical stuff. It sticks together (without being sticky!) so kids can enjoy sand without finding it all over the house. This encourages imagination, and they can use the mini sand buckets to build castles and other treasures.
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Wipe Off Early Learning Activity Book
The best way to practice shapes, letters, and numbers
$8.89Forget printables! This wipe off book allows kids to practice their shapes, letters, and numbers over and over again. It's loaded with educational, fun photos!
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Magnatiles
The new classic kids toy
$58.99Magnatiles are truly the most genius toy! Kids can imagine for hours, creating rockets, houses, flowers- anything they can dream up. Some kits even come with attachable wheels to create big cars!
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5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
The classic song in a cute board book
$5.39My kids request this every night! This book has adorable illustrations and encourages children to do call and response talking while reading.
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Count & Match Eggs for Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills for even the youngest toddler
$14.99These eggs teach matching skills, counting, colors, and fine motor skills.
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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The beloved classic!
$5Every child loves the rhythmic repetitions and fun take on the alphabet song.
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Lace & Trace Pets
A fun way to learn to tie your shoes
$7.49These pets are a cute way to teach fine motor skills necessary for lacing up shoes!
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Assorted Large Jungle Animals
Watch your kids' imagination come alive!
$18.95Animal figurines are a great way to encourage imaginative role play. These are large enough for the smallest child to play with.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A beautiful way to count!
$5.76Perhaps the most treasured board book of all, this is the story of a caterpillar eating his way through the week, and eventually turning into a beautiful butterfly.
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