Getting your kids excited about math is as easy as 1-2-3: just introduce them to these awesome learning games. You’ll jump-start their number knowledge while also giving them a chance to work on their fine motor skills and play with bubble wrap, sidewalk chalk and stickers. Read on to get the skinny on all our favorite counting games.
Grab some stickers and markers and get your kiddos counting with this fab idea from Days with Grey. They’ll get to feed each shark using colorful dot stickers.
This fun game from Toddler Approved is sure to make your little ones smile. They’ll roll the dice and practice counting as they pull marshmallow “teeth” from a mouth.
This idea from NurtureStore is a two-for-one: kids can practice counting while also building their fine motor skills. Challenge them to use just a straw to move the right number of pom poms to the correct container.
They're going to do it anyway, so why not make popping bubble wrap an educational opportunity? Hands-on mama-of-three Jamie Reimer has the details at Hands On As We Grow.
Young counters can play a variety of counting games with these handmade number rocks: match number pairs; line them up from 1-9, and see what happens when you put one number in front of another. Fun-loving mom Mary Catherine shares the step-by-step scoop on her site, Fun-a-Day.
Splashing Digits
Melissa Heckscher
Would your kiddo like a few water balloons to smash? Yes, please! When the weather warms up, let your cute calculator get a little wet with this easy number identification game that requires only water balloons and chalk. Check out the details on Coffee Cups and Crayons.
This activity pays homage to a rhythmic little story (by Dr. Seuss) about a bunch of silly animals stacking apples on their heads. Using felt and Velcro, kids can stack up apples and compare their load to a friend or siblings. Check out Buggy and Buddy for the details.
Shoot the Sum
Melissa Heckscher
We love this easy activity because there are just three steps: stack up numbered cups, ask your kids to knock them down, and (if they can) add up the total. Kids will delight in shooting and knocking stuff down, but really they’re (Shhhhh!) learning simple addition as well as simple number identification. Parents who don’t allow toy guns can substitute with ping-pong balls or air rockets (see above). Get the details over at No Time For Flashcards.
Let your kids roll the dice and plink their beads into a bowl. This simple counting game lets kids practice counting while they race to get all their beads (or jellybeans, or goldfish, or whatever small object you choose) into their bowl before you do. Get the instructions from Chelsey at Buggy and Buddy.
Linear Learning
Melissa Heckscher
Learning numbers doesn't have to be a desktop affair. Instead, use this equation for getting antsy kiddos outside and moving: sidewalk chalk, a paved place to scribble and a simple running game. Draw a line, mark out numbers, then tell your running mathematician to sprint to the numbers as you call them out. More advanced counters can add and subtract their way up and down the line. You can thank Coffee Cups and Crayons for the idea!
Number Maze
Melissa Heckscher
Here's another easy outdoor activity that requires only sidewalk chalk. Kids will learn how to count to 10 (and figure out their lefts and rights) by winding through a simple number maze. Find out more at Hands On As We Grow.
Trust us, fall is here (even though the temps may say otherwise). Get in the mood for Halloween with a visit to one of Orlando’s best pumpkin patches. These pumpkin patches offer a full day of family activities like pedal bikes, corn bins, hay rides and corn mazes. Scroll through you plan your pumpkin picking adventure!
Southern Hill Farms With the (sometimes) crisp fall air and the thrill of the holidays waiting to be celebrated, there’s nothing quite like the magic of a Fall Festival at the farm. Seasonal favorites are around every corner—think hot, fresh apple cider donuts, craft beer, s’mores for roasting over fire pits and a wide variety of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes. Children are filled with delight at the sight of festival rides, bounce houses and a petting zoo.
Harvest Holler Farm and Corn Maze Come and experience a real working family farm with animals, activities and a giant hay mountain. From there you can overlook the Old Farm Miniature Golf Course and get an aerial view of Big Frank-n-Slide, one of the farm's most popular attractions. Don't miss the corn maze!
Showcase of Citrus Pumpkin Ponderosa This spot that is usually all about the citrus is hosting a Pumpkin Ponderosa for the fall season. Their pumpkin patch offers a wide variety of pumpkins in many sizes. The Country Store offers orange juice slushies, Creamsicles, jams, jellies, honey, hot sauces, soaps and much more. Book a monster truck tour for the ultimate fun!
Scott's Maze Adventures Come get lost in this massive corn maze that has a unique design each year, with twisting pathways, questions and answers, and picture rubbings. Check out the market vendors, take a farm tour and pick the perfect pumpkin.
Santa's Fall Fun: A Lot of Pumpkins At this spot, pumpkins from Ohio and New York are fresh picked, and then displayed in a shaded lot to help preserve their freshness. Pumpkins are priced by size, and most range between $3 and $13. You can even carve your pumpkins here and leave the mess behind. The Magical Maze has thirteen scary monster pictures hidden throughout—find them all and win a prize! The horse and pony rides, hay rides, bounce pillow, giant slide, barrel cart rides, mazes and play area are open continuously during fall hours.
Lake Catherine Farms: Fall Maze & Pumpkin Patch While blueberries usually the name of the game here, pumpkins and corn mazes take over come fall. They have a Scavenger Hunt Maze for families and super-scary haunted mazes for older kids and adults. They also offer free hayrides, tractor train rides and photo opportunities with vintage tractors and automobiles. For young farmers, the “hayground” and corn box are back, as well as assorted yard games for our more competitive guests.
It’s finally fall, ya’ll, and that means there is a bushel of corn-fusing fun to be had at a local corn maze. From Peter Pan-themed to delightfully spooky, there’s a bumper crop of corn mazes near Atlanta. Lend an ear and we’ll tell you where to go.
As the name suggest, there is an excellent corn maze to be found at The Buford Corn Maze. Older kiddos may want to do the corn maze, but if you're taking littles, there's a lot of walking. If they're not up to the job, you can opt for the playground or bounce house, which are free with admission. Look for pony rides, face painting and karaoke too.
The Details: Admission is $16 for the corn maze and includes the hayride. Mon.-Th. from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. & Sat. from 10 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
The name Sleepy Hallow conjures up images of hayrides, Halloween and crisp fall nights, but this Sleepy Hallow got its start thirty years ago as a family owned Christmas tree farm (read about their cool history here). What started as a Christmas tradition has grown into a fall tradition for families throughout the Atlanta area. Aside from the main attraction: the tractor ride, kiddos will love the corn maze, a pumpkin patch and farm animal feeding.
The Details: $12 per person, 2 and under free with purchase of adult ticket. Includes wagon rides, corn maze, farm animals & kid zone, and pumpkin patch (pumpkins sold separately). From Sep. 24–Oct. 31, Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Just north of Atlanta in Milton, you’ll find Scottsdale Farms, a 55-acre family owned Garden Center and Cafe. The first 4 weeks in October from Thursday-Sunday you'll find a Family Fun Field, complete with a corn maze and hayride for all ages, lawn games, and a Sunflower Field. They also have a plethora of pumpkins, gourds, and squashes in all varieties if you need to stock up.
The Details: Thurs.-Sun. from 3-6 p.m. in Oct., $7/per person or maximum of $25/per family, Children 2 and under are free
With a maze spread over 12 acres with 4 miles of trails, you can get as corny as you want at Uncle Shucks. Don’t worry, there are exits throughout the maze so you’re sure to make it out alive, and if the littles just aren’t big enough to understand the thrill of the corn maze, you can amaze them with the corn cannon, mini maze (made out of hay bales for optimum visibility), pumpkin patch, and pony rides. On Friday and Saturday nights in October, brave the horror that is The Dark Rows, an unique haunted trail through some of the most twisted trails of our corn field!
Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch, Sep. 11 – Nov 14, 2021
October Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. to Thurs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Weekends in November Price: Corn maze $15, Haunted Maze $20, Combo $25 per person
Southern Belle Farm's corn maze stretches over 4 acres, and offers bonus fall fun in the form of hayrides, a cow train, pig races, corn boxes, and a pumpkin patch. Can’t make it to the fair this year? You can pick up a corn dog or funnel cake to restore the energy that the corn maze zaps from you! Go for the corn maze, leave with your fall bucket list completely checked.
Hours: Through Oct.29, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m., Weekdays Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 29th Price: $11.95 on weekdays, $16.95 on weekends
Famous for its eight-acre corn maze (as well as the Kiddie Maze), the littles will also love the pumpkin train, pony rides, hayrides, and duck races that Jaemor Farms offers in October and the first weekend of November. Need to pick up some pumpkins? No need to make an additional stop. After conquering the corn maze and the other fall activities at Jaemor Farms, you can mosey on over to the pumpkin farm, where all shapes and sizes await your selection. Bring your camera.
Hours: Mondays-Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays: 1 to 7 p.m. Price: $14 per person ages 3 & up
Take one corn maze, add an inflatable bouncing pillow and some friendly farm animals, and sprinkle in some gem mining. Yields one day of fantastic fall fun, and one carload of exhausted kiddos on the trek home. Cagle’s is a working farm with a wild side during the fall. Don’t forget to pick up some of their fresh milk at the dairy, and if you’ve got night owls, go for the bonfire hayride, which begin as early as 6:00 p.m.
Hours: Through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. nights in Oct. until 10 p.m. Price: Activities range from free to $25
When it comes to all things fall, corn mazes are on every family’s list. It’s a chance to be outside, solve a puzzle as a family and enjoy all the perks farms have to offer during the harvest season. So if you’re looking for your next fall adventure, take the kids to one of these Boston corn mazes on a sunny day.
For an educational and interactive maze, head to Marini Farm. The 8-acre corn maze, that takes about 90 minutes to complete, puts families in the middle of an interactive game. You get the game sheet before heading in and then seek out answers at 18 different stations as you make your way through the maze. If you’ve got tots, the one-acre mini maze (that takes about 20 minutes to complete) is a great alternative. Once you’ve made it through, it’s time for hayrides, tube slides, duck races, cow trains and a 70-foot jumping pillow that’s irresistible to kids.
Good to know: Flashlight nights are Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 6 p.m.
Insider tip: Families will find a few new activities this year including two play structures, one fire engine themed the other a tractor. Plus, Farm Basketball.
Dates: Now through Oct. 31, 2021 Hours: Fri., 6-10:30 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Plus Mon., Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $15/person; Free, kids under 2 (with paying adult)
259 Linebrook Rd. Ipswich, MA 978-356-0430 Online: marinifarm.com
Just west of the city, you’ll find Hanson’s Farm and the 4.5-acre corn maze that’s a fun challenge for kids of all ages. On weekends, families can hitch a hayride to the field to make it extra special. No matter when you visit, everyone will get to see the farm animals and take one home sugar pumpkin for each person in the group (both are include with maze admission). The ice cream bus is usually open when the maze is, so don’t forget to stop by before heading home.
Good to know: Hanson’s popular Haunted Hayride is not running this year.
Insider tip: As an added bonus, make your way through the sunflower maze. As of publication, the sunflowers are starting to bloom and will hopefully be ready to go in October for some extra photo opp fun.
Dates: Now through Oct. 31, 2021 Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost: $15/Adults; $10/Kids, 6-12; Free, kids 5 & under
Plan a full day at this farm that’s south of the city. You’ll find everything you need to keep the kids outside and active including two fantastic corn mazes and a pumpkin patch. After you’ve had your fill of these fall farm staples, it’s time to ride the cow and bee trains, bounce on the jumping pillow, race ducks, play on the zip lines and jump in the corn boxes. Pick up a few apple cider donuts before heading home and call it a win.
This year at the Davis Mega Maze, Waldo’s on the loose and your job is to find him among the 8-acres and 3-miles of puzzling pathways in the maze. This corn maze is known for its complexity, so plan to be in there a while (there’s a reason porta-potties and a snack shack are in the maze). If you get stuck, just look for a Maze Master to point you in the right direction. What makes this maze a bit different is its gamer appeal. You’ll find games within the maze too—like the slingshots, hammer bells, field goal kick, Kids Quest and more. And tech features like Mobile Mazing and Geo Questing set Davis Mega Maze apart from the rest.
Insider tip: Beyond the maze, families can enjoy zip lines, laser tag, cannon blasters and a paintball shooting gallery. Just pick up your tickets at the ticket booth.
142 Redstone Hill Sterling, MA 978-422-8888 Online:davismegamaze.com
Crescent Farms
Shannan Rouss
The 15-acre corn maze at Crescent Farms is one of our favorites for families with little kids in tow. While the maze is challenging, it’s not overwhelming, and there’s an exit halfway through if your kiddos are getting tired of the twists, turns and dead ends. Plan to take about 40 minutes to complete this puzzle. If your tots are dead-set on a hayride with their corn maze experience, Crescent Farms offers scenic rides on the weekends.
The folks at West End Creamery are ready to take families out to the ballgame with a Worcester Red Sox-themed maze to celebrate the WooSox inaugural season. It’s sure to be a hit with your baseball-loving crew. They’ll also love the pedal carts, wagon rides, cow train, barnyard jump and corn crib—all hot spots for tots. If you’ve got older kids (or kids who want a challenge) Fridays are light maze nights on the farm. Bring your flashlight and see if you’ve got what it takes to make it through the maze. When all is said and done, stop by the Creamery to get some ice cream. Your little navigators have earned it!
Insider tip: Add something different to your corn maze experience with a pony ride ($6).
1. Please remember to check COVID policy and safety for each farm before visiting so you know what to expect.
2. Some of these farms require advanced tickets for corn mazes and other farm activities. Be sure you’ve got yours before heading out.
Tips & Tricks for a Successful Experience:
1. Last entry into the corn maze is usually an hour before closing, so plan accordingly. Many corn mazes have an estimated time for completion that’ll help you choose the right one for your fam.
2. Remember to wear sturdy shoes, especially on little feet. Corn maze fields can be muddy and are usually uneven. Pack sunscreen on a sunny day and water bottles just in case.
3. Babies in backpacks or carriers usually work better than babies in strollers as you wind your way around the narrow, uneven paths of the corn maze.
4. The buddy system is always key and pairing an adult with each group of kids is a fail-proof way to make it out of the maze without tears. That is, unless, your kids are better at getting through the maze than you are, in which case, the tears may be on your part!
5. Nighttime corn mazes can be super fun or super scary, depending on your kiddo. Maybe save this one for a date night.
6. Teach older kids to use the sun position to keep themselves oriented in the maze–have them take notes of where the sun is when they enter the maze (at their back, for instance) and hopefully it will help them from going in circles or doing unnecessary back-tracking as they go.
Good to know: Many of Boston’s U-pick pumpkin patches also offer fun mazes. Check out our Pumpkin Patch Guide for even more a-maze-ing options!
There’s no better way to spend your fall days then getting lost in a local corn maze. Portland families are surrounded with opportunities to wander through cornstalks, with family-friendly farms in just about every direction. The good news is that along with winding adventures, corn mazes are often accompanied by festivities that include activities like hay rides, petting zoos and more. Read on for more on all the a-maize-ing local favorites.
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The Original Maize at the Pumpkin Patch
Just 15 minutes from downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is a mainstay of fall festival lists. For 21 years, the Pumpkin Patch has been carving pathways into acres of corn, and inviting the public to challenge themselves to solve the puzzle. This year the theme mazes theme is “Bridgetown!” celebrating the bridges of Portland that connect us all along with the mountains, rivers and forests that surround our beautiful city. You and your gang can wander through over two miles of pathways, and don’t worry: you can pick up a “passport” with clues to help if you get lost. Hang out for refreshments at the Patio Cafe, then hop on a free hayride (October only) to pick out a pumpkin in the fields.
Safety: This year, the maze is still open for safe outdoor fun across its 8 acres. Masks will be optional throughout the MAiZE. We ask that you bring them to wear whenever encountering groups inside the MAiZE, while in the ticket line, and anytime 6’ distance is not obtainable.
Insider tip: Bring boots and raingear if the weather is wet! Things can get muddy.
16511 NW Gillihan Rd. Sauvie Island Sept: open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct: open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. $8/adults (13 & up); $6/children (6-12) & seniors; free for children 5 and under 503-621-7110 Online: portlandmaze.com
Bella Organic
This Sauvie Island favorite takes a creative approach to their annual corn maze, with a changing theme that often includes giant letters carved into the corn. Impressive! This year’s theme is United Against Hate! We can all get on board with that.
The maze covers 2.7 miles of twists and turns within a 7-acre design. (Psst: Make sure to choose the best maze option for your group. There’s a second Haunted Maze on Fridays and Saturdays in October, not recommended for small children.) Food and beer vendors, along with classic fall activities like hayrides and pumpkins, make this a standout choice for local fun.
Safety: Masks are required inside the corn maze at all times.
Insider tip: All activities and outdoor vendors are cash only. Bring your flashlight to walk the maze after dark on weekends!
16205 NW Gillihan Rd. Sauvie Island Sep/Oct hours: Daily 9 a.m.-5p.m. (Fri.& Sat. until 10 p.m.) 503-621-9545 $8/adults (13 & up); $7/ seniors & children (6-12); free for 5 & under Online: bellaorganic.com/corn-maze
This energetic fall festival features a 3-acre corn maze, and that’s just the beginning. Enjoy hayrides, a giant slide, bouncy houses, farm animal visits, and even pony rides on the weekend. Plus, take your pick from over 27 varieties of pumpkins. Sample fresh apple cider and donuts, kettle corn, and treats from the bakery.
Safety: This year, the farm has changed a few things to help enhance safety. Masks will be required outdoors when you are unable to distance more than 6’ from others for anyone 5 years and older. Masks are required on all activities and hayrides.
21975 SW 65th Ave. Tualatin, OR Sept. 18- Oct. 31. Open Tue.-Fri. 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. General admission (ages 3 and up): $12 weekends; Wristband for activities/includes general admission: $24 503-638-1869 Online: leefarmsoregon.com/pumpkin-patch
Packer Orchards
If you’re up for a drive, Packer Orchards in the Hood River Valley boasts a wonderful corn maze, a kids-only corn maze, hay tower, and unlimited hayrides on the weekends. Check the calendar for flashlight-maze events as the days get shorter and Halloween approaches. After the maze, try your hand at pumpkin bowling before you pick one out to take home. And don’t forget to sample an array of fall treats, from apple pies and ice cream at the bakery, to jams and cookies in the sales barn.
Safety: Tickets will be sold online only to help limit the number of guests. Some activities may be impacted due to safety concerns.
3020 Thomsen Rd Hood River, OR Sep. 17 – Oct. 31, Open Mon. & Thur. 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 p.m.-5 p.m. $8/person ages 2 and up Online: packerorchards.com
Vancouver Pumpkin Patch
Head over the bridge to the Vancouver Pumpkin Patch where a corn maze isn't the only fall fun you'll find. For only $10 you and your kids can visit a pumpkin patch, go on a hay ride, visit a petting zoo and wander through the corn maze. Take a stroll out to the u-pick portion of the farm to pick Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and beans all for $1.25 per pound. Mark the September 25 on you calendar. You don't want to miss the pumpkin patches opening day!
While we may never again have to wrestle with an akimbo paper map while ambling down the interstate, there are plenty of good reasons to pass proper map-reading skills down to the next generation. From spatial awareness to instilling a sense of adventure, maps are magical and learning how to use one can start at almost any age. Read on for our tips on how to teach your little navigators a thing or two.
Tiniest Travelers: Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 2-4)
Don’t depend on these kids to direct to the nearest gas station, but little ones as young as one and two years old can get familiar with directional terms, just by hearing you use them often.
Words to use frequently: right and left, farther and nearer, here and there, and above and below.
Things to observe together: The sun rising and setting, the movement of the moon and stars, even their own height as marked on a wall.
From kindergarten through third grade, kids’ awareness of their surroundings explodes and they are able to grasp more abstract ideas (like symbols on a flat piece of paper representing real places and distances).
Terms to Talk About: North, South, East and West; the compass rose; The sun rising in the east, setting in the west; feet and miles.
Things to Do Together: Make a map of their bedroom or your own backyard; try to find and study new maps where ever you go: malls, bus or train stops, the library.
Urban myth: All playgrounds are created equal. Not true! Chicago and the ‘burbs have some that really go over the top to show you and your crew a good time. We’re talking unbelievable themes and play structures, plus cool add-ons like rope bridges, tire mazes and even faux Viking boats. Scroll through to discover local playgrounds that will stop you in your tracks.
Why will you go to this Wizard of Oz-themed playground? Because of the wonderful things it does! Walk the yellow brick road and explore the wooden tornado, then cozy up to statues of characters from the movie (you'll find them scattered throughout the park). Play, smell the flowers in the nearby Emerald Garden, and picnic on the lawn. What better way to ingratiate yourself with Dorothy and Toto?
Climbing a tree is a rite of childhood and you can do it here in a fun new way. Not only does this playground offer many play options, but a large climbable tree beckons as you arrive. Scurry on up and be sure to save time to play in the sand and control water flow in the nearby streams.
15 W. 400 Harvester Dr., Burr Ridge; Online: brparks.org
All aboard! The one-of-a-kind wooden climbing structures here riff on both Native American and train themes, and add up to a day of adventure. Pretend to be a conductor as you navigate maze-like tire and wood structures, reveling in new discoveries around every turn. Kids can also cool down in the water spray feature that has dancing bears and spray misters.
Crawl into a web of intrigue. As you make your way up the suspended ropes, you'll aim for the middle where you can jump on a mini trampoline and make the entire structure bounce and sway. There are other playtime gems here as well – the multiple musical instruments and piano embedded into the ground (just hop around on the squares to play notes) will be sure to delight. And just steps away is a splash fountain with multiple water sprayers cooling all ages off in hot weather.
Batter up! If you have a soft spot for peanuts and Cracker Jacks, head here for a playground with a special baseball touch: There's a huge baseball scoreboard chalkboard on the brick wall to the north. Bring chalk and make a game out of who can do the most climbing and sliding.
Adventure Playground at Blackberry Farm in Aurora has it all—a rustic barn-inspired design, fun interactive features, huge slides and tons of maze-like passageways. It’s unlike any other playground we’ve seen. Hours (yes, hours) will fly by.
For Viking Adventures: Veterans Memorial Playground
Pretend that you're setting sail on the choppy seas at this stomping ground. Its claim to fame is a large-size Viking boat structure that you can play on. Look below to see sharks and other sea creatures printed onto the soft play surface. There are also sandy “beaches” with additional play structures. This playground has many more options, including a large zipline that mom and dad can try.
This newly renovated playground has challenging, modern equipment for all ages. From the large dome structure with rope climbing options to the swimming rope bridge over a ravine to the hanging rocking swings, this is climbing like you’ve never seen. Beware of the water sprayer—it looks innocent, but will soak you in just one run-through!
At this playground, you can pretend to be an astronaut and climb great to heights. The curved metal structure and tall climbing wall (with 3 options for different levels) will make kids, and adults, feel as though they are climbing as high as skyscrapers, with great views of Lake Michigan. Hidden water features, access to bathrooms and a beach, make this a playtime imagination destination.
31st Street & Lakeshore Dr., South Loop; Online: facebook.com
Take all other parks, give them a dose of steroids, and you have Maggie Daley Park. It's that cool. While there are certainly areas within the play structure you can climb, the Wave Hill is a 16,530 square foot play area with a rolling topography where kids can climb what feels like a mountain to them, roll down, and do it all over again.
Your budding chef wants nothing more than to play all day in the kitchen. While you’ve already nixed the notion of stove-side play, your kiddo is still all-in for creative cooking fun. Here’s where KidKraft’s new Foody Friends line comes in to play!
KidKraft will debut two all-new kitchen-themed activity centers this coming August. With imaginative animal themes, bright colors, and plenty of gadgets to explore, these must-have picks are the perfect addition to your child’s pretend play area.
The KidKraft Foody Friends Cooking Elephant Activity Center ($99.99) features a water spout trunk, a pop-o-matic popcorn pan, color change eggs, a fridge door maze, and so much more! The 360-degree play center is two-feet tall and includes 18 awesome accessories.
Along with the Cooking Elephant Activity Center, KidKraft is also debuting the Deluxe Baking Fun Puppy Activity Center next summer (also $99.99). Like the elephant-themed kitchen center, the puppy-inspired baking center also features 360-play, 18 accessories, and is two-feet tall. This center gives kiddos the chance to cut out cookies, roll dough, stack cake tiers, and “bake” cookies in the oven.
Both kitchen-themed play centers are made for children ages two and up. The sets will be available for purchase this coming August.
Break into Ryan’s World Mystery Spy Vault to discover a hidden treasure—or 10! Kids crack the code to discover 10 surprises, including articulated figures, build-your-own vehicles, spy gear, and more. There are three boxes inside of the vault and each contains clues on how to open the next. Open the first box by peeling the maze. Hidden inside, kids will find their Spy Crew, which will help them with the rest of their mission.
The Toy Insider is the go-to source for product information and the latest news about children's toys, tech, and entertainment. Its team of toy experts publishes two annual gift guides—one for summer and one for holiday—and reviews toys 365 days a year on thetoyinsider.com, a trusted resource for parents.
Have you ever solved a Rubix Cube or did you cheat by moving the stickers around? This iconic toy celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. This year, Spin Master Games released a new twist on your favorite classic, a 2-in-1 challenging puzzle that combines the Rubik’s Cube with the challenging Perplexus puzzle.
To play, roll the steel ball to the “Start” space on the Rubik’s Perplexus Hybrid 2×2 and twist it to align the tracks and maneuver the ball through the inner maze.
Put your skills to the test by rolling past increasing numbers along the track on your way to the finish line, making sure not to fall off. Once you finish one of the squares, twist and turn the cube to align with the next cube like in the original. Rubik’s Perplexus Hybrid 2×2 helps build problem-solving skills through challenging and engaging gameplay and is the perfect size for on-the-go fun. If you complete the maze, you complete the cube.
Rubik’s Perplexus Hybrid 2×2 is available for $14.99 at Target and Amazon.
