Affordable educational toys and learning games for kids
We all love to buy fun gifts for children, and it’s even better when those items can help their brains develop, or spark a passion for a subject. Here are our top picks for affordable play and learn toys and games that will keep children entertained for hours, whilst inspiring their minds.
Literacy
Fuel their imaginations and storytelling prowess with these Fairy Tale dice. Simply throw the dice and weave your own story. The set contains a booklet with details on what each image means, and includes French and German translations to help with foreign language skills.
Product shown: Fairy Tale Dice Game, £7.95
For younger children, these cheery Colourful Creatures stacking blocks are the perfect tool to help them learn their ABC’s. They also come with numbers and photos of animals - so you can alternate between learning the alphabet, counting numbers or recognising animals.
Product shown: Colourful Creatures stacking blocks, £12.95
Numeracy
Help them learn their numbers with these beautifully illustrated cards. Simply match the number with the corresponding picture for loads of counting fun, and to develop colour recognition.
Product shown: Learn Your Numbers Counting Cards, £8.95
Who remembers putting on their own plays at home? Encourage creativity by letting older children organise their own theatre night, complete with this roll of play tickets! This type of role play is called imaginative play and fosters creativity and better communication skills. By including the 'pretend' tickets, you're teaching them the concept of making real life monetary calculations.
Product shown: Roll of play tickets, £2.95
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
This Lie Detector Kit is a must for any young electronics fans. Not only is the end result good fun for questioning unsuspecting family and friends on Christmas day, but while they are building the kit they’ll learn all about electricity, and just how a polygraph works.
Product shown: Secret Agent Lie Detector Kit, £12.95
We’re sure that many scientists remember their first microscope. Spark a passion for science in your child by helping them to discover the world around them. This microscope comes with all the essentials, including slides, tweezers and collection bottles.
Product shown: Introductory microscope, £18.95
Inspire them to learn more about the human body and develop their problem-solving skills with this 300-piece anatomical skeleton puzzle. It includes information about human anatomy - the perfect gift for a future doctor or nurse!
Product shown: Anatomical Skeleton puzzle in a tube, £8.95
Spark their curiosity about dinosaurs and paleontology with these fun Prehistoric Land 3D wooden puzzles. Putting these together will also help out with their motor skills and problem-solving techniques.
Products shown:
Triceratops 3d Wooden puzzle, £4.95
Tyrannosaurus 3d Wooden puzzle, £4.95
Stegosaurus 3d Wooden puzzle, £4.95
Dimetrodon 3d Wooden puzzle, £4.95
Motor skills
Cast your line and catch a fish! This fun game will develop their hand-eye coordination (and patience!). Plus, the fish are numbered from 1-10 to help them practice their numbers too.
Product shown: Magnetic Let’s Go Fishing game, £9.95
This needle-free kit is an ideal introduction to stitching for little ones. There are eight patterns to create and the finished pieces will make sweet decorations for bedrooms.
Product shown: Learn To Stitch activity, £6.95
This Make Your Own Llama model kit is ideal for kids ages 3+ to help them build fine motor skills. As they push, pull, roll and sculpt the dough they’re building the muscle memory for better dexterity so they can do things like hold a pencil correctly or use scissors.
Product shown: Make Your Own Dolly Llama model, £5.95 (not for children under 3)
Recall
Get their memory motors running with this classic pairs game; featuring colourful transport-themed illustrations. Ideal for improving concentration and recall, this game will also challenge adults!
Product shown: Transport Memory Game, £6.95
For younger kids, test their critical thinking and animal recognition with this Colourful Creatures Heads and Tails game.
Product shown: Colourful Creatures Heads and Tails game, £5.95
Want to see more gifts for children? Shop our full range of toys, games and craft activities.
