Educational toys & games for children

Crystal Growing Kit: 6 Emerald and Ruby Crystal Kits

Natural crystals can take millions of years to form, so it isn't often that a budding young geologist gets a chance to watch them grow. Space Age Crystals--a series of crystal-growing kits based on experiments performed by astronauts--cuts that time down to days as you grow glittering crystals in your own home. This kit contains the materials you need to grow "emerald" and "ruby" crystals and mold realistic-looking geodes. Follow the clear, comprehensive instructions, and in about a week you'll see fully formed crystals looking very similar to their natural counterparts. A great way for parents and children to spend time and learn together. --Lisa Whipple (Amazon Editorial Review)

Ages: 12 years +
Amazon Price: $15.99

Elections Board Game

The intrigue that always lurks behind American politics is at the heart of this board game. Players become presidential candidates aiming to win over as many state electoral votes (as opposed to popular votes) to win. Roll the dice and proceed around the board, picking up blocks of both popular and electoral votes along the way. Pitfalls include "surprise" cards that can temporarily derail a campaign by announcing, for example, a media blackout on your activities when a bigger story breaks. The player who attains more than 270 electors (or at least the majority of electors once all states have voted) wins the game. It's a terrifically fun game of political strategy, and a great way to introduce kids to what really happens during presidential campaigns and caucuses. --Tom Keogh (Amazon Editorial Review)

Ages: 8 years +
Amazon Price: $24.99

What's the Time? Board Game

This colorful educational game would work well with a group of children who are all at about the same level in their ability to tell time. The basic equipment consists of four large (5.9 by 5.9 inches) cardboard clocks with plastic hands and 78 cards, each depicting a different time on a nondigital clock face. In the basic game, one player reads the time from a game card and puts the card face down on a table. Then all players compete to set their clocks to the correct time. A variant has players lining up the cards in time sequence. Younger children might limit their cards to those depicting full hours. More experienced clock-watchers can include cards with half hours, quarter hours, and minutes. For beginners, it's fun to simply move the hands of the clocks and "name that time." --Louise Carter (Amazon Editorial Review)

Ages: 5-9 years
Amazon Price: $14.99

Presto Change-O Game

Learn how to make change, save money and spend it wisely. Players travel around a gameboard filled with everyday financial decisions. Earn money, sell a pet, spend money at the museum or a video arcade, and much more. The first player to save $10.00 wins! Includes colorful gameboard, dice, game pawns, markers, lots of realistic bills and coins, and instruction booklet. For 2-4 players. Grades 2 and up.

Ages: 6-11 years
Amazon Price: $24.99

Name That Country Game

"Dear Pen Pal, Konnichi wa! We've been to see Mt. Fuji. Name my country! Sayonara, Michiko." Challenge your group with this fast-paced geography game, created in 1992 by Educational Insights, Inc. Everyone begins at the post office. Players twirl a finely printed spinner (built into the game board itself) to select one of 60 countries. If the player can correctly identify the country's location on the board's numbered map, he or she may advance along the path to the finish. Bonus moves are won by landing on "postcard" spaces, listening to the clues on one of the 40 postcards, and correctly identifying the pen pal's country. (The sample postcard above came from Japan.) A more challenging game can be achieved by requiring players to name the country's capital; answers are provided. --Liane Thomas (Amazon Editorial Review)

Ages: 4-9 years
Amazon Price: $19.99

Name That State Game

Take your kids on a cross-country trip! As they play this entertaining game, they'll learn locations, capital cities, and scenic features of all 50 states. Includes full-color gameboard, markers, game cards, spinner, and instructions. For 2-4 players, grades 3-8.

Ages: 8-15 years
Amazon Price: $19.99

GeoSafari Game of the States

Hop in the car for a fun-filled trip around the U.S. with the time-tested geography learning game played by schoolchildren for 40 years! One to four players answer their way around the country with 99 GeoSafari question cards featuring facts about each state. The first to reach four destination states wins! Includes colorfully illustrated gameboard, 50 state destination cards, 99 GeoSafari question cards, four plastic car game pieces, one die, label sheet, and instructions. Grades 3 and up.

Ages: 8-12 years
Amazon Price: $19.99

100x, 300x, 600x Microscope

For a rudimentary introduction to what a microscope can do, this Educational Insights toy fills the bill. At 8.25 inches high, it's small and bone simple. You can change the magnification (100x, 300x, or 600x), flip from mirror to battery-powered lamp illumination, and adjust the focus knob (which raises and lowers the combined eyepiece/lens unit). Two slides--plants and animals--are included, with four preparations on each one. If you want to look at something besides goldfish scales and bamboo shoots, there are three glass slides, tweezers, and a plastic dropper for concocting your own preparations (dust bunnies? spider legs?). Although the optics don't approach those of a professional microscope, the price doesn't compare either. And you get a good idea of the differences among levels of magnification. Extra bulb included. --Louise Carter (Amazon Editorial Review)

Ages: 8 years +
Amazon Price: $59.99