You can teach your child to read before he or she can speak; or to count; or to recognize shapes and numbers. Family budget, however at a minimal for toys with the cost of living today. We have selected a few thinking toys and games for your toddler that won’t break your bank or make a dent in your wallet or purse. Pick the ones you like and let the family learning and fun begin!
1. Balancing Baker Stacking Cakes Game – $16.89
A fun-tastic teaching toy for a child to learn the concept of weight and balance. With a little see-saw action from the baker’s counter, your toddler will use hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills to balance all 16 colorful wooden stacking cakes. Oops, even if the cakes fall, it’s still fun.
2. Spot it! Numbers & Shapes – $9.95
Children don’t like math. “Mom, it’s so boring!” Start early and teach your young child to identify numbers and geometric shapes. Learning game contains 31 cards, each featuring a variety of 6 colorful symbols. There is only one match between any two cards.
3. Zingo! Sight Words – $18.99
Fast-paced toy for tykes geared for quick recognition to read sight words, which make up about 50-75% of all written material. Words on cards are the considered the most fundamental words for reading development by top educators. The game contains 72 picture tiles, 8 cards and 1 dispenser. Two-sided cards offer two levels of play. First child to cover all the images on his or her cards wins!
4. Farm Animals Sound Blocks Electronic Learning Toy – $18.79
Old MacDonald Had A Farm – but all you need are sound blocks. When two blocks are matched they make the sound of a barnyard animal: a horse, cow, dog, sheep, pig or rooster. Your toddler will learn sound perception and motor skills.
5. Fish-a-ree! Measuring Game – $14.99
Dad caught a fish and it was THAT big. Teach your young one how to measure by understanding how to read a ruler. Fish in the pond are different lengths. Each child draws a number card, and then tries to land two fish whose lengths total that number. Use the retractable measure tape to check size of fish. Learn both how to measure and sharpen memory skills. Toy contains 1 pond platform, 10 fish, 12 cards and 1 tape measure.
6. Owl Time-Teaching Clock – $9.95
Your child tugs at your shirt – “When’s lunch?” Teach them how to tell time. This owl clock has a traditional side with moveable hour and minute hands plus a numeric time window. Back side is a chalkboard clock face so your toddler can draw in the hour and minute hands to match the digital time flashcards. It’s a hoot! Contents include a wood clock with chalkboard, 8 double-sided flashcards, 2 pieces of chalk and an activity guide.
7. Classic ABC Block Cart Wooden Toy – $14.95
Classic learning toy with a wheeled cart that features 30 brightly painted solid wood alphabet blocks, each with a colorful collection of pictures on its side. Teach the ABC’s and 0-1-2-3 in any room in the house with this portable building block set.
8. Pretend Money Chet the Cat 7-Piece Playset – $11.29
Teach your toddler the value of a dollar with play money! Oversized yet realistically designed coins and bills are virtually indestructible. Set coins include one penny, one nickel, one dime and one quarter. Tear proof bills in domination of one dollar, five dollars and a ten dollar bill. You son or daughter will learn counting skills, number recognition and monetary value.