Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Educational Gift Ideas Kids Love

By Judy Turner

Whether it is Christmas time, birthdays or another upcoming event, there are so many toys on the market that children are constantly asking for. While it is nice to surprise them with the latest "must have" toy, how about introducing them to a nice educational gift such as as an educational toy, board games or book. If your child has shown interest in one particular area, such as science or reading, an educational gift will be a lot of fun to the child as well as a great way to make learning fun.

A good idea for kids who seem to enjoy science would be the microscope. Since this educational gift will be used a long time you should think about splurging on a good, high quality microscope that will last for many years. Just be sure to shop around. You might be able to find a good microscope online for less cost than buying one locally.

Chemistry sets are another classic educational gift for kids who love science. Most chemistry sets are relatively inexpensive, and can be found at your local retailer as well as online.

Books for kids are also a wonderful way to add learning to the holidays. You can find many books inexpensively online and you can even plan to open the seasonal books on Christmas Eve so that you can celebrate the night before with a nice story. The great thing about buying books to mark the holidays is that the stories that you read will become a family tradition passed on to the next generation.

If you are choosing a book for a young reader but you aren't really sure of their reading level, just choose a book that is meant for their age range. Even if they are unable to read the book now they will be able to eventually. In the meantime they will enjoy having it read to them.

Educational board games are also a great choice for an educational gift for kids, especially those who are just learning about sportsmanship. Kids can learn by playing all kinds of board games, but those that are meant for their age level are the best choices for grade school children. Children who are preschool age should be given board games that teach basic skills, such as taking turns, colors and counting. Educational board games are also a nice way to start a weekly game night tradition. - 16003

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