Gift Ideas for Little Geniuses

We all know that we have the sweetest, smartest, and most special children. But is there a way that we can nurture even more brilliance? Yes! Play that encourages imagination and critical thinking are some of the best for young minds. I have rounded up some of my favorite toys to get the wheels turning in those little brains.

LEGO

Lego is a perfect choice to foster creativity. It comes with building ideas to get kids started, but we all know that they are going to break it down and then build something amazing with it. I love that it encourages out of the box thinking. My favorites are the Lego Classic Creative boxes.

 

CODE-A-PILLAR

This is a fun toy for kids. The premise is to get kids thinking about cause and effect. They can assemble the Code-a-pillar in any order they like, push the button on the back and watch it go. It will start at the body and work its way down through the tail following the directions that were given. It comes with two right, two left, three straight, and a sound segment. It also comes with two pads to lay out on the floor where ever you would like as a guide of where you want the Code-a-Pillar to start and stop. You can add more segments including a U-turn, 360-degree turn, and silly sounds and lights. This is a super fun toy that will really get them thinking about how it get it to move all around the house.

 

PATTERN PLAY

While this one is all in the box, the thinking required is anything but. This is a huge hit at our house. Pattern Play comes with 40 different pattern cards to follow and is great for seeing things from different perspectives. Kids will love learning that all the pieces can fit neatly back in the box is many different ways.

COLOR KU

Color Ku is a version of sudoku that is only using colors. Kids will learn all the logical reasoning that sudoku teaches in an easily manipulated form. Mess up? All you have to do is move the colored ball. It includes 104 puzzle cards and other expansions are available. This is a great game that will keep them busy for a long time.

 

RUBIK’S CUBE

This classic toy is great for problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and cause and effect. Rubik’s cubes provide hours of screen-free fun and they are super portable.

Lewo Wooden Tumbling Tower

This cute tower teaches colors, hand-eye coordination, and physics. You have to build it up so that you can take it apart. Yes, it’s just like Jenga, but more colorful. And don’t you think colors make it more fun?

What are your favorite toys to keep little hands busy and young minds thinking?

Be sure to check out my other gift guides for more ideas.