10 Best Kids Globes Rated and Reviewed in 2024
Our planet is interesting to the young and old alike and we never stop learning more details of this fascinating world. We have compiled a list of the most often reviewed and the best globes for kids that manufacturers are offering currently to spark an interest in geography for your child. although they are widely varied in form, texture, size, and details, each one has valuable information to teach the child whether they are very young or older. We rate these products in their design, educational value, ease of use, and appropriate age range. While most are the traditional globes often seen, we have found several exciting and uncommon globes that your child may enjoy. Try the puzzle globe for toddlers, the soft pillow-like globe for comfort, or the inflatable globe for a hanging decoration or ball to toss. These superb globes prove that learning geography can be exciting!
In a Hurry? The test winner after 57 hrs of research
Details and wording are easy to see
Can be used in the dark as it lights up
Base is non-tip and durable
Right size for little hands as a first globe
Construction is high quality
- Little Experimenter Illuminated
- Learning Resources Inflatable 11 Inch
- USA Toyz Illuminated Constellation 3-in-1
- Oregon Scientific Smart
- Shifu Orboot: Augmented Reality
- Advantus 12 Inch Desktop
- Edu-Toys 5" Desktop Political
- Learning Resources Puzzle
- Hugg-A-Planet Classic Political
- Waypoint Geographic Scout 12"
10 Best Kids Globes Reviewed
1. Little Experimenter Illuminated
Details and wording are easy to see
Can be used in the dark as it lights up
Base is non-tip and durable
Right size for little hands as a first globe
Construction is high quality
Some parents do not think the quality matches the price
The seam of the equator was disappointing to a few buyers
The Illuminated World Globe for Kids is an eight-inch globe that is interactive and colorful with details that are easy to see. It identifies regional, continental, and international boundaries and can be used in the dark as it lights up.
Read moreWith LED lights for learning at night, this kids globe will educate children with its wonderfully labeled capitals, deserts, countries, bodies of water, and continents. It is the right size for little hands as a first globe for kids with a base that is non-tip and durable. The world map is updated fully, and the construction is of high quality. It shows children in a realistic miniature form the world they live in. It is operated with AA batteries that are not included with the purchase.
Design
One of the best features of this product is the ability of the globe to light up with the LED lights. It makes learning much more fun and exciting for kids to learn where everything is in perspective.
Age range
As this eight-inch size is ideal for anyone to use, this small globe is not just for kids. College students and adults of any age can benefit from having this terrific globe for children in their possession.
Ease of use
Much better than a flat map of the earth, children can analyze and handle this model well, as it spins 360-degrees for a full view. Only with such a tool can they grasp the size and shape of this planet.
Educational value
This globe for kids is a valuable tool for the study of current events, social studies, history, geopolitics, and geography. It is never too early to begin the study of the planet we live on.
2. Learning Resources Inflatable 11 Inch
Can be used to play a game of catch
All details are printed on the globe with clarity
Has a loop at the top to permit hanging
Comes with an activity guide and a repair kit
Can be deflated to a packable size for storing
The latitude lines do not line up correctly
The states of the US are not named (has some cities though)
Almost a foot across in width, the Inflatable Globe from Learning Resources can be used to play a game of catch as with a regular ball or for studying the planet.
Read moreThis kids globe has a loop at the top to permit hanging for a display and is lightweight and sturdy. Great for those six-years-old and older, this fabulous globe comes with an activity guide and a repair kit for air leaks. The educational guide has games included to make the learning fun and challenging. It can be deflated to a packable size for storing when not in use and is good for children’s bedrooms, parties, and classrooms.
Design
Made to be fun and interactive, this amazing inflatable globe for children will get the attention of children better than regular globe models. They will also enjoy the challenging educational guide for fun facts and games.
Age range
Kids aged six and older will take to this inflatable globe for children the best, as younger children will not understand what it represents so much. It will look great in any room of the home and classrooms too.
Ease of use
Just inflate this product and you are ready to play or analyze all of the labeled land and water masses of the earth. It easily deflates too when you want to pack it away and use it later on.
Educational value
Learning about our planet does not have to be boring or done with a regular desk-type globe. Kids may be more receptive to having this inflatable model, as they can toss it around as a toy sometimes too.
3. USA Toyz Illuminated Constellation 3-in-1
Night light, regular globe, and constellation globe
Illuminated constellations with the LED lights
Includes the LED light bulb and a gift guide
Access to the globe app for learning fun
Perfect STEM toy for motor and problem-solving abilities
Is smaller than a standard classroom globe
A few people received items with the coating peeling
This World Globe for kids from USA Toyz is a three-in-one globe that acts as a night light, a regular globe, and a constellation globe. The geography is finely detailed on the regular globe, and the night globe has illuminated constellations with the LED lights.
Read moreThere are 88 outstanding constellations on this globe for kids that are properly named for identification. It comes with a gift guide that has the mythology, locations, and names of the stellar nighttime display. Included are the LED light bulb needed for operation and a stronger, more durable base than regular desk globes. It gives kids access to the globe app for learning the fun of geography and astronomy and is the perfect STEM toy for the development of motor skills and problem-solving talents.
Design
The kids globe shows reefs, deserts, rivers, and oceans when not lit, and it identifies the major stars, planets, constellations, and navigational lines for the night version. This globe also serves as a fantastic night light.
Age range
At 9 inches across and 13.5 inches high, this fantastic globe for kids is good for those three years of age and up. Even at three, kids can benefit from looking at this globe to understand some basic ideas of this planet.
Ease of use
Depending on what the child wants to know and study will depend on whether they view it in the light or the dark of the room. There is so much more to learn on this globe than others, especially with the included the app.
Educational value
Better than regular globes that just show the geography of the earth, this one does double duty by displaying the night constellations when it is lit in the dark.
4. Oregon Scientific Smart
Speaks and talks with fun facts
More than 2,000 pieces of verbal information
Nineteen fun games of world facts
Highly portable to go anywhere
Includes access to the SmartGlobe AR app
Pen does not work well sometimes
Comes on loud each time when turned on
The base of the Oregon Scientific Smart Globe for kids is special for learning so many things not possible with a normal globe. It speaks and talks with fun facts to kids with more than 2,000 pieces of embedded information in digital memory.
Read moreThere is a connected digital pen that children can use to pinpoint certain locations of interest on the globe making learning fun and exciting. Great for ages five and up, this marvelous globe for children has nineteen fun games for learning world facts. Included is access to the SmartGlobe AR app that features dinosaurs and animals too. Colorful and engaging, this amazing globe has a local map for home country exploration and an Ultimate Challenge aspect to test the child’s knowledge.
Design
All countries are colored differently for each identification and locating, plus the Smart Pen topics include populations, capitals, currencies, countries, and continents.
Age range
Those five and older will enjoy this globe for kids the most, as it is this age that seems the most inquisitive about their surroundings and placement in the world. It is a great time to learn of our planet.
Ease of use
Just insert the necessary batteries and start enjoying the thrills of the Smart Pen and the many activities that kids can do. The operation is so easy that young kids can use it by themselves successfully.
Educational value
Not only can children see the places on this kids globe and read their names, but with the Smart Pen, they can also hear about each place they point to for the most interactive globe ever.
5. Shifu Orboot: Augmented Reality
Stickers for country flags, a stamp, and a passport
More than 1,000 interesting facts and over 400 highlights
Plenty of stickers and a cool travel kit
Engaging with music and voices and 3D
Has challenges, quizzes, mysteries, and coin rewards
Is not really usable without the help of the app
Technology is great but need some work
A good STEM toy for those aged four to ten is this app-based Augmented Reality Interactive Globe for kids that does not have any labels or borders on it. The app is functional and free for Android and iOS devices to be interactive, educational, and fun for kids.
Read moreThis globe for children is ten inches in diameter and comes with a help guide that is quite detailed, stickers for country flags, a stamp, and a passport. The app topics include weather, maps, animals, inventions, cultures, and monuments and will ignite the curiosity and imagination in your child. Plenty of stickers and a cool travel kit will make children think they are on a cool global adventure, especially since the information is enhanced with music, voices, and 3D.
Design
What children will experience is a trip around the planet of augmented reality meaning that there are no borders or name labels on the globe surface.
Age range
Those aged four to ten will love this kids globe and all it has to offer for curious and inquisitive minds. At this age, children will be able to operate the globe on their own and enjoy the provided extras.
Ease of use
It may seem strange at first to see a globe without borders or words for labels, but when your child begins with the app learning, the benefits will be clear. It gets them to focus more on the country information than the exact geography.
Educational value
This terrific globe for kids builds cognitive abilities, linguistics, and knowledge, plus it features more than 1,000 interesting facts and over 400 highlights.
6. Advantus 12 Inch Desktop
Regular globe of normal size and proportion
Blue oceans and countries of various colors
Great for the classroom or the home
Base and a full meridian of silver finish
Thousands of features and locations
Circular ring was bent when received for a few buyers
Some small places are not labeled or included at all
The Advantus Desktop World Globe is a regular globe of normal size and proportion with blue oceans and countries of various colors. It is terrific for the classroom or the home.
Read moreThis incredible model has a base and a full meridian of silver finish that is pleasant to the eye and sturdy. The superb globe shows thousands of features and locations in colors that are contrasting and bright. The oceans indicate the raised relief and physical features under the water. It also indicates the natural colors of grasslands, forests, mountains, and deserts in every country and on each continent.
Design
Created to be a valuable learning aid for those studying geography, social studies, history, and political science, this item is very informative and accurate in its positioning and labeling.
Age range
Suitable for any age of child or adult, this desktop globe is basic in its functioning and purpose. Toddlers will like looking at it and spinning it on its axis, while older kids will be interested in the labels and places shown.
Ease of use
There is nothing to assemble or connect when you receive this product. It is ready to use as is for immediate learning of the bodies of water and land masses of our planet.
Educational value
Some globes for kids come with extra study materials or have smart features to educate kids further. This one educates kids in the normal basic way of just exhibiting the geography of the earth and its land and water forms.
7. Edu-Toys 5" Desktop Political
Is economical and informational
Sturdy construction is child-friendly
Labeled well and clear
Good size for children’s small hands
Separates into two pieces and the base
Not as detailed as larger globes
Small print can be distorted or hard to read
With a plastic base and ring that are smoke black in color, this splendid Desktop Political Globe for kids is a small five inches in size which is perfect for a desk.
Read moreEconomical and informational, this globe for children has a sturdy construction that is child-friendly and separates into two pieces and the base. This globe is a good size for children’s small hands and best for ages eight to twelve. It is labeled well and clear with the wording, plus the coloration is correct with blue bodies of water and countries of various bright colors for easy locating.
Design
All of the labels and coloration that you would find on a larger normal globe are included on this smaller version too. It is strong to withstand rough handling from small kids and is colorful and interesting to them too.
Age range
Although the manufacturer states that this kids globe is best for eight to twelve-year-olds, even smaller children can benefit from analyzing this product. It gives them a chance to see all land and water formation in one place.
Ease of use
Small fingers can easily manipulate and navigate this petite globe product. they may not notice or be interested in the written labels, but they can locate the continents, countries, and bodies of water easily.
Educational value
Just like a normal desk-type globe that you find in schools or homes, this one has all the details but is just a fraction of the size. It is a good introductory globe for kids to show them the world for the first time.
8. Learning Resources Puzzle
Teaches landmarks, oceans, and continents
Is a puzzle that is challenging and fun
Uses tactile interactive play to teach geography
Pieces are chunky and large to be easy to grab
Each piece fits precisely in the globe
Antarctica does not come off the globe
Some people experienced loose pieces
The Learning Resources Puzzle Globe Toy has a strong durable base and rotates well for a full view around. It teaches the names and locations of landmarks, oceans, and continents.
Read moreIt comes recommended by the Parents’ Choice Foundation and the Mom’s Choice Awards since it uses tactile interactive play to teach geography to toddlers. Fine motor abilities and spatial relationships are promoted with this exciting colorful globe for kids. There are six continent pieces of South and North America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Asia with fourteen pieces included in all. These pieces are continents, labels, and stickers.
Design
The water and the base are bright blue, and the pieces are chunky and large making them easy to grab and hold. This globe for children is designed to teach the basics of the globe to toddlers.
Age range
Good for prekindergarten and older, this wonderful puzzle is challenging and fun to be played many times. With repetition, kids will learn exactly where the continents go and what is special there.
Ease of use
Each piece fits precisely into the globe for kids, and the bottom piece for Antarctica is stationary. Since it is mainly for very little children, the pieces are large and easy to grip for tiny hands.
Educational value
Each continent on this globe for kids is appropriately and clearly labeled with colorful images depicting famous landmarks and native animals shown on each puzzle piece.
9. Hugg-A-Planet Classic Political
Can be machine washed
Includes labels for 600 places
Indicates west, south, east, and north
Soft and cushiony
Detailed and vibrantly colored
Not perfectly round and can become misshapen easily
Wording can be hard to read in some spots
Made of cotton material and machine washable, the Hugg-A-Planet Political Earth Globe for kids is a soft and cushiony tool to introduce kids to the geography of our planet.
Read moreThis globe for children includes labels for 600 places with the countries brightly colored in different hues. Good for two-year-olds and up, it is detailed and a foot in diameter. This soft pillow globe not only shows the borders of the continents, but also indicates the directions of west, south, east, and north on the surface. Although it is not the standard kids globe for learning, it could very well be the item that sparks a geographical interest in your child for further learning.
Design
Made soft as a pillow, this functional kids globe is politically correct with its labels and positions of geographical places. kids will love the soft texture and the ability to use it as a pillow in their room.
Age range
Toddlers as young as two will enjoy this colorful and exciting soft globe. There is no age limit, as it would look nice in classrooms, dorms, and anywhere in the home.
Ease of use
Use this terrific globe for kids as a study aid or an interesting pillow for a child’s room, as it is quite versatile in its usage. It may indirectly encourage the learning of geography for your child.
Educational value
All of the details and coloration that you would find on a normal desk-type globe are on this lovely stuffed model too. It is a political globe with all land masses and water bodies clearly shown.
10. Waypoint Geographic Scout 12"
Identifies over 4,000 places by name
Is up to date with the latest world data
Included stand is durable and sturdy
Gives the topography of the oceans
Includes a time dial
Material can be flimsy
Equator is thick and obscures some places
The Waypoint Geographic Scout Globe has a unique construction and great coloration. It identifies over 4,000 places by name and is up to date with the latest world data.
Read moreThis terrific globe for kids is twelve inches in diameter and usable for kids, teachers, and students. The included stand is durable and sturdy, will smoothly rotate, and comes already assembled. It helps with learning the geography of cities, countries, continents, and bodies of water with its kid-friendly and interesting form. Great to use for homeschooling, the text is easy to see and read and the blue ocean topography is detailed.
Design
This award-winning design for a study kids globe is one of the best offered online in the regular-sized format. It is large enough to see the printed words clearly and the topography of the oceans well.
Age range
Children over the age of six will reap the most benefit from this informative globe. They should be able to learn the basics of the continents, countries, oceans, and directional points in the beginning.
Ease of use
Everything is clearly labeled from bodies of water to individual countries and cities. The various bright colors make borders simple to distinguish and countries easy to find making it one of the best globes for kids on the market.
Educational value
Your child can practice learning the over 4,000 named places on this globe either at home or at school. This globe for children is perfect for classrooms, homeschooling, or just general knowledge about geography.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Design
No matter what form the manufacturer took in creating these globes, they all have one thing in common. They each depict the land masses and oceans of this planet in some way or another. While most of them are quite detailed and labeled very well, others are more basic with just the continents being the land focus. Kids can learn plenty with such simple globes and never learn enough with the more intricate ones. Each is created to spark an interest in geography and help children along the way in obtaining their global knowledge.
Age Range
Since even infants mentally absorb everything they hear and see, it is never too early to begin teaching geography in the home. Globe toys are highly positive items that can encourage a love of geography that can last a lifetime. Most of these products are for kids ages three and older with no age limit, of course, because learning never stops. Children in the six to ten-year range will be the most excited to have one of these globes for their education and curiosity about the earth.
Ease of Use
Globes are so simple to use, but they do take some time to understand fully. There are so many places to learn about the type of land and water bodies to discover. Kids should begin their global education as early as possible with some sort of globe as a toy or pillow to get them in the right frame of mind for geography. It will help them further in their educations to be familiar with the vocabulary early.
Educational Value
Little kids will, of course, not gain as much information about a globe as older ones will, but even toddlers can benefit from using and analyzing a globe. They can quickly know the oceans and continents, to begin with, and then later-on learn the countries and smaller bodies of water. the puzzle globe featured in this guide is the best for the earliest education of the earth because it is basic and straight-forward. Older kids will love looking at all the places and various land masses that our world contains.
Begin teaching your child about maps and globes at a young age so they have plenty of time to build on the knowledge they gain gradually. There is so much to learn about geography that it takes time to mentally absorb the terminology and the detailed concepts of our world.
A few basic concepts that even the youngest of toddlers can understand and practice with a globe are the identification and location of the seven world continents, the five vast oceans, and the easy cardinal directions of West, East, South, and North.
Other Factors to Consider
Entertainment Value
A globe can be very entertaining with time well spent in locating and discovering places of interest. To develop this thirst for geographical knowledge, start early with a globe of some sort, so the child can become excited in learning. Plenty of games and challenges can be enjoyed with other children and family members to encourage kids to learn all they can about this wonderful planet. Some of the smart globes listed on this page have some great ideas to get children active and interested in a globe.
Texture
Being that these globes all differ in their form and style, they also are varied in their texture and materials. There is an inflatable one of plastic and a fabric one made into a pillow. The others are more traditionally formed into a globe on a stand with a ring that pivots for observation. The inflatable and the pillow globes will inspire kids to take an interest in geography to further explore their world and this planet later in their education.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What is a good simple explanation for a child as to the difference between globes and maps?
Just the obvious truth should suffice for a child’s curiosity. Tell them that maps are flat representations of an area, which can be of any place including the whole planet, and globes are representative of the earth’s shape in miniature form. A map can be of a particular area, town, city, state, or country alone, while the globe is of this entire planet.
q: What are some good things to show little kids about globes?
The difference in water and land is a good place to start. Let them see the different colors and shapes indicating these areas in blue for the water and green for the land. The continents and the oceans can be identified and located, along with the location where the child is at the very moment. This will bring into perspective exactly how large this planet is for the child.
q: Does it matter what size the globe for kids is?
Not really. The smaller ones are better for holding in their small hands, but the larger ones have better details and larger print. A first globe should be just a starting point in understanding this planet, the bodies of water, the continents and countries, and basic navigation techniques.
q: How do these kids globes differ the most?
The materials they are made of is the first major difference as most of them are the regular desk-type globes for study, while the others are very different. There is an inflatable globe, a stuffed globe, and several that are smart globes with interactive activities for kids. You would use the age of the child for the best judge in which one to purchase for them.
q: What is one of the most used complaints that customers have about these globes online?
Since not all buyers look at all the posted information and product details before purchasing, the size and features of the items can be a surprise when they are received. For instance, the diameter of each one is given in the details, but many people are surprised about the size when they get it. some of the smart globes can have kinks in their electronic functioning to be aggravating to parents and disappointing to children.
q: Do all of these globes fit on a desktop to be used?
No, they do not. Most of them do, but the inflatable one can be used as a ball to toss around or hung from a high place. The one that is stuffed like a pillow can be used as such and also for learning the geography of this planet.
Sources
- Teaching Your Child About Maps And Globes – Make Understanding And Interpretation Easy, Online Article ,
- Know All About Maps, Online Article ,
- Getting Students Ready to Use the Globe - Grade 6+, Online Article ,