Top 10 Learning Resources Toys
Learning Resources creates toys that make children use their thinking abilities as well as their physical qualities. Each one will build or exercise in the child critical thinking, problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, dexterity, motor skills, balance, imagination, and creativity while playing. Yes, this is quite a list of talents from just toys, but it is true that your child will gain these abilities with these excellent playthings. This buying guide is a composed list of the best of these toys that parents like and would recommend to other parents just like you. They also have hundreds of mostly positive reviews online also. Kids can play with these alone or with others because they are versatile in their form for both modes of play. We have critiqued them according to their design and what they do for the child physically, logically, and for entertainment. They are best for ages three and above.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 23 hrs of research
Promotes school readiness
Develops problem-solving, social interaction, and imagination
Large for several children to see and use
Folds up flat and fastens with a Velcro strap
Contains maps of US, world, and weather plus a calendar
- Pretend & Play School Set 149 Pieces
- Mathlink Cubes Set of 100 Cubes
- Jumbo Dinosaurs 5 Pieces
- New Sprouts Dinner Foods Basket
- Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set
- Primary Science Lab Activity Set
- Fishing Set 11 Pieces
- Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Building Set
- New Sprouts Fix It! 6 Pieces
- Mental Blox Critical Thinking Game
10 Best Learning Resources Toys Reviewed
1. Pretend & Play School Set 149 Pieces
Promotes school readiness
Develops problem-solving, social interaction, and imagination
Large for several children to see and use
Folds up flat and fastens with a Velcro strap
Contains maps of US, world, and weather plus a calendar
Does not come with dry erase markers
Board would not stand up for some people
Good for ages three to six the Pretend & Play School Set contains 149 pieces and promotes school readiness. The trifold board is travel-friendly and develops problem-solving, social interaction, and imaginative play.
Read moreThe set includes a hand pointer, a school bell that works, and a clock with operative hands. Accessories consist of report cards, sheets from a grade book, stickers, worksheets, awards, hall passes, not sheets, and erasable crayons. It is large enough for several children to see and use and provides three stand-up boards for viewing and writing. This terrific product folds up flat and fastens with a Velcro strap and is perfect for playing school with friends or family. There is a weather map, calendar, world map, and US map. Children can present the daily lessons, write on the board, and reward the good students with stickers.
Logic
Having the right mindset for something is crucial in how someone feels about an activity. If kids like the things that happen in school, then they will want to go. This cute playset is designed to encourage the thought of school.
Design
Made to look just like what a child would see in class, this trifold board with all of its extras is similar to being in school. Plenty of worksheets, notes, awards, and other pieces give kids lots to do.
Entertainment value
School can be fun if it is interesting and engaging. There are plenty of items included in the assortment for kids to have hours of fun in playing like they are in class. Role-playing is vital for social and verbal skills.
Physical development
Introducing the elements of school to very young kids is important, so they have the right attitude when they begin. This cute school set will give them the opportunity to use the supplies and develop their motor abilities.
2. Mathlink Cubes Set of 100 Cubes
Works for grouping by number or color
Each side of the cubes can link to other cubes
Teaches patterns, sorting, and counting
Ten colors for distinction and grouping
Small size fits well in small hands
Can be hard to connect and disconnect
Seemed bigger in the photos said a few buyers
Good for adding and counting by tens, fives, and ones to a hundred, the Mathlink Cubes come in an assorted set of 100 cubes in various bright solid colors.
Read moreSets of 200 are offered as well in these cute blocks that work well for grouping by number or color. This terrific product promotes academic success with mastering the skills for math and teaches patterns, sorting, counting, and early math abilities. The great set has ten colors for distinction and grouping and is made of durable and long-lasting plastic material. Each one is a good 0.75 inches in size that fits well in small hands. This item is best for children five and older.
Logic
There are smaller shapes in the cubes for identifying, such as the circle, square, triangle, pentagon, and hexagon. The cognitive thinking and problem-solving abilities of the child will be in full swing when using these cubes.
Design
Each side of the cubes can link to other cubes using the geometric cutouts for connecting and activities of complex patterning. They snap together easily to make math concepts clear to kids with visual and tactile learning.
Entertainment value
The bright solid colors are so attractive that children will want to use these cubes for all of their counting and grouping by shape and color. Because they connect, the fun does not have to stop with math.
Physical development
In putting these cubes together and taking them apart plus grouping and sorting the pieces, kids will gain many physical talents. These include motor abilities, dexterity, muscle development, and hand-eye coordination.
3. Jumbo Dinosaurs 5 Pieces
Pieces are durable, lightweight, and safe
Spurs curiosity and imaginative play
Animals are realistically detailed
Ideal for tactile and visual learners
An activity guide comes with the product
Parents concerned about the smell
Might not be good for those that still chew on toys
Including the five dinosaur types of Raptor, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and T. rex the Jumbo Dinosaur Set spurs curiosity and imaginative play concerning science.
Read moreGreat for three-years-old and older, the pieces are durable, lightweight, and safe for the dishwasher. They are also great for little hands for exploring the colors, shapes, and details of these creatures. The animals are realistically detailed, easy to clean with a damp cloth, and ideal for tactile and visual learners. Interesting scenes and stories can be engineered for make-believe fun. An activity guide comes with the product that has discussion starters and animal facts to get kids verbally active in learning about dinosaurs.
Logic
Using the activity guide while examining the toys will give kids a greater appreciation of these massive animals that once roamed the planet. Even toddlers can gain this knowledge for an early understanding of dinosaurs.
Design
With realistic detailing and being proportioned to size, these dinosaurs can be used alone for play or combined with other toys that would increase the enjoyment. They are made to be appreciated for the designs.
Entertainment value
The many dinosaurs that children see today in movies and on TV can be mimicked by kids with these figures. Using props for indoor or outdoor fun, the storytelling can get to be fantastic, especially if kids play in groups.
Physical development
Hand-eye coordination and motor abilities will be exercised with these splendid dinosaur models. Kids will want to hold them, grab them, and use them for role-playing and creating scenes of fun.
4. New Sprouts Dinner Foods Basket
Colorful and realistic in appearance
Durable and long-lasting play food assortment
Just the right size for small hands and fingers
Soft rubber-type plastic is pleasing to touch
All food items fit well into the shopping basket
Pieces were smaller than expected for a couple of people
Parents detected a plastic smell when opening
The New Sprouts Dinner Food Basket is colorful and realistic in appearance with eighteen pieces in total to use for play. Best for the ages of eighteen months and up, it is a durable and long-lasting play food assortment.
Read morePractice with loading the basket and emptying it is beneficial also. This item is part of the New Sprouts product line, and the pieces are just the right size for small hands and fingers. The cute basket gives shopping and storing opportunities, and all food items fit well into this basket. The pieces consist of a soft rubber-type of plastic that is pleasing to touch, crush-resistant, and durable. Besides the shopping basket, kids get a bowl, ice cream sandwich, pineapple ring, cucumber slices, tomato slices, lettuce leaves, corn, broccoli, baked potato, asparagus bundle, chicken breast, steak, and a glass of milk.
Logic
Kids can not only learn the terms and names of the foods depicted but also see how each one is supposed to look. They can identify the colors and numbers of the pieces too.
Design
Made of crush-resistant, high-quality plastic material, the set helps establish a healthy mindset for balanced and nutritious meals by presenting the healthiest choices that people can make for foods.
Entertainment value
It promotes taking turns in conversation when talking about the food objects and can be used to roleplay for dinner routines and traditions. These pieces are ideal for a dinner party for several children or family members.
Physical development
Loading up the shopping basket and unloading it after shopping is good for motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity in the early years. This will happen automatically without any thought of it occurring.
5. Farmer's Market Color Sorting Set
Purple, yellow, orange, green, and red foods and labels
Develops sorting abilities and color recognition
Comes with an activity guide for information
Teaches good food choices and healthy nutrition
All common veggies and fruits are represented
Some buyers missing all of one color of food group
A few of the foods are duplicated in different color sets
Including five realistic-looking wooden barrels to hold the food objects, the Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set contains vegetables and fruits in the 25-piece assortment.
Read moreThe barrels or baskets have the colors of the food items that go in it for sorting. There are purple, yellow, orange, green, and red foods and labels. It develops sorting abilities and color recognition skills, so kids can learn new foods and expand their vocabularies. This lovely product comes with an activity guide for information and user suggestions. Kids three and older are best suited for this toy as it promotes good nutrition and teaches about good food choices and healthy nutrition. All common veggies and fruits are represented in this variety that is ideal for four to ten-year-olds to play with.
Logic
Children will build their critical-thinking, cognitive, organizing, and recognition abilities to use this set correctly. It takes some skill to place all of the food in the right basket and name each one of them too.
Design
Made to look exactly like the foods they are intended to represent, these food pieces are real-looking and mouth-watering. It is hard to tell what is cuter – the adorable little baskets or the delicious food items. Yum!
Entertainment value
Learning the basic colors and the common foods that we eat can be a rewarding and exciting happening. Both boys and girls love to play with make-believe foods, such as this item, while role-playing and telling stories.
Physical development
There will be plenty of swapping and sorting going on in your home when kids get this cute set of foods and baskets. They will have fun tossing the food pieces in and out of the baskets while exercising their muscles and skills.
6. Primary Science Lab Activity Set
Good size for little hands to use
Encourages hands-on science investigations
Durable and long-lasting pieces
Contains activity cards that teach about science
Comes with simple experiments to try
Can make a mess with the experiments
Might be hard for kids to do by themselves
The Primary Science Lab Activity Set consists of twelve pieces and is a good size for little hands to use. It encourages hands-on experiences with science investigations and comes with simple experiments to try.
Read moreIncluded are measurement markings on the durable and long-lasting pieces for precise measurements during the experiments. The product contains activity cards that teach about the senses, physical science, nonliving and living things, and the science process. This set is colorful with all the basic colors represented and good for ages three and older. It includes test tubes, goggles, tweezers, a flask, eyedropper, funnel, beaker, and a magnifying glass to use for science fun and exploration.
Logic
Cognitive thinking and problem-solving talents are used when playing with this fabulous science lab and its many pieces. Imagination and creativity come into play as well when the mixing and pouring gets started.
Design
Everything is included to do the suggested experiments in the booklet that comes with this product. there are twelve pieces of lab equipment that is child-sized and safe to use over and over.
Entertainment value
Girls and boys will be excited to use this science lab in doing the science projects suggested. All kids love to try new things that are exciting, creative, and fun, so this will be a big hit in your family.
Physical development
Science kits can be very physical by nature with all of the measuring, mixing, and examining that goes on during the experiments. Kids will gain valuable motor and dexterity talents when using this item.
7. Fishing Set 11 Pieces
Contains eleven pieces of fishing gear
Works using magnets to hook the fish
Cute vest has pockets and three fasteners
Fish and worms are very colorful and bright
Activities in the booklet that are fish-themed
Does not come with the fake pond water as in the photo
Fish cannot be really “caught” using the worms
Let’s go fishing! The Fishing Set contains eleven pieces for kids three and older to use in their very own fishing expeditions.
Read moreEncouraging social skills, hand-eye coordination, fine motor talents, and imaginative play, it works using magnets to hook the fish. Included in the variety are an activity guide, fishing net, worms, fish, fishing pole, vest, and tackle box. The cute vest has real pockets and three fasteners for closing in the front and there are activities in the booklet that are fish themed. The fish and worms are very colorful and bright to keep kids interested, so they can fish all day and catch the beautiful fish over and over.
Logic
To use this set wisely and effectively, children will have to understand the basic concept of catching fish. They will realize with cause-and-effect that it takes them putting the pole in to make the fish hook onto the pole.
Design
You won’t even need to supply the fish with this cute toy, as they are a part of the mix. Everything to catch them including a vest to make the child feel professional is contained in this adorable plaything.
Entertainment value
Your little one might love fishing so much that they will be at this activity all day long. it is certainly cute enough to want to use and exciting enough with the useful accessories to do it for hours at least.
Physical development
Using the fishing pole to reel in the fish and put them back takes good coordination of the hands and eyes, balance, motor skills, and dexterity. Toys such as this one help greatly in developing these abilities in youngsters.
8. Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Building Set
Gives users endless designs and combinations
Parts are widely interchangeable
Promotes creativity and imagination
Is compatible with other sets of gears
Is a good STEM-approved toy
Did not interest some kids for very long
Does not come with suggestions or instructions for builds
Encourages fine motor abilities, problem-solving, and critical thinking, the Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Building Toy Set is an early-developmental STEM toy that contains 150 pieces.
Read moreFour-year-olds and up are best suited for this toy that builds personal self-esteem, perseverance, and confidence. Builds are made on flat grids with the many pieces that take regular building to another level with the gears and cranks. Creative engineering for little ones, it is good for kinesthetic and tactile learners and makes eye-appealing and interesting creations. Compatible with other sets of gears of the same type, it includes crank handles, interlocking bases, pillar connectors, axles, square pillars, and colorful gears.
Logic
Deciding what to build and how to make it is no easy task for kids that have this huge collection of multi-colored pieces. Cognitive thinking and problem-solving abilities will be at work when enjoying this item.
Design
It gives users endless designs and combinations for play since the parts are widely interchangeable. There are wiggly stems, ladybugs, bees, butterflies, flowers, and gears in a rainbow of colors.
Entertainment value
This terrific plaything is a new toy every time because the building is different always as it promotes creativity and imagination. It is good for one child or many since there are plenty of pieces and several grid bases.
Physical development
The most used abilities when playing with this incredible toy are fine motor talents, dexterity of the fingers, and hand-eye coordination. If the child is lacking these, then this assortment of pieces will aid them with gaining them.
9. New Sprouts Fix It! 6 Pieces
Easy to grasp and hold
The drill makes sounds when squeezed
Made from soft durable plastic material
Expands the imagination and storytelling talents
Makes the finger and hand muscles stronger
All tools do not fit in the box well
The drill did not work long for some kids
Kids can pretend to fix things around the house with this adorable little Fix It! Set of tools. It contains six pieces in the group and fits perfectly in little hands since they are chunky and easy to grasp and hold.
Read moreGood for those two and older, it is useful for imaginary projects and encourages play that expands the imagination and storytelling talents. The twisting of the wrench and screwdriver makes the finger and hand muscles stronger. The drill makes sounds when it is squeezed, and the whole toy is made from a soft durable plastic material that is safe for toddlers. Included is a toolbox to put all pieces in and a drill, wrench, screwdriver, hammer, and saw.
Logic
When children see adults using power tools and hand tools, they want to get in on the action too. With this set they can learn the names of the items and be educated on how they work and are held in the hands.
Design
The most common tools are included in the set to let kids have their own repair kit. They can work right along with the adults that usually do the building and repairs in the house.
Entertainment value
Making up scenarios of repair and building, little ones can act out their imaginative scenes and stories with these cute tools. They have the basic items for general fixes that could last hours.
Physical development
Children will get plenty of physical exertion with this plaything that will have them looking for things in the home to repair. Just putting the tools in and out of the box will gain them some valuable muscle development and motor skills.
10. Mental Blox Critical Thinking Game
Will increase the brain activity of kids
Made of plastic and are chunky in form
Includes four various shapes for the builds
Colorful stripes and dots are challenging and fun
Ideal for family activities
Can be either too challenging or too easy for kids
Overall quality disappointed some parents
The Mental Blox Critical Thinking Game includes twenty activity cards and twenty blocks for ages five and older in the very colorful hues of blue, purple, orange, and green.
Read moreThe multicolor shapes are matched, patterned, and stacked to match the pictures on the cards as they give examples of build types. It promotes critical thinking, asking of questions, following instructions that are verbally stated, and cognitive abilities. The blocks are made of plastic and are chunky in form to include four various shapes for the builds. Challenging and fun, it is ideal for family activities with the shapes of square pyramids, crosses, spheres, and cubes.
Logic
The colorful patterns on the blocks of stripes and dots make the designs more challenging and exciting. Kids must use their cognitive and critical thinking talents to solve the puzzles and come up with new ones.
Design
This is a 3D puzzle game that will increase the brain activity of kids with intriguing patterns and designs. Not only are the shapes of the pieces fantastically different but also the colors and printed designs.
Entertainment value
The wild colors and patterns on these cubes make the game both exciting and challenging to do. It is perfect for one child or several to duplicate the patterns of blocks on the cards.
Physical development
Fine motor skills and finger dexterity will be exercised greatly for kids using this set of interesting blocks. These are important to gain early for proper development and quick progression.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Logic
To use these Learning Resources toys, kids will have to use their mental capacities to get the most out of them. you will notice that they all have some component that gets the child to use their imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills to enjoy the item. Whether it is sorting colors and objects, creating structures with parts, or using chunky items to mimic adults, each one of these products has much to test the logic talents of toddlers and little kids.
Design
Each of these playthings has a different build and intention to make the child interested in using it. The design of an item is what makes it appealing and attractive for kids to play with them for hours at a time. This company uses plenty of bold solid colors to decorate their toys that are realistic in their form and easy to use. Since most of these are for toddlers, the shapes and sizes had to be simple for them to grasp and hold. Even though a few of these have plenty of pieces, they are all made to be safe and usable for the younger child.
Entertainment Value
Children will be overjoyed to receive any of these highlighted products because they are so cute and fun that they make adults want to play with them too. It will certainly be hard to select just one or two of these for your child because they are so fun to look at and engage within the simple play. You can expect kids to want to use these products for hours because they have much to teach with their fun pieces.
Physical Development
Since most of these toys are mentally challenging and test the thinking abilities of the child, they do not physically exert kids much. The physical talents that they will gain from these items consist of hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor abilities, balance, and finger dexterity. It is especially the building sets that will use these aspects to do well with them. Muscle development can also be exercised with a few of these toys that have child sorting, mixing, or blending objects during play.
The absolute best toys are those that can be used in a number of different ways by the child. these would include water and sand toys for the beach or pool area, sorting cups, and blocks, blocks that interlock, and regular building blocks.
To gain problem-solving skills and exploration, children need the opportunity to be able to figure out something on their own. Toys that develop these abilities are crayons, paint, playdough, shape-sorters, blocks, and all sorts of puzzles.
Other Factors to Consider
Age Range
Toddlers above the age of three are the best candidates for playing with these items. Kids younger than that will not be interested in the deeper levels of the playing but may be attracted to the shapes, colors, and designs of the toys. It is never too early to begin children with the more difficult items of learning, as there is always something they can take away mentally or physically from interacting with a toy.
Educational Value
It is not only the Play School Set that is featured that will teach your child something when playing with it. all of these toys have the ability to leave the child with more talents or skills to carry them further in their educations. Sometimes it is the simplest items that can do the best, such as a basic color sorting toy or a building set. In the mind of the child, there is plenty of activity just to do the basic movements and decisions. Each of these toys is excellent for introducing new concepts and building on older ones that were already learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Which toys featured are best for families to enjoy together?
Any of the toys with plenty of pieces are good for multiple users, such as the Mental Blox, Gears Set, Science Lab, School Set, and the Mathlink Cubes. There are plenty of pieces for everyone with these.
q: Which toys are the best for travel and away from home?
Having the least number of pieces or the largest pieces are the Jumbo Dinosaurs, the Food Basket, the Famer’s Market Set, and the Fix It! Tools. These would not cause problems while traveling or away from home.
q: Are any of these specific for girls or boys?
No, not really. Boys may favor the toolset, dinosaurs, and fishing gear, but girls like to play with these too. All of the rest are basic building or sorting sets that appeal to both sexes equally.
q: What is the most common complaint concerning these listed toys?
Parents will at some time or another purchase a toy that their child does not take an interest in or does not like at all. This is a common problem and not really the fault of the manufacturer or the toy itself. As humans with varied personalities and preferences, we like different things, so this is to be expected. Kids did not like some of these playthings, but they all have excellent rating from buyers, so they are terrific items.
q: Which toys are not good for infants or toddlers because of a lack of a lot of small pieces?
All of these toys have at least five pieces or more, but some of them have large ones that would not be a problem for infants or little kids. Those would be the Jumbo Dinosaurs, the Dinner Food Basket, the Famer’s Market Sorting Set, and the New Sprouts Fix It! toy.
q: Are any of these items good for toddlers?
The recommended aged for the majority of these items begin with age three or so. Some thinking and physical abilities are needed to understand and enjoy the toys. Advanced kids may be able to use these products at an earlier age than what is stated, so don’t depend too much on the ages. It is always best to start early with toys that have much to teach the child.
Sources
- Role-Playing Games and Kids, Online Article ,
- How to Stimulate a Child's Mind, Online Article ,
- Learning Resources, Amazon ,