10 Educational Toys That Will Keep Kids Engaged (and Learning!) in 2025
July 18, 2025
Overview
Spark your child's curiosity and foster a love of learning with these 10 engaging educational toys perfect for 2025! From interactive games to creative building sets and science kits, this guide provides a diverse selection of toys that blend fun and education seamlessly. Discover the latest innovations and classic favorites that will captivate kids of all ages while nurturing their problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity. These carefully selected toys are designed to keep children entertained and learning long after the initial excitement wears off.
Our picks
The Best Building Blocks for Creative Construction: MAGNA-TILES Classic 32-Piece Set, $34.99
The Most Engaging Interactive Game for Family Night: ThinkFun Gravity Maze, $19.58
The Best Coding Kit for Aspiring Tech Wizards: Lego Education Spike Prime, $471.99
The Best Science Kit to Spark a Love of Discovery: National Geographic Science Magic Kit, $24.99
The Best Creative Toy to Unleash Artistic Potential: Craft & Carry Supply Station, $39.95
The Most Fun Puzzle to Challenge Young Minds: Osmo Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet, $54.99
The Best Educational Toy to Inspire STEM Skills: Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 by Learning Resources, $61.79
Building Blocks for Budding Builders
Classic building sets and construction toys that inspire creativity and problem-solving skills.
7.5
Listful
Score
MAGNA-TILES Classic 32-Piece Set
$34.99
Our review of the MAGNA-TILES Classic 32-Piece Set reveals its impeccable build quality and compatibility with other sets, making it a versatile choice for young builders. While the price is on the higher side and the 32 pieces may limit complex constructions, the set excels in fostering STEM skills like spatial awareness and creativity. Made from food-grade, non-toxic plastic, it's a safe and durable option for encouraging imaginative play and critical thinking.
The Good
• Compatible with all other MAGNA-TILES sets, allowing for expanded building possibilities.
• Made from food-grade, non-toxic MABS plastic, ensuring safety for children.
The Bad
• The 32-piece set may be limiting for building larger or more complex structures.
• Priced higher compared to similar magnetic tile sets, which may affect perceived value.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 3-99 years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Fine Motor Skills,Creativity,Spatial Awareness
Interactive Games to Ignite Curiosity
Engaging board games and puzzles designed to make learning fun for kids of all ages.
8
Listful
Score
Osmo Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet
$54.99
The Osmo Genius Starter Kit for Fire Tablet successfully bridges physical and digital learning, making it a favorite among interactive educational tools with an 8/10 score. It captivates young minds aged 6-10 through a variety of STEM-focused games, though setup can be challenging due to compatibility issues. Despite occasional glitches, it stands out for reducing passive screen time and engaging children with tactile elements like game pieces, enhancing their critical thinking and creativity.
The Good
• Engages children with interactive, hands-on learning games that combine physical pieces with digital play.
• Encourages physical interaction, reducing passive screen time by involving tangible game pieces.
• Offers a variety of educational games that cater to different skill levels and subjects.
The Bad
• Setup can be challenging, especially with compatibility issues requiring additional adapters for newer Fire tablets.
• Tablet must be removed from its case to fit into the Osmo base, which can be inconvenient.
• Some users report occasional glitches during gameplay, affecting the overall experience.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 6-10 years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Fine Motor Skills,Creativity,Spatial Awareness
6
Listful
Score
PAW Patrol Pup Pad
$41.99
The PAW Patrol Pup Pad is a delightful entry into interactive play, providing kids aged 3-5 with imaginative rescue missions and 18 authentic sounds. Its engaging design fosters fine motor skills and problem-solving, though limited durability and quick loss of interest are drawbacks. Ideal for young fans of the iconic series, our experience shows it's best suited for short bursts of play, with creativity at its core despite traditional innovation.
The Good
• Encourages imaginative play and problem-solving during rescue missions.
• Features 18 different sounds directly from PAW Patrol.
• Helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
The Bad
• Some users reported limited durability, with sounds ceasing after a few months.
• The toy's size may be too large for younger children.
• Limited playability may lead to quick loss of interest.
Educational Focus: Problem Solving / Recommended Age Range: 3-5 years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Fine Motor Skills,Creativity
6.5
Listful
Score
PlayShifu Smart Globe
$37.99
The PlayShifu Smart Globe enriches learning with its interactive app, engaging children aged 4-10 in explorative activities that spark curiosity. During our review, we noted its occasional app connectivity issues and the lack of country boundaries as key limitations. Despite these, it offers a rich STEM experience, promoting critical thinking and spatial awareness through high-tech innovation, making geography both entertaining and educational.
The Good
• The interactive app enhances learning experience with engaging activities.
The Bad
• App connectivity can be a bit temperamental, especially in low light.
• The globe lacks country boundaries, which may limit geographical context.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 4-10 years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Creativity,Spatial Awareness
7.5
Listful
Score
ThinkFun Gravity Maze
$19.58
ThinkFun's Gravity Maze captivates young minds with its gravity-powered marble run, earning a 7.5/10 for enhancing critical thinking in children 8 and up. While more challenging puzzles may require adult assistance, it nurtures STEM skills through 60 diverse challenges. Although the limited piece count can restrict creativity, it offers an exciting, brain-boosting experience that encourages strategic planning and spatial reasoning.
The Good
• Enhances critical thinking and spatial reasoning skills through engaging gameplay.
• Offers 60 challenges with increasing difficulty, catering to various skill levels.
The Bad
• Some challenges may be too difficult for younger players, requiring adult assistance.
• Limited piece count may restrict creativity and complex designs.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 8+ years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Spatial Awareness
Coding Kits for Future Tech Wizards
Introduce kids to the world of coding with hands-on kits and interactive programming tools.
6.5
Listful
Score
Lego Education Spike Prime
$471.99
Lego Education Spike Prime offers a robust STEM experience with 32 lesson plans, meeting key educational standards and promoting design thinking. Although its high tech innovation doesn't fully eclipse previous models, it remains a powerful tool for budding engineers aged 10 and up. Despite a high price point, it's remarkable for spurring creativity and critical problem-solving, though experienced users might view it as less of an upgrade over earlier versions.
The Good
• Includes 32 lesson plans that capture valuable STEM standards and design thinking concepts.
The Bad
• The SPIKE Prime set fixes some of the issues that plagued the EV3 system, it doesn't seem like an upgrade 6 years in the making.
• The SPIKE Prime set fixes some of the issues that plagued the EV3 system, it doesn't seem like an upgrade 6 years in the making.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 10+ years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Creativity,Problem Solving
8.5
Listful
Score
Botley The Coding Robot 2.0 by Learning Resources
$61.79
Botley The Coding Robot 2.0, scoring 8.5/10, is an excellent tool for introducing coding to young learners aged 5-10. It offers engaging, screen-free coding lessons, promoting problem-solving skills through simple commands and sequences. While users noted occasional navigation accuracy issues, Botley’s ability to function without additional devices makes it accessible and straightforward, inspiring kids to delve into programming with ease. This innovative STEM toy aids creative exploration and critical thinking.
The Good
• Botley 2.0 offers screen-free coding, allowing children to learn programming concepts without additional devices.
• The robot can be programmed for sequences up to 150 steps, enhancing problem-solving skills.
The Bad
• Some users report that Botley 2.0's turning accuracy is inconsistent, affecting precise navigation.
• Multiple Botley units may interfere with each other due to operating on the same frequency.
Educational Focus: Coding / Recommended Age Range: 5-10 years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Creativity,Problem Solving
Science Kits to Spark Scientific Minds
Explore scientific concepts with fun experiments and educational science kits for kids.
9
Listful
Score
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit
$35.49
The Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 is a standout in our guide with a 9/10 rating, delivering 100 diverse electronic projects and user-friendly, solder-free design. Its comprehensive manual fosters independent learning in kids aged 8+, making it perfect for novices. While repeated use may lead to familiar projects, its ability to build fundamental STEM skills with clear instructions makes it invaluable for young tinkerers eager to explore electronics.
The Good
• The kit includes over 100 projects, offering a wide variety of engaging activities for children.
• The snap-together design eliminates the need for soldering, making it user-friendly for beginners.
• The kit's comprehensive project manual provides clear instructions and illustrations, facilitating independent learning.
The Bad
• Some users have noted that the projects can become repetitive after a while.
• Younger children may need assistance, particularly when it comes to grasping the underlying electronic concepts.
• The kit requires two AA batteries, which are not included.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 8 years and up / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Creativity,Problem Solving
7
Listful
Score
National Geographic Science Magic Kit
$24.99
The National Geographic Science Magic Kit, rated 7/10, transforms learning into an exciting adventure by merging science experiments with magic tricks. It shines in engaging children aged 8+ with creative and educational experiences. While some experiments need additional household items and may be messier than anticipated, the dual appeal fosters critical thinking and fine motor skills, elevating science exploration to magical levels of fun.
The Good
• Includes 15 science experiments that double as magic tricks, exploring concepts like pH science, hydrophobic substances, and optics.
• Comes with a magic wand and white gloves to enhance the magical experience.
• Provides a bonus booklet with 10 additional science experiments using common household items.
The Bad
• Some experiments may require additional common household items not included in the kit.
• Certain experiments can be messy, requiring preparation for clean-up.
• Some experiments may require adult supervision for younger children.
Educational Focus: STEM / Recommended Age Range: 8 years and up / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Critical Thinking,Creativity,Fine Motor Skills
Creative Toys to Fuel Imagination
Art supplies, craft kits, and other creative tools to unleash their artistic potential.
7
Listful
Score
Craft & Carry Supply Station
$39.95
The Craft & Carry Supply Station scores a 7/10, offering over 1,000 pieces for boundless creativity, neatly organized in a stackable box. While some might find the abundance of materials overwhelming, the 33-page booklet provides inspiration for younger artists. Ideal for fostering creativity and fine motor skills, it encourages independent crafting, though adult supervision may be required for detailed projects. It's perfect for sparking creative interests from an early age.
The Good
• Includes over 1,000 craft-ready pieces organized in a stackable storage box.
• Comes with a 33-page booklet featuring 10 craft projects.
• Designed to keep craft supplies organized with designated cubbies.
The Bad
• Some users may find the variety of materials overwhelming.
• The kit may require adult supervision for younger children.
• Limited to the craft ideas provided in the booklet without additional inspiration.
Educational Focus: Creative Arts / Recommended Age Range: 5+ years / Interactivity: true / Skill Development Areas: Creativity,Fine Motor Skills
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