A smart toy box: 20 educational toys under $20

LearningRx Chicago-Naperville has developed a Smart Mom’s Toybox – a list of brainy toys that are great gifts for the holidays. The list of 20 toys under $20 also identifies which cognitive skill that the toy can help build.

“There are plenty of great toys for children than help develop complex learning skills,” said Mia Tischer, executive director of LearningRx Chicago-Naperville. “These toys build a diverse set of skills like memory, logic & reasoning, processing speed, attention, and auditory and visual processing,” she said.

With the list, parents can choose toys based on the child’s age and abilities. For example, for a 10-year-old with ADHD, look for a toy that strengthens selective, divided and sustained attention. Prepping your kindergartener to read? Choose toys that strengthen phonemic awareness (letter sounds) through rhyming, segmenting and sound blending. Does your seven-year-old struggle to remember basic math facts? Select games that include numerical fluency or memory challenges.

“We now know that the brain is plastic,” said Tischer.  “Strengthening learning skills are like home exercises for your child’s brain,” she said.

LearningRx Chicago-Naperville has also created a Pinterest board highlighting these toys. It can be found at:  http://www.pinterest.com/lrxnaperville/smart-mom-toy-box/

Here are some of the best brain-building games under $20:

1. Deluxe Puzzle Wheel by Mudpuppy ($14.99 on Amazon.com)

Includes a sorting pegboard, five wooden pegs and 25 shapes in various colors.

Ages: 24 months+

Cognitive skills: visual processing, logic & reasoning, attention

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Toddler Build and Play Cubes by LEGO ($11.59 on Amazon.com)

These colorful, extra-large building pieces are perfect for toddlers who are just learning to build.

Ages: 18 months+

Cognitive skills: visual processing, attention

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Chain Letters by Patch Products ($18.88 on Amazon.com)

Build words by hooking the letters together—but don’t drop the chain!

Ages: 8+

Cognitive skills: sound blending, sound segmenting, attention

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Spot it! Party by      Blue Orange ($19.99 on Amazon.com)

Find the symbol that each of two cards has in common. A fun, fast game for the entire family.

Ages: 10+

Cognitive skills: attention, processing speed, visual processing

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. My First Math Ball – Numbers & Shapes by Exploracise ($14.95 on      Amazon.com)

Toss this soft ball indoors or out while you practice counting, basic math or learning shapes.

Ages: 1-5 years

Cognitive skills: numerical fluency, attention

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Show Me the Kwan by Griddly Games ($19.99 on Amazon.com)

Roll the dice and be the first to choose the letter that matches the category for that round. Then earn points as you call out words where either the first, second or last letter corresponds to the letter that was rolled.

Ages: 8+

Cognitive skills: auditory processing, visual processing, attention, processing speed

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Match It! Spelling by The Learning Journey      International ($10 on Amazon.com)

Learn to spell three- and four-letter words by assembling the puzzle cards, which are self-correcting, as they only fit in the correct sequence.

Ages: 4+

Cognitive skills: auditory processing, sound blending, planning

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Clubs by North Star Games ($11.34 on Amazon.com)

Get rid of all your cards as fast as possible while taking tricks with clubs in them to gather points. Comes with 60 cards with the four classic suits but no face cards.

Ages: 8+

Cognitive skills: planning, logic & reasoning, attention, memory, strategy

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Pluckin’ Pears by R & R Games ($13.96 on Amazon.com)

Try to predict what pairs other players will choose. If you’re correct, you’ll earn points. But you only have 90 seconds to choose your five pairs from the 11 random images on the table so do it quickly!

Ages: 12+

Cognitive skills: processing speed, logic & reasoning, visual processing

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Candy Puzzle by B. Dazzle ($9.61 on Amazon.com)

Arrange the nine colorful 4” by 4” pieces into a 12” by 12” square to match the pieces’ edges and form a completed picture in every direction.

Ages: 4+

Cognitive skills: visual processing, attention

* Named one of Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys of 2013”

1. Rhyming Words Dominoes by Trend Enterprises      ($5.48 on Amazon.com)

Teach rhyming words with these domino-like cards. Includes 56 double-sided cards with words and pictures.

Ages: 4+

Cognitive skills: sound segmenting, rhyming, auditory processing

1. Simon Electronic Carabiner by Basic Fun ($6.99 on      Amazon.com)

This small, portable version of the original classic includes a carabiner clip to attach to a belt loop or purse.

Ages: 7+

Cognitive skills: auditory processing, visual processing, attention, memory, processing speed

1. Minute Math Electronic Flash Card by Learning Resources      ($10.49 on Amazon.com)

This handheld gadget builds number fact fluency in timed and untimed modes with three levels of difficulty. Gives positive, corrective feedback (both visual and auditory).

Ages: 6+

Cognitive skills: visual processing, auditory processing, math computations, processing speed

1. Sport Stacking Game – Stacks Cups by Flying Cup ($8.99 on Amazon.com)

Stack in sequences as fast as you can. Compete against your own time or against friends.

Ages: 8+

Cognitive skills: planning, processing speed, visual processing

1. Travel Battleship Fun on the Run by Hasbro ($15 on Amazon.com)

This classic tactical combat game is now perfect for car trips!

Ages: 7+

Cognitive skills: logic & reasoning, planning, problem solving

1. LED Light Rubik’s Cube by Glodeals ($6.40 on  Amazon.com)

The classic ‘80s brain twister now comes in a light-up version.

Ages: 3+

Cognitive skills: planning, visual processing, problem solving, working memory

1.  Sequence for      Kids by      Jax Ltd. ($13.69 on Amazon.com)

Play a card from your hand, place a chip on a character and aim for four in a row!

Ages: 4+

Cognitive skills: logic & reasoning, planning, problem solving, sequential processing, visual processing, working memory

1.  4 In a Row by Pressman Toy ($12.13 on  Amazon.com)

Be the first player to get four color disks in a row and you win!

Ages: 6+

Cognitive skills: attention, logic & reasoning, executive processing, planning, sequential processing, problem solving

1.  Bop-It Bounce by Hasbro ($10.05 on      Amazon.com)

Follow the electronic commands to bounce at different skill levels – alone or against friends.

Ages: 8+

Cognitive skills: auditory processing, planning, processing speed, attention

1.  Mancala For Kids by Pressman Toy ($11.81      on Amazon.com)

With animal shapes instead of stones, this version of the centuries-old classic is still a gem.

Ages: 6+

Cognitive skills: logic & reasoning, numerical concept, numerical fluency, planning, problem solving

Take this list with you when you head to the store (or online!) to do your holiday shopping or