Toys That Develop Problem Solving
Our Top 5 Picks
Melissa & Doug Numbers Sound Puzzle
The Melissa & Doug Numbers Sound Puzzle is an engaging and interactive toy that brings numbers 0-20 to life. Ideal for preschoolers aged 3 to 5, this colorful wooden puzzle not only entertains but also teaches essential counting skills by connecting numerals with quantities. Each piece features a light-activated sensor, enticing children to lift and replace the pieces while delighting in sound effects that reinforce learning. 3-5 years
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Why we love it:
Melissa & Doug Numbers Sound Puzzle features light-activated sensors that make learning numbers an interactive game, turning early math practice into a fun, sensory-rich experience!
Engaging Magnetic Chalkboard & Dry-Erase Board
The Melissa & Doug Magnetic Chalkboard and Dry-Erase Board is a fantastic tool for young learners aged 3 and up. With its double-sided design, children can practice their ABCs and 123s with the 36 magnetic letters and numbers while developing essential literacy and math skills. This versatile board encourages creativity and hands-on play, making it a wonderful alternative to screen time. 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Engaging Magnetic Chalkboard & Dry-Erase Board features a double-sided design that transforms learning letters and numbers into an exciting adventure, perfect for igniting creativity without a screen.
Feline Friends Jigsaw Puzzle Adventure
Ceaco - Selfies - Feline Friends - 550 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is a delightful way to foster creativity and problem-solving skills in children and adults alike! With its vibrant imagery and engaging challenge, this puzzle can bring family members together for a cozy night of fun and learning. As we piece together adorable feline portraits, we also enhance our focus, patience, and logical thinking—skills that are invaluable both in and out of the classroom. 8+ years
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Why we love it:
Feline Friends Jigsaw Puzzle Adventure includes 550 vibrant pieces that bring family together while honing essential problem-solving skills—plus, who doesn’t love a cute cat selfie?
Celebrate Together: Holiday Nativity Puzzle
Ceaco - Thomas Kinkade - Holiday - Nativity - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is a joyful family activity that brings us together during the festive season. As we tackle this beautifully crafted puzzle, we'll enhance our problem-solving skills, improve our focus, and foster teamwork. With interlocking pieces made from quality materials, each snap into place feels like a little victory, making this not just fun, but also a meaningful way to bond. 10+ years
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Why we love it:
Celebrate Together: Holiday Nativity Puzzle features 1000 beautifully crafted pieces that turn family time into a rewarding challenge, sparking cooperation and creative problem-solving along the way.
Engaging Fun with Barnyard Animals Puzzle
Melissa & Doug Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle is a delightful way to introduce your little ones to the joys of farm life! With vibrant artwork featuring adorable horse, cow, and sheep, this puzzle not only captivates their imagination but also promotes essential skills like hand-eye coordination and problem-solving. The easy-to-grasp wooden pegs and extra-thick pieces make it perfect for tiny hands, while the pictures under each piece provide helpful hints as children learn through play. 1 year and older
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Why we love it:
Engaging Fun with Barnyard Animals Puzzle features easy-to-grasp wooden pegs that make learning about farm life a hands-on adventure, combining fun with essential developmental skills.
Unlock Detective Skills with Kidzlabs Kit
Kidzlabs Finger Print Kit is the perfect gateway for young detectives to dive into the fascinating world of forensics! With this engaging kit, kids can learn to detect and collect fingerprints just like real forensics experts, encouraging critical thinking and scientific exploration. It not only boosts their observational skills but also sparks creativity as they investigate their surroundings. 8+ years
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Why we love it:
Unlock Detective Skills with Kidzlabs Kit includes hands-on activities that turn kids into budding forensic experts, sparking their curiosity while they unearth fingerprints like real detectives.
Ignite Imagination with Papo Triceratops!
Papo The Dinosaur Figure, Triceratops, is a fantastic tool for sparking creativity in our little ones. With its stunningly detailed design and vibrant colors, it encourages children aged 3 and up to dive into a world of adventure and storytelling each day. As they engage in imaginative play, they're not just having fun; they're developing essential skills like curiosity, problem-solving, and narrative creation. 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Ignite Imagination with Papo Triceratops! features stunningly detailed designs that unleash storytelling adventures, making every play session a delightful blend of fun and learning.
Heartfelt Creativity with DIY Box Craft
The Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Heart Box Craft Kit invites children to unleash their creative spirit while crafting a charming keepsake. As parents and educators, we cherish how this hands-on activity nurtures fine motor skills, encourages self-expression, and fosters imaginative thinking. With colorful paints, glitter glue, and vibrant gems, kids not only explore their artistic talents but also develop important cognitive skills like planning and problem-solving. 4+ years
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Why we love it:
Heartfelt Creativity with DIY Box Craft includes colorful paints, glitter glue, and vibrant gems, making artistic self-expression a delightful way to build skills that sparkle.
Unleash Creativity with Model Magic!
Crayola Model Magic Naturals is the perfect canvas for your little artists! This 4-pack of easy-to-use modeling clay invites kids to explore their artistic side while developing fine motor skills and creativity. With its lightweight, nontoxic formula, children can create, save, and even reuse their masterpieces—all while having fun! 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Unleash Creativity with Model Magic! includes a lightweight, nontoxic formula that allows kids to create and reuse their masterpieces, making art safe and fun.
Classic Card Games for Kids' Fun
Melissa & Doug Classic Card Games Set is a delightful way to encourage family bonding and essential skills in young children! This set features three engaging games: Old Maid, Go Fish, and Animal Rummy, all beautifully illustrated with wild animal designs. Not only do these games promote memory, strategy, and social interaction, but they also offer a refreshing break from screens—perfect for hands-on play. 3-8 years
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Why we love it:
Classic Card Games for Kids' Fun includes beautifully illustrated wipe-clean cards, making family game night not only a blast but also a chance to build essential skills without the screens.
Create Your Own Princess Mirror Craft Kit
The Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Princess Mirror Craft Kit offers a magical arts-and-crafts experience that will enchant young creators! With child-safe materials like white and glitter glue, adorable stickers, and sparkly stick-on gems, kids can design a mirror that truly reflects their personality. This kit not only sparks creativity but also supports fine motor skills as they manipulate various crafting items. 4+ years
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Why we love it:
Create Your Own Princess Mirror Craft Kit features child-safe materials like glitter glue and stickers, allowing kids to unleash their inner artists while developing fine motor skills!
Under The Sea Jigsaw Puzzle Fun
The Melissa & Doug Under The Sea Ocean Animals Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle with Storage Tray draws your little ones into a vibrant underwater adventure. This 24-piece wooden puzzle is designed to practice fine motor skills while sparking curiosity about marine life. With a sturdy board that keeps all the pieces contained, children can enjoy engaging in hands-on, screen-free play that nurtures their problem-solving abilities and hand-eye coordination. 3-5 years
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Why we love it:
Under The Sea Jigsaw Puzzle Fun features 24 vibrant wooden pieces that transform learning about marine life into a delightful hands-on adventure for our little ones.
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Animal Puzzle Fun
The Melissa & Doug Pets Jumbo Peg Wooden Puzzle is perfect for curious little minds starting at just 12 months old. With its extra-thick wooden pieces and jumbo pegs, toddlers can easily grasp and explore colorful animal illustrations, fostering their hand-eye coordination and visual perception skills. Underneath each puzzle piece, matching pictures await, adding an exciting layer of learning and discovery. 12 months to 2 years
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Why we love it:
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Animal Puzzle Fun features extra-thick wooden pieces that are perfect for tiny hands, sparking joy in learning and discovery with every colorful animal they explore.
Glide and Learn with Chicago Roller Skates
Chicago Unisex-Youth Girls Sidewalk Roller Skate is more than just a means of transportation; it’s a gateway to developing essential skills! As parents, we love how roller skating encourages balance, coordination, and physical fitness while our kids have a blast gliding along sidewalks or at the rink. These skates not only provide a comfortable and secure fit, but they also foster confidence and independence in young skaters. 5-12 years
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Why we love it:
Glide and Learn with Chicago Roller Skates feature oversized wheels for a smooth ride that makes every glide an exciting opportunity for skill-building and outdoor adventures.
Create with Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils
Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils are the ultimate art supplies for young creators! With 18 vibrant colors and no sharpening required, these innovative pencils empower kids to express their artistic talents without the hassle. As parents and educators, we know that engaging in art helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Create with Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils feature 18 vibrant colors with no sharpening required, making artistic expression easy and mess-free for kids on the go.
Little Hands Card Holder Magic
The Original Little Hands Playing Card Holder transforms family game night into a delightful learning experience! Designed specifically for small hands, this card holder allows our little ones to grasp and manage their cards with ease, boosting their confidence along the way. As they engage in fun card games, they also enhance their fine motor skills and sharpen their focus, all while enjoying quality time with us. 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Little Hands Card Holder Magic features a design specifically for small hands, making family game night both fun and a sneaky way for kids to build essential skills.
Scalextric Digital Pit Lane Excitement!
Scalextric Digital Pit Lane in and Out Track Left Hand is the ultimate gateway to raceway fun right in our living rooms! Imagine our kids not only racing their miniature cars but also developing valuable skills such as hand-eye coordination, strategic thinking, and teamwork as they join forces in thrilling competitions. This exciting slot car racing system allows for up to six cars to race at once, making it a wonderful way to engage both children and adults alike. 7+ years
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Why we love it:
Scalextric Digital Pit Lane Excitement! allows for up to six cars to race simultaneously, making family game night not only exhilarating but also a fun way to develop critical skills together.
Rev Up Learning with Scalextric Racing!
Scalextric Starter Grid Half Straight x 2 Pieces invites us to dive into the thrilling world of slot car racing, making it a captivating way to engage children’s minds! This fun-filled set not only sparks creativity as they design their racetracks but also enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they navigate their miniature cars. Ideal for fostering a competitive spirit and cooperative play, Scalextric connects generations through shared experiences and laughter, all while introducing fundamental concepts of physics and engineering in a playful way. 5-99 years
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Why we love it:
Rev Up Learning with Scalextric Racing! includes two straight track pieces that spark creativity while teaching kids about physics in the most fun way possible.
Creative Play with Schylling Tool Box
Schylling Toy Tin Tool Box with Tools sparks imaginations and builds essential skills in our little builders! This delightful metal case contains six sturdy tools that encourage hands-on learning and creativity. As children engage in pretend play with the saw, hammer, hatchet, screwdriver, wrench, and pliers, they develop fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and an understanding of basic mechanics—all while having fun! 3+ years
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Why we love it:
Creative Play with Schylling Tool Box includes six sturdy tools that make pretend play a hands-on learning adventure, perfect for budding builders exploring their inner carpenters.
Spicy Farkel: Thrill Your Family Game Nights!
Spicy Farkel Dice Game brings excitement to family game night while quietly sharpening those essential math skills. As parents, we love how this fast-paced game engages both kids and adults, making it a perfect blend of fun and learning. With simple rules and quick rounds, players will enhance their mental math and memory skills without even realizing it! 8+ years
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Why we love it:
Spicy Farkel: Thrill Your Family Game Nights! is a fast-paced dice game that makes math skills feel like a fun competition, turning family game night into an educational adventure on the go.
John Deere Deluxe Talking Toolbelt for Kids
TOMY John Deere Deluxe Talking Toolbelt is the perfect gateway for your little builder! Designed for kids ages two and up, this interactive toolset not only sparks imagination but also helps develop essential fine-motor skills. With each of the six durable plastic tools, from hammers to tape measures, children can learn the basics of construction while having a blast and feeling just like mom and dad. 2+ years
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Why we love it:
John Deere Deluxe Talking Toolbelt for Kids features six durable plastic tools that transform your little builder into a mini construction expert while sparking creativity and coordination.
DIY Solar System Planetarium Kit
The 4M Solar System Planetarium is a fun-filled DIY project that sparks young minds to explore the cosmos! With hands-on assembly and painting, children aged 8 and up will learn about the planets while developing fine motor skills, creativity, and scientific knowledge. This kit isn’t just about building; it's an engaging way to cultivate curiosity about the universe and encourage independent learning. 8+ years
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Why we love it:
DIY Solar System Planetarium Kit features hands-on assembly and painting, turning bedtime into a stargazing adventure while igniting a passion for space exploration!
Crystal Mining Adventure Kit
The 4M Kidzlabs Crystal Mining Kit invites young explorers aged 5 and up to embark on a thrilling excavation adventure. This hands-on experience not only ignites a passion for geology and the natural world but also fosters critical thinking and fine motor skills as children dig for their own unique crystals. With the included magnifying glass, kids can closely examine their treasures, adding a delightful layer of discovery while enhancing their observational skills. 5+ years
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Why we love it:
Crystal Mining Adventure Kit invites kids to dig for their own unique crystals, turning every excavation into a mini geology lesson and a treasure hunt rolled into one.
Balsa-Wood Glider Fun for All
S&S Worldwide Balsa-Wood Top Gun Glider Model Planes offer a unique and hands-on way for kids to explore the principles of aerodynamics while unleashing their creativity! With easy assembly and options for decorating with paints or markers, these gliders are perfect for encouraging STEM learning in a fun and playful environment. Ideal for summer camps, field days, or birthday party favors, each plane inspires imagination and fine motor skills as kids build and personalize their own flying creations. 5-12 years
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Why we love it:
Balsa-Wood Glider Fun for All includes easy assembly and personalization options, making it a delightful way for kids to explore flight while flexing their creative muscles.