Interactive gifts for friends' kids

Oct 26, 2012 10:49 AM by Maria Mora

Posted in Shopping

Toys That Challenge Little Minds

Little kids learn through play. Give the toddler on your list a holiday gift that challenges the brain and helps motor skills develop.

thomas the train set

Wooden train set

Classic wooden toy sets remain popular for a reason. Toddlers learn through interacting with the track pieces and engaging in imaginative play. Thomas the Train toy sets focus on teamwork and interaction, helping little kids understand how people can work together and how trains work in the real world. Train sets make great gifts that can be expanded and modified as your toddler grows. Find Thomas the Train sets at your local T.J.Maxx. )Early Engineers Rock & Roll Quarry Set, Toys R Us, $40)

woofer guitar

Toy electric guitar

Little boys and girls develop early math and memorization skills through music. Toy instruments are a fun-filled way to get kids interested in music. The Woofer toy guitar comes pre-programmed with popular children's songs, and also allows little rockstars to jam to their own creations. Encourage your toddler to dance, sing and explore the silly sounds of kid-friendly rock and roll. Get deals on interactive music toys for toddlers at Marshalls. (Woofer toy guitar, One Step Ahead, $35)

ice cream play set

Imaginative play ice cream set

Some of the best interactive toys are the simplest. Wooden imaginative play toys don't have any buttons, noises or frills. They help toddlers learn by allowing them to make believe and model mom and dad's behaviors. Find a variety of Melissa and Doug playsets at T.J.Maxx at great prices. The Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset encourages toddlers to hone fine motor skills through stacking and arranging wooden parts. (The Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset, Melissa and Doug, $30)

tag junior interactive reader

Interactive book reader

The Leapfrog Tag Junior is specifically made for little toddler hands to help pre-readers develop a love for books. It works with special board books and picture books to read aloud to kids and turn reading into an interactive experience. Give your child a Tag Junior reader and you're giving a world of reading opportunities. Appropriate for ages 1-4, it's a gift you can expand on for years by adding books to your child's Leapfrog collection. (Tag Junior Sesame Street Super Bundle, Leapfrog, $70)

school bus toy

School bus toy

Whether you're shopping for a toddler boy or girl, a school bus is a surefire hit. Toddlers love pointing out school buses on the street and hearing about how big kids ride to school. The Green Toys School Bus is made from 100 percent recycled milk containers, making it a great teaching tool for budding environmentalists. Encourage your child to make believe and move with vehicle toys that don't have too many accessories. A plain, functional design lets your toddler fill in the blanks and get creative. (Green Toys School Bus, Green Toys, $28)

mr. potato head

Mr. Potato Head

Building toys are a key way for toddlers to interact as they play. Mr. Potato Head has been an enduring classic thanks to the seemingly endless number of ways he can be constructed. Appropriate for ages two and up, a Mr. Potato Head playset lets you share one of your childhood favorites with your toddler. Don't be surprised if you end up on the floor sharing this gift with your little one. (Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase, Hasbro, $20)