With the holidays quickly approaching, I am sure that you are all trying to come up with the perfect gifts for the children in your lives. As a parent, myself, I have found it rather difficult this year to find something that is actually worth purchasing. It’s been said that a child’s imagination never changes but the tools that we provide them to fuel that imagination are forever changing. With all of the technology that today’s world provides, I am often left wondering what has happened to the simple things – going outside, playing baseball, and playing with toys that incorporate learning. Surely, there are plenty of products on the market that do, in fact, provide an educational feature but one can only sit in front of a screen for so long.
As a child, I learned my states and capitals rather quickly with the help of a song that I picked up from a cartoon. However, my grandfather used to teach us about the world by simply spinning a globe, stopping it with our fingers, and looking that particular place up in an encyclopedia. We made learning fun by using something that the children of today would typically consider “boring.” Lakeshore Learning took our “game” one step further by merging education with learning AND fun, as they’ve done with all of their products. What parent doesn’t love that? Purchasing toys that your children will truly enjoy all while knowing that it will enhance their learning experience through play is certainly worth every penny spent.
“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.”
-Leo Buscaglia, author and educator
Lakeshore Learning offers a vast selection of toys, crafts, books, games, and more for all ages. There is definitely something to please everyone and you’re able to do so while staying within any budget thanks to the Lakeshore Learning Holiday Gift Guide. They’ve compiled a list of some of their best and most loved products that can be easily browsed by category and/or price point.
To honor my own childhood as well as satisfy our children’s love of travel and our country we chose the Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game. The kids had a blast pointing out each individual state and listening to the corresponding facts. It features over one thousand facts and quiz questions and even allows for a chance to race to the White House and become president! I love that they were learning while playing and they were enthralled by every touch and sound. The Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game is so much more than just a toy and THAT is exactly what I have been searching for.
Lakeshore Learning products make learning fun for kids – and easy for parents! They truly have something for everyone and, more importantly, every product is based on the core values of education in addition to being fun.
“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.”
-Plato
Now, while we don’t have a snazzy giveaway for you to enter I can share some great news with you. Lakeshore Learning is holding their own contest through Monday, December 10th. Visit their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages for your chance to win your top ten Lakeshore Learning holiday wish list choices!
38 Responses
this would teach a child really fast and they would have allot of fun at the same time
I completely agree with you on such confusion of what to buy and I love the map with electronic capital saying, greatness!
This Does Look Like A Great Way To Learn. Thank you. Jerri Davis
I bought a bunch of these items when my kids were young. Lakeshore makes some really great items. I love that they just thought we were playing, even though they were really learning.
I wish I had these kind of wonderful educational, yet fun, toys for my kids when they were little. They look to be a wonderful resource for both kids and home schooling parents.
I’ve got very young nieces and nephews and these would be perfect!!!!
They have such unique, educational products! These would make perfect gifts for my grandson!
The Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game is fantastic. I wish I had that as a kid.
These look like some great toys that my younger nephews would really enjoy. I will have to go enter their contest 🙂
The Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game is a great way for children to learn their states and capitals in a fun way. Wish they had them when I was a kid. I also checked out their holiday specials and sale items and they have some really cool items for great prices like the Motorized Spin Art Center , Crystal Climbers or Word Building Factory each for only $9.99.
Cute stuff. I love that map! When I was a kid I learned the states and capitals the old fashioned way. I love all the interactive activities. Such a fun way to learn!
The Interactive map game looks perfect for my family because several travel by plane to get here for Christmas
I”m really glad I read this. I was having a similar predicament while shopping for gifts this year. I like that Lakeshore Learning has gifts that the whole family can enjoy. I really like the one you reviewed. It wouldn’t hurt for me to refresh my state facts while also teaching the kids!
LOL isn’t that the truth! I think even adults could benefit from this!
i love these games for kids they are awesome
Even as an old person, learning while playing a game is very effective. Thanks for the information.
This would be great for my kids. The price tag is amazing as well.
i love their products! My son used to learn alphabet with Lakeshore toys
Lakeshore Learning really makes such great products I love the map you have pictured I haven’t seen anything like that before. It looks like such a great way to learn geography.
I ‘m not sure if I had heard of this company or not. With so many kids and grandkids, I often dont’ remember the company names of items unless they are big toy names. I really love the map “toy”. Our kids had to learn the states and capitals in 3rd grade and I remember that I could not remember more than half. Guess that’s what happens when you don’t travel much. I think is important to learn facts about each state too. not just location on a map.
Looks like the prices are pretty decent on some of their toys
The Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game is fantastic. I wish I had that as a kid.
This would be a great gift to give my nephews
I really like that Interactive U.S. Map game. i think I would really have loved that when I was a kid. I know what I want to get my niece and nephew for Christmas. 🙂
Great toys! I really think these toys could help my neice.
I LOVE that map!
The Alphabet Games learning tablet is such a cute toy. I would love that.
I love educational toys! This looks like a great way to learn geography and state facts. I
Lakeshore Learning looks like it has great educational toys my kids would enjoy and learn something at the same time. My daughter would love the Interactive U.S. Map Game .
The Lakeshore Learning Games are fabulous! My Grandson has really enjoyed playing and learning with them. I’m his grandma and I’ve bought him several!! LOL!
That is a great site!I am passing info on to a friend of mine that has 2 toddlers
This sounds like a terrific way to teach children how to learn! I like the The Lakeshore Learning Interactive U.S. Map Game. It is not just a toy it is a good teaching map!
This would make a perfect learning tool.
Fun and educational!! My kids would love the Motorized Spin Art Center and the Alphabet Learning Tablet!!
I think these are the best for the kids when they can have fun and LEARN at the same time. Going to be checking them out closer
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
i love these kind of toys they help the kids lear so much , every preschool should have them
Wonderful! I really do believe integrating fun helps learning so much more! yay for positive reinforcement!
Oooo. I love the Interactive U.S. Map Game!!! (I thought the picture was so funny because I’m from Houston but living in Austin, the capital.) Lakeshore toys looks very fun and engaging which I really love!
Play is for learning. Love the map. We had a non-interactive US puzzle and could name all the states & their capitals.