Educational Gifts For Kids – Perfect For Summer Birthday Parties

Are you on the lookout for educational gifts for kids? We know it can be difficult to keep children motivated over the summer vacation when they’re mentally so far removed from school. That’s where the best learning & education toys can come into play (see what we did there?)! Check out our list of gift ideas to keep kids learning this summer to keep your child (and their friends) entertained and educated.

What toys help kids learn? The following items make perfect gifts for all those summer birthday parties your child is bound to attend – keeping both parents and kids happy.

Best educational gifts for kids – perfect for summer birthday parties

What kind of educational gifts can be given to children?

1. Nature and/or Science Kits

Nature or science kits are one of our favorite summer birthday gifts for kids – not only because they’re a lot of fun, but because they’re an exciting way to learn about scientific concepts. Even better, these kits set your child up for an enjoyable activity that you can do together on one (or more) of these long summer days.

Some great examples of fun nature or science kits for kids include:

• DIY volcano kit – for the child who loves chemistry
• Insect hunting sets – for the budding biologist
• Birdwatching equipment – for the avid explorer

 

There are so many possibilities out there, but these ideas should be a good start!

2. Books

Sometimes keeping it simple is best when it comes to summer gifts for kids. Books are a great educational present. Reading is one of the best activities for children to do over the vacation – improving their literacy and cognitive abilities. There are so many wonderful books for children of all ages out there, so take your pick.

Whether the birthday kid is a sci-fi fan, an adventure nut, or a history buff, you’ll find something to suit their taste online or at your local bookstore. And if you’re unsure as to which kind of books they like, why not buy a book voucher instead so they can choose some titles themselves?

3. Musical Instruments

A musical instrument is a fantastic gift, especially for a musically minded young one. Smaller instruments like the triangle are a nice option as they’re easily transported and simple to play. More complex or larger options like the ukulele may also be a good choice depending on the age of the child in question. 

4. Educational Days Out

Educational days out are one of the most novel and exciting gift ideas to keep kids learning this summer. These include things like a visit to the zoo, a wildlife exploration hike, or perhaps a visit to a fun and child-friendly museum. Many children learn by doing something active rather than simply reading from a page, so getting them immersed in an activity can be incredibly beneficial for their brain and development!

5. Building Toys

Who doesn’t love LEGO? One of the most beloved toys of all time, LEGO can actually be a great way to teach children how to build (we’ll call it very basic physics) as well as improve their coordination and motor skills. Other similar at-home construction toys exist if you prefer a different option – miniature train sets, for example.

6. Crafting Kits

Another popular addition to our list of educational gifts for kids, craft kits are perfect for artistic children who love a challenge. The variety of options is staggering – here are some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

• Crocheting kits
• Make-your-own wind chimes
• Paint your own mug or cup kits

7. Jigsaw Puzzles

They may be old-school, but there’s a reason jigsaw puzzles are a staple of many of our childhoods. Fascinating and addictive, a good jigsaw puzzle can entertain a child for hours, and they’re a great way to teach focus and concentration. Completing a jigsaw gives a wonderful sense of satisfaction, so your child will be rewarded for their hard work!

8. Card and Board Games

Card games such as UNO are a firm favorite of many families. Simple to learn, easy to transport, and endlessly fun – it doesn’t get much better than that! Board games are another great gift option, though slightly harder to bring around from place to place. Plenty of new games are released every year if you prefer something other than the classics – otherwise, games like Cluedo and Junior Monopoly are always a safe bet. These games can help with basic math skills and teach strategy and chance, too.

9. A Globe or Wall Map

Another of our favorite educational gifts for kids, globes are an underrated (and often underused, thanks to Google Maps!) item to have in the home. A globe is a handy addition to any child’s desk, but if an actual 3D globe isn’t ideal, a wall-mounted map is another great idea. There are so many fun iterations of this to boost engagement, too, such as scratch-off maps (where the owner can scribble out any countries that have been visited) and pin maps. These are a great way to teach world geography to kids – and they look pretty cool as well!

We hope you’ve found this list of some of the best learning & education toys useful – whichever you choose, it’s sure to be well-received at any summer birthday party this year. The school break doesn’t have to mean a break from education, especially when you have such fun educational gifts for kids to ensure your child keeps learning all summer long!

Featured image by Ron Lach on Pexels