I first started shopping at MindWare when I began teaching gifted students 5 years ago. Mindware’s tagline is “brainy toys for kids of all ages.” Everything they sell is meant to engage young minds while entertaining them as well. I used so many of their products in my classroom and never felt guilty for letting the students “play.” Sometimes the best learning comes through play. They have products for all ages, but here are some for younger kids.

Tangoes Jr.

Tangoes Jr. won the 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Tangrams have been around for ages, but this toy features a drawer for the pieces. AND the pieces are magnetic making it easy for kids to keep everything all in one place. Looks like a good car toy to me! Tangrams help children develop their problem solving skills and enhance visual discrimination. But your child will just think she’s having fun. The starter set is $24.95 and additional packs of puzzle cards are available for $7.95.

Balance Moon and Animal See Saw

How cute is this little toy? It’s for kids ages 3 and up. They roll the little die and pick a piece to place on the moon. As they play, they learn about spatial relationships. There’s also an animal see saw that teaches kids about symmetry and balance. Looks like a great first game for any child and at 24.95 for both, it’s a steal. Your child could even keep one of the games and use the other as a gift.

I can’t say enough great things about this company. Take a look and you’ll find so many great products to help them learn while having fun.