When kids tear into their presents this year, make it more—more purposeful, more powerful, more dollar-stretching. When gift-giving, capture the holiday excitement while highlighting the value of educational play. The latest fad or novelty usually has a short shelf life, and after the initial rush of delight has passed, it has an equally limited overall value. Toys and games that combine fun and learning are the best choice because of their lasting value. They not only develop foundational skills essential for academic success but also create a lifetime love of learning.
For meaningful gifts that also bring smiles, take a look at the guide we’ve compiled. For nearly 50 years, School Zone, founded by teachers, has been a trusted name in educational resources. We understand how kids think and learn, and we recognize what parents and teachers want and need.
Scroll through some of the best holiday gifts available!
Why choose educational gifts?
Educational toys are smart, long-lasting investments––gifts that grow with kids vs. one-and-done gifts that don’t. Benefits are that they:
• Transform playtime into a sensory-rich learning experience
• Contribute to the development of cognitive, academic, fine motor, and language skills
• Develop comprehension and problem-solving abilities
• Encourage social-emotional growth
• Play a key role in raising creative, self-directed, self-confident kids
For example, construction toys like blocks and LEGO® sets build both problem-solving and spatial awareness, whilst board games teach rules, patience, and turn-taking.
Best learning toys, games, and activities by age group
It’s important to think about where kids are, but also where they need to be headed and how to help them successfully get there. Here are a few ideas, both specific and general, for some of the best educational holiday gifts for kids:
Preschool (ages 3-5): Kids are building early literacy, number sense, and fine motor skills, and gifts should encourage exploration and play.
• Gift ideas: Alphabet flash cards or letter-matching puzzles, sorting and stacking games to teach shapes, colors, and sizes, activity books with coloring, tracing, and sticker play, pretend play sets that build vocabulary (e.g., grocery or kitchen sets).
• School Zone picks: Alphabet Preschool Workbook, ABC Dot-to-Dots Preschool Workbook, Preschool Sticker Learning Workbook (with 324 stickers), Big Preschool Workbook (Spiral Bound) (lays flat for ease of work), Counting 1-10 Preschool Workbook, Colors, Shapes & More Flash Cards, Get Ready Flash Cards Alphabet & Numbers (2-Pack). Note: Flash cards make great stocking stuffers!
Kindergarten (ages 5-6): Kindergartners are ready for next-step reading and basic math practice. Gifts that combine fun with skill-building are ideal.
• Gift ideas: Sight word bingo or matching card games, early phonics puzzles, workbooks and flash cards that develop math and reading skills, and holiday-themed activity kits with crafts + word games.
• School Zone picks: Get Ready for Kindergarten Workbook, Big Kindergarten Workbook (Spiral Bound) (lays flat for ease of use), Numbers 1-100 Flash Cards, Sight Words Flash Cards
Early Elementary (ages 6-8): These learners are developing fluency in reading and tackling more complex math. Gifts should challenge while still feeling fun.
• Gift ideas: Word-building board games, math card games for addition/subtraction practice, reading comprehension activity books, puzzles that combine problem-solving and vocabulary, STEM kits introducing simple circuits, building, or coding.
• School Zone picks: Big First Grade Workbook, Big Second Grade Workbook, Big Reading 1-2 Workbook, Big Math 1-2 Workbook, Big Science 2-3 Workbook (Spiral Bound) (lays flat for easy of use), Big Codes, Puzzles & More Workbook, Spelling Puzzles Grades 1-2 Workbook, Math War Addition & Subtraction Game Cards
Upper Elementary (ages 8-10): Older kids benefit from gifts that promote critical thinking, independence, and real-world connections.
• Gift ideas: Strategy-based board games (like chess or logic puzzles), STEM and science kits (robotics, chemistry, engineering), Journals or writing prompts to foster creativity, and advanced activity books with brain teasers and problem-solving.
• School Zone picks: Big Third Grade Workbook, Math Basics Grade 3 Press-Out Workbook (with activity boards and press-out game pieces), Multiplication Facts Made Easy Grades 3-4 Workbook, Multiplication & Division Grades 3-4 Workbook, Word Searches Workbook (+ fun facts, maps, codes, games, and critical thinking questions), Travel the Great States Workbook, Math War Multiplication Game Cards
Plan holiday game night: Learning with laughter
Whether board games, digital games, or get-moving, game-like activities such as scavenger hunts, playing games together as a family offer tremendous benefits. Doing it during the holidays just adds even more to the festivities and memory-making.
The benefits are well-established. The article “5 Research-Based Reasons Why Family Game Nights Are Important” from Scholar’s Choice points out that games are good for motor skills, lead to better grades, help kids solve problems, lead to family bonding, and are just plain fun! The article further notes that “Researchers from the University of Florida have found that kids who practice strategizing and solving problems with their parents end up having better memory techniques and more success at solving all sorts of problems on their own.”
In "Making the Case for Family Game Night” by Theresa Duncan for Jacksonville Mom, she says, “Playing games as a family can help build resilience and emotional maturity (yes, even for the adults!).” The post observes, “Many games require communicating and working together, and if there’s a dispute over rules, games can provide an opportunity for conflict resolution.”
During holidays and cozy winter evenings, educational games for kids add fun, learning, and laughter. They can be as simple as family trivia, word bingo, or math card games. Large family gatherings might require choosing teams.
Three years ago, Marisa Lascala and Shannon Maglente compiled “33 Best Board Games to Play According to Experts and Testers” for Good Housekeeping, saying, “These are our favorites for families, kids, and adults.” Five of their fun pics include Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom from Skillmatics (for kids), Peaceable Kingdom Gnomes at Night (ages 6+), Do You Really Know Your Family from ASM (ages 8+), Pass the Pigs from Winning Moves Games (ages 7+), and a cute game on their list for just two players (5+) is Brain Freeze from Mighty Fun!
But teaming up on word searches or word scrambles or playing a few rounds of bingo, Pictionary (for 2 teams—kids and adults), or Charades for Kids (no reading required) are other great choices.
More School Zone holiday gift picks
School Zone products make excellent go-to holiday gifts. In addition to those called out previously by skill and age group, here are more choices:
• Workbooks: Reading readiness workbooks like Get Ready to Read Grades K-1 Workbook and Alphabet Grades K-1 Workbook; Math Readiness K-1 Workbook and math basics workbooks for grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and holiday-themed activity books like Jolly Mazes Workbook and Jolly Hidden Pictures Workbook
• Flash Cards: Phonics Made Easy Flash Cards, Word Families Flash Cards, Numbers 1-100 Flash Cards, Addition 0-12 Flash Cards and Subtraction 0-12 Flash Cards
• Apps/Digital Games: Anywhere Teacher subscription online learning program for ages 2-8 with 3000+ games, songs, worksheets, and activities. Seasonally-themed learning fun includes Holiday Christmas in the Woods maze, Mix-n-Match Holiday Stories, Wordsearch: Christmas Tidings, and many more. For other digital learning fun, try Jolly Try-n-Spy (Android App), Silent Night Christmas Interactive (iOS eBook), Christmas ABCs Interactive Read-along (iOS eBook), Trim the Tree 1,2, 3 Interactive Read-along (iOS eBook), and Guess Who? Christmas Interactive Read-along (iOS eBook).
• Bundles & Sets: Perfect for hours and hours of learning fun! Reading Flash Cards (4-Pack), Math Grades 1-2 Flash Cards (4-Pack), Math Grades 3-4 Flash Cards (4-Pack), Preschool Full Learning Set, Kindergarten Full Learning Set, Jaz’s Preschool Learning Pack, Oba's Kindergarten Learning Pack, and Lily’s Playtime Learning Pack
The sets are among the best learning toys for children and value-added gifts because they cover multiple skills and accommodate different learning styles.
Tips for choosing the right learning gift
Here are a few things for parents and grandparents to consider when buying educational games and toys:
• Match gifts to your child’s age and interests.
• Balance fun with skill-building.
• Mix screen-free activities with digital options.
• Think about gifts that encourage family interaction.
Sometimes less is more, and sometimes more is great! The best educational toys for kids take many forms.
Give the gift of learning this holiday season
Make the holiday season both magical and meaningful. Holiday gifts need not be just about entertainment; they can inspire growth. Educational toys and games help kids develop skills while also having fun. And holiday learning activities with lots of sparkle can be quite simple.
Experience the joy of watching children play while learning. Explore School Zone for the best educational resources for kids now and into the new year and beyond.
