Part puzzle, part game – all skill-building. Clever see-through trucks with playful fun faces that develop budding imaginations, spatial planning and problem-solving skills.

Beyond standard blocks. This hideout version builds reasoning and motor planning skills. Versatile for teaching language development concepts like directional propositions.

Fascinating for little hands. Millipede cars spark wonder: “How do I go from one thread to the next?” Open-ended to stimulate the imagination. ‘Spiel Gut’ award winner.

Teaches cause and effect and sorting, an early math skill. Interactive play with keys creates storytelling and back-and-forth interactions. Beloved by Plinkit expert and speech pathologist, Kim Christensen.

Next-level Magna-Tiles – in little cubes! Strengthen visual-spatial skills and hand muscles, both critical for early handwriting. Building with magnetic shapes teaches foundational force and motion concepts.

Very cool, very S.T.E.A.M. Bring 2D concepts into large-scale 3D. Foster creativity, experimentation and patience using modular + magnetic constraints. Light to transport, easy to clean up.

Encourage creativity and reasonable risk with real working tools. Inspired by the Montessori way of learning and designed in France. Build your child’s confidence by independently doing real things with real materials.

Unique + dynamic! Curved pipe pieces bring more expression to creations and better 3D spatial awareness. Connectibility on multiple sides strengthens fine motor skills. Made in Japan.

A clever take on Memory. Pair number symbols with magnitude concepts (learn to count!) using uniquely illustrated artwork from 10 classic fairy tales. Created by Spanish toymaker, Londji, long known for its attention to detail.

A fun way of learning letter recognition and letter sounds. Party toppers are also dynamite for practicing the pincer grasp. For beginning readers who want something active, get slammin’ with this sight word game.

Small fingers love tinkering with locks (plus, it strengthens their pincer grasp and hand muscles). Explore early phonics and learn to recognize uppercase and lowercase letters, while practicing fine motor skills.

Imaginative story disks that put a magical spin on the skill of storytelling. Re-telling and storytelling are important for reading comprehension. Special order from France. For something simple, try this finger puppet theater.

Magnetic and portable. A fresh take on an old classic filled with especially sweet images. Learning how to ask meaningful questions builds critical thinking skills when reading. Exclusively from France.

Artfully open-ended to develop spatial imagination. A wonderful alternative to rote creative writing and spelling – give your child purpose to their writing.

Pow! Inspire oral language development and storytelling, both key to literacy development. A great self-directed activity with multiple learning outcomes. Pairs well with our Clever + Creative Project-Based Learning Ideas.

Stunningly inventive. Use these visual cards (with superimposed transparencies for added complexity) to evolve your child’s narrative thinking. Designed by Italian artists and inventors.

Create fanciful games, spread neighborhood cheer with kind messages or get blissfully lost in large-scale drawings. Did you know that before a child can write or draw small, they must start big? Fine motor skills develop from gross motor skills.

The most creative mini golf set we discovered. The variety of obstacles are stellar for practicing gross motor skills and spatial planning. Kids quickly realize that this game is as much about physical play as it is about strategy.

Always a hit in play yards + schools! From deciding what to put inside, how to lift and walk, problem-solving when it’s too heavy – this is a super toy for building multiple skills. Pairs well with this quality hand tool set. Or, stay indoors with an indoor gardening kit.

A gem of a toy. The decorative accents build focus and fine motor skills; the recipe cards develop matching skills, core to early math. Add this Food Truck Set for more fun (those toothpicks – so good for handwriting control!). Created by French toy company, Djeco.

A clever way of engaging your child’s logic and reasoning while exercising fine motor skills. Control flippers, windmills, rubber bands…good fun that promotes tinkering + visual-spatial planning skills.

The only knife set owned by all of us at Plinkit for our kids, by French manufacturer Opinel. Cooking together is great for fine motor development, mathematizing their world and appreciating the art of conversation. Voted best kids chef knife by America’s Test Kitchen.

Best part? Climbing up the middle! Fun fact: this unanchored rope ladder is especially excellent for grip strength, core strength and coordination. Endless possibilities for adventure. Ample room for multiple kids to climb.

Fast-paced and awesomely fun. Air hockey meets foosball – with magnets! Award-winner designed in Denmark and known as one of the best party games in Scandinavia. Stimulates hand-eye coordination and concentration. Easily fits on a tabletop.

Simple is sometimes best. Beloved in many classrooms, children love to measure everything. Develop your child’s numerical literacy by having them measure objects that are meaningful to them – stuffed animals, siblings, themselves!

A favorite of Plinkit expert and pediatric occupational therapist, Shannon White. Lacing cards develop finger dexterity (important for handwriting control and precision) and provide excellent hand-eye coordination and visual-spatial practice. Also, a fun way of instilling patience and persistence.

Good old-fashioned fun and cheer. These delightful stickers are brilliant for adding a splash of sunshine + happy to anything your child creates. For something really different, try this Scratch n’ Sniff.

Pack your bags, tiny travelers, we’re lunar-bound! This sweet doll with its helmet, jetpack and mini suitcase set is sure to spark imagination of solar system stories to infinity and beyond. Makes for a lovely quiet-time, read aloud companion.

A surprise in a surprise! Crack the egg and see who’s inside. Inspired by Japanese anime and childhood cartoon characters, these delightful little eggs have one of eight plushies hidden within. Complete with a clip for attaching to a backpack or belt buckle.

Easy-to-use cards to encourage your little yogi to twist, bend, breathe and practice mindfulness. Meditation and mindfulness are proven to help with awareness and self-regulation, critical skills for developing brains. Another great option.

Learn about the history and traditions surrounding piñatas (did you know they date back 700 years?), then make your own mini version. Develop the critical skill of following step-by-step directions, while working those important finger muscles.

Innovative activity cards with 50+ crafts, food, games, festivals and community service activities from around the world. Excellent for rainy days, long weekends and quiet afternoons. Partners well with our easy/no-prep self-directed activities.

Share tokens of friendship and connection, especially during disconnected times. The clever design allows for endless creative variations. A fun way of building finger dexterity.

A more interesting + interactive take on globe exploring. Teacher tip: when reading a book that takes place in a country other than your own, pause and help your child find the country on their globe. This builds perspective and understanding that our lived experience is just one of many.

Flexible fingers will love this creative opportunity to design their own stamps. This comprehensive set with carving tools and 42 original-design templates is hours of independent fun.

Explore the past and discover stories of people who changed the world in an engaging, youthful way. Inspire your young historian with beautifully-illustrated tales, craft and activity ideas to blaze their own bold trails.

A fascinating introduction to engineering, architecture and construction. Mix mortar and place bricks to construct a castle. We love the focus on manipulating small objects efficiently. For something urban, try this modern villa. Made in Germany.

Crafted in Spain and based on the leaves of a Pita tree, this open-ended, no-rules creative construction game inspires young engineers to insert the leaves one at a time, building a different form each time. A beautiful introduction to resilience and persistence.

Part logic, part construction – 100% learning through play! We love the beginner through expert challenges, focusing on developing engineering, reasoning and planning skills. A great example of executive functioning in action.

An indoor playground for energy-filled little bodies. Motor planning, core strength-building, reasonable risk-taking – there is much hidden skill-building in climbing, swinging and flipping. Great for families with children who need to move, move move!

Explore the different experiences of children throughout the world through these simple and universal narratives of childhood.

A clever and engaging first look at geography that becomes a freestanding globe. The rhyming verse and rich illustrations expose children to basic concepts; the secondary text provides more details.

A wonderful exploration of recognizable animal constellations. View the cluster of stars, then guess the animal through a series of clues. Unfold the page to reveal a a full animal illustration and details.

This beautifully hand-lettered book is filled with inspirational words. A treasured reminder that there is always time to be grateful, helpful and kind. By the award-winning author of Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave.

A gentle message of the importance of mindfulness and paying attention to the little things that bring us joy. Discover what happens when Fox breaks his radio and explores the many rhythms and sounds of the forest.

Hilariously funny! A story of a family’s pets and their case of spots, then stripes. This crowd-pleaser helps children practice patterns and build important literacy skills. Written by a famous British comedian.

Discover the incredible diversity of the African continent. A beautiful exploration of the people, animals, geography, history, music and cultures of 55 African countries. Vibrantly told by a talented Nigerian storyteller.

Gorgeously illustrated. An informative game book of challenging mazes that develop problem-solving and visual-perceptual skills. Filled with a dazzling display of famous landmarks and attractions. Excellent for rainy days and quiet afternoons.

Wildly fascinating + captivating. Discover the intricacies of the skeletal system of animals, and how adaptation allows their bodies to do such wondrous things.

Bring the mystique of the world’s most unusual places to life. A unique journey to fantastical places that truly exist. Explore natural and man-made wonders through history and storytelling.

Empowering + practical. Twenty-nine true tales of young people who achieved amazing things beyond all odds. A motivating reminder that there is no such thing as ordinary.

Philosophy reimagined for young, inquisitive minds. Unique + thought-provoking with engaging graphics. Sure to inspire a soulful journey with questions like: Who am I? What is right and wrong?