It is time to start writing letters to Santa – those elves need sufficient notice to produce all the lovely gifts!
We all know how important toys are for children; as Maria Montessori said: “Play is the work of the child”.
At the same time, toys are also very important for us parents. Why?
Let’s be honest, there is a clear correlation between how engaging your child’s toy is and how much time you get to yourself (or to make dinner, or tidy up, or…. The list goes on). At the end of the day, we want their toys to keep them busy, develop a new skill, and help them stretch their attention span.
What if you could help your child with some ideas for their letter to Santa?
Well, the older your children are, the more likely it is they have already decided what they want. However, we still need an element of surprise and excitement on the Christmas morning, so we often order that extra surprise gift.
Also, at times we may not be happy with what they have picked. We know that this is just one of those toys that they play with for a day or two, if we’re lucky, and then we will need to figure out where to store it…
And what about the stockings? Should we put something small in there as well?
As parents, we often wish that the toys they like would be more educational but this is often hard to achieve. Or is it?
We’ve teamed up with Cogs The Brain Shop to bring you 15 most engaging toys for your little Brainiacs; these are bound to be both educational and fun, and will not break the bank!
Cogs The Brain Shop is a local business run by brother and sister: Conor Brady and Ruth Roberts. They offer smart and unique toys, puzzles and games for all ages.
Ruth has a background in education and her shop also supplies schools with educational games, problem solving games and Station Teaching Packs.
Cogs The Brain Shop was recommended in the Irish Times twice last Christmas! Here and here.
We’ve divided up our listing of 15 most engaging toys by age to make the navigation easier: under 5, under 10 and under 15.
Please note none of these toys are gender specific and will make a great gift for both boys and girls.
5 most engaging toys for kids between 18 months and 5 years
1. Pengoloo – The Fun South Pole Eggspedition!
Recommended Age: 3/4 to adults
Players: 2 – 4
Price: €26.95
Take your child on an eggs-pedition with this enchanting memory game. Detailed wooden playing pieces transport you to the South Pole where quirky little penguins are ready to play with you!
This is a wooden game (sustainably made) which aims to develop child’s memory, colour identification, fine motor skills, strategy and social skills.
It also has a variation for children 6 years and up – perfect if they are older children in your household. It also means that it will grow with your child!
Here is a YouTube video which will show you how it works:
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
2. Imagination Patterns
Recommended Age: 3+
Players: single player
Price: €39.95
The game includes brightly-coloured wooden magnetic blocks which can be arranged on the board to replicate the full-colour puzzle cards, such as animals, faces, vehicles, flowers, structures and more! Plus, the magnetic creation surface doubles as a dry-erase board.
It teaches colours, shapes, counting and develops fine motor skills as well as concentration.
With this game problem solving becomes a work of art that’s rewarding to a variety of ages.
We have this game in our house and I have to say it’s a gift sent from heaven. Our five-year-old loves rearranging the shapes while his little sister picks the puzzle cards for him. Hours of fun!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
3. Three Little Piggies
Recommended Age: 3 – 6
Players: single player
Price: €27.95
Can you help these three smart pigs build their houses? Can you set them up so that the pigs can play outside? If you spot the wolf can you help the pigs stay safe inside their houses?
Your children can build upon their spatial insight, planning, problem solving, concentration, and visual perception.
The game has 4 different skill levels so your little one is sure to find the perfect challenges to tease their brain and help them think outside the box.
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
4. Magformers
Recommended Age: 3+
Players: single player
Price: €19.95 (was €24.95)
Magformers will help your child to explore and experiment with these two basic geometric shapes, the square and triangle, to create 3-D models. So many possibilities! The set includes a step-by-step idea booklet.
The aim of this toys is to focus on creative thinking, shapes, colours and motor skills.
This is another toy we got for our children a good while ago and it’s on their Santa list again this year! They come back to it over and over again. We will definitely be getting another set to provide them with even more construction possibilities!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
5. Start-Up Circuits
Recommended Age: 18 months and up
Players: single player
Price: €24.95
With a light that glows, a fan that spins and a siren that whistles, Start-Up Circuits from MindWare will delight children as they learn how a circuit is a circle that can make fun things happen.
This set aims to develop child’s fine motor skills, logical thinking and to teach the abstract concept of circuitry.
This toy is included in our two-year-old’s letter to Santa; it’s bound to provide hours of fun!
It will also go great with her brother’s wish – Snap Circuit Beginner (no. 8 below) – perfect combination for siblings in different age groups!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
5 most engaging toys for kids between 5 and 10 years of age
6. IQ Puzzler Pro
Recommended Age: 6 – adult
Players: single player
Price: €13.95
This is a game of ability with 101 progressive challenges! It comes in a compact, portable travel case.
This game will develop your child’s ability to think logically and to concentrate for prolonged periods.
Also, given its size, it makes a great idea for stocking fillers!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
7. Dobble
Recommended Age: 6 – adult
Players: 2 – 8
Price: €15.95
Dobble is an award-winning game of visual perception for the whole family.
Between any two cards there is always one and only one matching symbol. Spot it fast to win! And…
Get ready to be beaten by your child; they are really fast!
We got this game when our son was 4; over a year later it’s still a big hit in our house.
This game develops focus, visual perception skills, speech-language skills, and fine motor skills, in both children and parents!
This is another great idea for stocking fillers! And it will make for a great entertainment on Stephen’s Day!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
8. Snap Circuits SCB-20 Beginner – Electronics Discovery Kit
Recommended Age: 5+
Players: single player
Price: €29.95
Snap Circuits beginner is part of the award-winning line of Snap Circuits from Elenco electronics.
This kit comes with colour-coded, real circuit components that can be easily snapped together to create working circuit boards just like the ones found inside electronic devices.
The included colour manual was created just for younger “engineers” with very few words and lots of step-by-step diagrams. Parts have extra safety features integrated for safety. Projects build in complexity as different concepts are reinforced.
This toy is a wonderful introduction to problem solving, following directions, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Our five-year-old asked Santa for this toy, so hopefully Santa’s elves are already working on it. It goes great with the toy we asked for his little sister – Start-Up Circuit (no. 5 above) – so nobody will feel left out!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
9. Q Ba Maze
Recommended Age: 5+
Players: single player but can be used with older siblings / parents
Price: €39.95
Q-BA-MAZE 2.0 is a unique system of colourful cubes that interlock to form a marble run. The big difference? It allows to create marble maze sculptures in the form of animals, geometric shapes or any other design! Configurations are unlimited, allowing for unpredictable action when steel balls travel the various routes. It’s a live demonstration of probability, physics and art, all in one!
The game strengthens understanding of physics, basic engineering, strategy & fine-motor skills. It also aims to expand your child’s creativity, cooperation and logical thinking.
Here is a YouTube video which will show you how it works:
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
10. Battle Sheep
Recommended Age: 7+
Players: 2 – 4
Price: €29.95
Opposing sheep herds go head to fluffy head in a strategy game the whole family will love.
The goal is to occupy the most pastures with your sheep. Each turn, players split a stack of their sheep and move a portion as far is it can go in a straight line to a new pasture.
This game was created to develop the following skills: social play, abstract thinking, strategy, focus and attention.
Perfect family game for Stephen’s Day!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
Here are some additional ideas for stocking fillers (both just under €10):
I. Melting Snowman
Here is a YouTube video which will show you how it works:
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
II. Melting Christmas Tree
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
5 most engaging toys for kids between 10 and 15 years of age
11. V Cube
Recommended Age: technically 3+, but best suited for 10+
Players: single player
Price: €15.95
V Cube 3 is the three layered Ultimate Speed Cube. The cube is available in both the classic flat shape and a unique “pillow,” shape!
This puzzle cube helps spatial perception, problem-solving and patience.
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
12. Nano Blocks
Recommended Age: 12+
Players: single player
Price: €10.95
Nanoblock is an extremely small building block. The smallest part is a mere 4x4x5mm! This amazingly small micro sized block makes it possible to create more detailed and even smaller projects than can be made with standard sized blocks.
Fun to make, Fun to display and Fun to collect.
Building blocks have been proved to help develop abstract thinking, creativity, mathematical thinking and fine motor skills.
Nano Blocks come in different design – check out the website using the link below.
Also a great idea for stocking fillers!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
13. Sushi Go
Recommended Age: 8+
Players: 2 – 5
Price: €14.95
Pass the sushi! In this fast-playing card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by.
The game reinforces the concept of probability, visual discrimination and strategic thinking
Another great idea for Stephen’s Day entertainment!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
14. Hive Pocket
Recommended Age: 9 to adult
Players: 2
Price: €19.95
Hive Pocket is the travel-sized version of the award-winning Hive.
The board game without a board. The pieces are added to the playing area thus creating the board. As more and more pieces are added the game becomes a fight to see who can be the first to capture the opposing Queen Bee.
This game aims to develop social skills, abstract thinking and strategy.
This version is great for taking on trips where space is an issue. Or to play with on Stephen’s Day!
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
15. Klask: The Magnetic Game of Skill
Recommended Age: 8+
Players: 2
Price: €49.95
This is the Swedish and Norwegian Game of The Year 2015.
Klask is like a fast-paced table-top version of Air Hockey, only it uses multiple magnets and a small round ball.
It develops strategic thinking, fine and gross motor skills.
Order directly from Cogs the Brain Shop Website
We hope that you are now full of ideas for fun and educational toys for your children. With a few clicks of a button or a single trip to town, you can have your Christmas shopping sorted. You can then enjoy the Christmas atmosphere knowing that the most important gifts of all are looked after.
How to buy / order
All the toys can either be ordered online using the links above or by visiting Cogs the Brain Shop. The store is located on the middle floor of St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre (opposite side to TK Maxx).
In the store a lot of the products are open so customers can try them out and get a feel for the games before buying. And the staff are always happy to make recommendations and explain how to play each game.
Free gift wrapping in store!
As the shop also delivers to NI, UK and rest of Europe, you could even order a gift for friends and family which live outside Ireland and have it delivered directly! It can be gift wrapped for €2! Convenience at its finest!
Shipping
Customers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and Great Britain can avail of FREE shipping when you spend €50 or more!
Delivery rates
| Republic of Ireland | up to 30kg | €4.75 | 1-2 days |
| Northern Ireland + GB | up to 20kg | £6.00 | 2-4 days |
| Rest of Europe | up to 5kg | €11.00 | 4 – 10 days |
Should there be a delay – you will be notified immediately via e-mail.
More info available on the Cogs The Brain Shop website.
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