Enhancing Enrichment

Another holiday or birthday is approaching and you are searching for meaningful gifts that inspire, engage, and motivate the smart kids in your life.

You have come to the right place. After years of frustration with my son asking for only video games and my daughters asking for only new fashion trends, I have started sprinkling in a few surprise gifts that get them off their screens and keep them thinking.

Here are a few of my top recommendations at reasonable prices. Hopefully, you can find a gift that inspires an important child in your life.

Please note that this post contains some affiliate links. This provides me with a small percentage of your purchase to help support the blog at no additional cost to you.

Speed Cube Set: Has your child mastered the regular cube? This set provides a nice variety with both easier and harder options.

Magnetic Marble Run: This is a fun kit for both younger and older kids. Kids can create their own marble runs on the fridge and test them out immediately.

Keva Planks: This is a great starter set and a great way to see if this is something that your child enjoys before investing in a larger set. It includes 20 planks and 30 puzzles.

Snap Circuits Junior: This kit allows your child to learn how circuits work in a fun way. With over 100 different project possibilities, kids will stay engaged without even realizing they are learning electrical engineering.

Genius Square: Players race to fill their grids in this fun game. Play as a family to help kids develop problem-solving skills.

Chroma Cube: This fun logic game provides clues for you to arrange colorful cubes. Answers are provided on the back of the card so kids can complete them independently and check to see if they are right. This is a great compact game for long car rides.

Kanoodle: Here is another small kit perfect for travel. Puzzle cards are provided and kids move the pieces to create matching 3D images.

Gravity Maze: This is a similar game that improves spatial reasoning skills. There are various levels, so kids can find the level that works best for them and advance to the next level when they are ready.

Ticket to Ride: This family game is made for two to five players. Players plan routes strategically to gain train cards.

Stratego: This is another excellent strategy game designed for two players. Hide your flag, set up your bombs, and arrange and move your players so that your flag isn’t captured.

Chess Teacher: This is a great set to introduce kids (and adults) to chess. Each piece is labeled with the allowable moves for easy checking.

Qwirkle: This is a fun strategy game. You add wood tiles to a row with the same color or shape. You get extra points for completing the set.

Set: This game has a series of cards with three different shapes, three different colors, three different patterns, and three different numbers. You have to create a set where either all three cards are different or all three cards are the same. This game is great for mathematical patterns and quick thinking.

Bananagrams: If literacy is your child’s strength, this fun tile game is a good option. Players arrange letters in an intersecting grid. The goal is to use all of your letters.

Upwords: Another fun word game is Upwords. This is similar to Scrabble, but players can stack letters on previous words. Players earn points for letters played.

Crystal Growing Kit: Bring science to life with this fun kit. Follow the simple directions and watch crystals begin forming in a few days.

Sphero Robot: When you hear “robot” you might be afraid of the cost, but this small robot is usually under $50. It can be driven around with the app or programmed to move on its own with block coding.

• Inside Garden: This last gift is perfect for the kids and adults on your list. Grow vegetables or herbs with the IDOO Hydroponics Growing System. It is easy to maintain with minimal replacement costs and will keep you eating fresh all year long.

I hope you found a gift idea that you can use. Please feel free to comment with other top ideas to keep kids engaged and learning.