Gifts for the Thinking Child

The Gifted Education Cooperative (GECO) serves Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge and Oak Brook.                                      

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See the lists below for parent recommendations collected by GECO at our December coffee

 

Sources of Great Toy Ideas

 
     
Toy Ratings/Awards:    
National Association for Gifted Children Holiday List for 2007 http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/Toylist%202007.pdf Published in "Parenting for High Potential" Sept. 2007
Lion and Lamb Project www.lionlamb.org/toylists.html Top 20 nonviolent toys - not updated since 2003-2004
Dr. Toy www.drtoy.com/ Various long lists of excellent toys:  best toys, vacation toys, classic toys, smart toys
Mensa www.mindgames.us.mensa.org/participant/past_winners.php Toys that have won the MENSA Select rating
Oppenheim http://www.toyportfolio.com/PlatinumAwards/Index.asp A widely recognized name in toy awards list for 2008
Family Fun Magazine http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday-seasonal/specialfeature/famf1107-toy-main/ Some smart toys, some are just fun
     
Online toy sources:    
Zome www.zometool.com "If you can dream it, you can build it"
Mindware http://www.mindwareonline.com/ Brainy toys for kids of all ages
Fat Brain Toys www.FatBrainToys.com Smarter Toys = Smarter Kids
Thinkfun www.thinkfun.com "World leader in mind challenging games"
BoardGameGeek www.boardgamegeek.com database for board game information, reviews, session reports, images, files, and links
Cogno www.cogno.com Science and games combined, books too
Educational Learning Games http://www.educationallearninggames.com/ "The fun way to learn"
The Learning Company www.learningcompany.com Software
     
Catalogs:    
Mindware http://www.mindwareonline.com/ Brainy toys for kids of all ages
HearthSong www.hearthsong.com Toys you'll feel good about giving
Discovery Channel Store www.discoverystore.com  
Young Explorers www.Youngexplorers.com Creative Educational Products
Back to Basics Toys, Games & Hobbies www.backtobasicstoys.com They do make them like they used to!
MetKids www.metmuseum.org/store The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
Museum Tour www.museumtour.com award-winning collection of educational toys for children
Bright Minds www.brightminds.us Books & Software to Develop Critical Thinking
Edmund Scientific's Scientifics www.scientificsonline.com The brightest minds think Edmund Scientific
Cricket Publishing www.cricketmag.com "Inspire a reader"  magazines, books & music

For additional ideas, check out our previous list: 2005 Recommendations


Prepared with Flair by ArvaMont.  For problems or questions regarding this web contact GECOweb@arvamont.com