2005 Recommendations

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

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For some great parent recommendations of gifts and websites, check out the lists below.

 

Challenging Games    
   
Game Level Comments/Description
Math:    
24 Game Primer (Add/Subtract) K to 3rd Use easy to combine patterns of addition and subtraction to total a targeted number. 
24 Game-Original (+,-,x, & /) 3rd to 6th Use easy to complex patterns of basic functions to find 24.
SET K to adult Make sets with this great visual perception challenge.
Rush Hour (many variations) K to adult Try to escape from the traffic jams set up to match puzzle cards.
Mastermind 3rd to adult One player chooses a color pattern for the opponent to guess within a certain number of tries.
Blokus K to adult Spatial reasoning and strategy combine for a good challenge.
Tangrams/Tangoes K to adult An ancient game, available in many forms for spatial reasoning fun.
     
Language Arts:    
Apples to Apples (junior) 3rd to adult Match nouns to a selected adjective and a judge decides which is the best match.
Quiddler 2nd to adult Form short words with letter cards to arrange entire hand.
     

 

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


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