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Smart Hands-On Toys

Hands on toys are great for our visual spatial learners, and the rest of us, too!  Don't miss the ThinkFun puzzles - these are my favorites!  And if you like Hands On Toys, don't miss our Construction Toys...

Offering many terrific toys our kids love, Toys at Amazon.comMindWareOnline, Discovery Store, Zome! and many more - all the links on Shop Hoagies! - are all Hoagies' Gifted Education Page associates.  For each purchase from Hoagies' Page links, these stores give a small percentage of your purchase price to Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, at no cost to you -- Thanks!
 
Board Games Card Games Classic Games Construction Toys Hands-On Toys History Sim Games Klutz Books Math Games Miscellaneous Toys Paper & Pencil Party Games Puzzle Books Strategy Games Word Games Young Children Toy Companies

3-D Tangrams
Tangrams that interlock and stand upright! Four full tangram sets let kids race to solve a visual challenge; or great to investigative artistic unstructured play. Each set includes 28 tangram pieces, 40 connector clips and four bases plus spiral-bound book / easel, with 100 puzzles and solutions
 
Architecto and Equilibrio
Use the 18 precision-cut blocks to construct 3-D structures illustrated in the challenge booklet: 50 illustrations in each game, ranging from simple shapes, requiring only a few blocks to complex ones. As players develop stronger notions of perspective and geometric concepts, the challenges become more demanding...
 
Babylon by Fox Mind Games
Quick to learn, quick to play, but lots of room for strategy and challenge!  Stack the stones following simple rules, and force your opponent to run out of moves.  Even comes in it's own small carrying pouch - great to carry for travel and waiting rooms   
 
Backyard Ballistics: Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices (or from Amazon)
Jump-start some healthy (and safe!) youthful experimentation around the laws of science, math and even thermodynamics with this step-by-step guide. Detailed diagrams and photos show how to build tennis ball mortars, potato cannons and more. A great way to get kids excited about engineering, physics and chemistry...
Also Whoosh, Boom, Splat: The Garage Warrior's Guide to Projectile Shooters (or from Amazon)
 
Ball of Whacks A Creativity Tool for Innovators by Creative Whack Company
Based on the rhombic triacontahedron, this ball consists of 30 magnetic pyramid shaped pieces that act as building blocks for an unlimited number of uses -- the masterpiece of mathematics.  Stimulate your creative genius with this magnetic toy on your desktop. Playing with this puzzle engages your mind, stimulates creativity and is just plain fun.  Now available in blue, tri-color, and a special six-color edition (or from Amazon)...
 
Beastly Body Bits Jigsaw
Take a tour of the human body with a little help from mad scientist Baron Frankenstein as you assemble this 300-piece jigsaw puzzle. Answer some torturous teasers and learn how the body works with the included Loony Leaflet...
 
Bedlam Cube Recommended 19,186 Solutions, and So Hard to Find Just One (or from Amazon Tetris Cube)
Thirteen bright pieces fit together to form a 4x4 cube.  Looks so deceptively simple...  I've never met a cube puzzle I couldn't solve, until now! Also Mini Tetris Cube, or from Bedlam Puzzles in U.K. you can order many varieties...
 
Bloco Animals
bullet Bloco Dinosaurs (or from Amazon)
bullet Bloco Wildcats (or from Amazon)
bullet Bloco Dragons & Reptiles (or from Amazon)
Construction kits create adorable 3-D characters built with durable high-density foam and unique connectors appeal to boys and girls alike, 300+ peices...
 
Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes Music Station
Create the great percussion sounds of the Blue Men, at home!
 
Brio Labyrinth
I loved Labyrinth as a child, and it hasn't changed, and still delights kids today!
 
Bucket Blast
A bucket full of indoor or outdoor fun for families and friends, with it's own storage (back)pack
 
Candy Factory
The chemistry of cooking illuminates many important scientific concepts; kids will love the sweet success of making their own hard candies, plus learning about crystallized structures and the biology of taste and concocting luscious chocolate treats, experimenting with melting points and other solid/liquid properties along the way...
 
Carnivorous Creations
Get up close and personal with the carnivores of the plant world with this fantastic terrarium and the ten insect-eating varieties of plants housed within. Some plants have jaws that snap shut on prey; others trap insects with strategically placed spikes or by secreting poison. Kit comes with seeds, plus a bag of peat planting mix, water-retaining rocks, and instructions for successful germination...
 
Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package
More than a toy... but still a "toy" for many of our kids (and spouses!).  Gifted kids love Casio keyboards, with their professional style, full-size keys, extended octaves, plus additional capabilities...preset rhythms and voices plus user programmable options.  A great (less expensive) alternative to a "real" piano, or addition for those high-tech kids who want more (Bach's harpsichord pieces sound so much better when the instrument actually sounds like a harpsichord!).  Also the Casio Deluxe Keyboard Stand
 
Castle Logix by Educational Insights (ages 5+, 4+ gifted)
Construct the castles in each diagram out of beautiful hardwood pieces.  Challenges start easy, but quickly make you think "outside the box"... Then try Royal Rescue and build bridges between the castle towers to rescue the prince and princess!
 
Clay Fun Airdry Clay Sculpture Kit ages 4+
Handcrafted pottery, no kiln required.  Includes 4 pounds of clays, paints, brushes, sculpting tool, glue, and mosaic tiles and crystals for decorations
 
Colorforms by University Games
Remember these?  350 brightly colored Colorforms pieces in an elegant, spiral-bound book, limitless possibilities.  Or try Silly Faces Stick-Ons Game...
 
Cube-IQ by Westshore Logic
Tiny 2-inch cubes look innocuous... until you try them.  Find the hidden path from the top to the bottom.  It's not as easy as it sounds, but if you think it is... Try the next level!  Levels 1 to 8 available now; 9 to 12 coming soon
 
DaVinci's Secret: The Clue a series of 7 puzzles (ages 8+, difficult to expert) from FunAgain Games
Break the codes to uncover the secret scroll entombed deep within DaVinci's greatest mystery and reveal the clues to solving The Equation.  Arrange the puzzle pieces within the boundaries to establish the base. Then engage a piece of The DaVinci Secret to uncover the scientist's formulas and follow the signs to discover The Legend of the King. Then join the quest to free the legendary scroll and release the guide to explore The Enigmatic Temple. there is but one way to explore this sacred site. Sequestered within the ancient walls of the temple are the detailed blueprints needed to interpret the mystic Pillars of Atlantis.  Divide and align these fallen pillars for guidance towards Carta Blanca. Map your points carefully to expose Carta Blanca's mysterious hidden clues as these determining details will sustain you on your final approach to uncovering the greatest mystery of all, Secrets of the Pyramid...
 
Dig It Up Mini Dino Excavation Kits
Sounds simple - fit the cars into the track without any cars touching... but powerful magnets in the cars and guardrail foil your attempt!
 
Explorer Globe by Leapfrog
Packed with hundreds of facts, trivia, and useful scholastic information about every aspect of the geographical world. It electronically verbalizes everything from area population, capitol city/country, state/province, large bodies of water, currencies, high points, distance, music, and more...
 
Eyeclops
Enlarge anything to 200 times its size.  Plugs directly into the TV - no PC, no software...
 
Fandex Family Field Guides between a toy and a book, and lots of fun! 
With topics from history to nature and more, shaped cards include pictures and facts...  My kids love these!
Mythology, Shakespeare, Explorers, American Indians,
Presidents, First Ladies, Civil War, Composers,
Mummies, Gods and Pharaohs, Painters: Masters of Western Art,
Cats, Dogs, Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Wildflowers, Dinosaurs, Bugs
The Body, 50 States, Washington, D.C., New York City
The Wonders of The World: 46 Monuments of Civilization, Africa,
Star Wars
 
Fashion Design Studio (or from Amazon)
Comes with everything you need to create your own line of designer originals, from start to finish—design tips, sketch book, 12" black velvet mannequin, white satin “starter” dress to embellish, fabric, glue, and sewing basics including scissors, tape measure, needles, thread and pins...
 
Fire Escape by Educational Insights (ages 8+, 6+ gifted)
Navigate the corridors on both sides of the hotel to find fire extinguishers and put out the fire; a 3-D maze puzzle.  48 rescue missions included...
 
FlashMaster by FlashMaster, Inc.
A toy, a learning tool... both.  FlashMaster replaces flash cards for +-*/ math facts.   Use it with or without the timer (or make it longer, for kids who need some limits, but a little more time), with or without sound effects, problems that are missed can be run separately in "missed problems."  Change the format of the problems, putting the "variable" in any position.  This is a great tool, that's great fun, even for our twice exceptional friends... PC Magazine review
 
Folkmanis Puppets Still some of the best puppets available!
Queen, Princess, Prince, Puppet Theater with Prince and Princess
Dragon, Green Dragon, Three Headed Dragonn, Sea Serpent, Octopus, Gargoyle
Unicorn, Pegasus, Snowy Owl, Emperor Penguin, Peacock, White Mouse, Brown Mouse
Elephant, Lion, Horse, Black Labrador Puppy, Ladybug, Fluffy Cat, Timber Wolf
Baby Orangutan, Hedgehog, African Elephant, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Giant Sequoia Finger Puppet Play Set
For a little fun, Mini Finger Puppets...
Mini Chipmunk, Mini Chipmunk, Mini Raccoon, Mini Barn Owl, Mini Red Dragon, Mini Beaver
Mini Hedgehog, Mini Squirrel, Spotted Owl, Mini Skunk, Mini Monarch Butterfly,
Mini Oppossum, Mini Unicorn, Mini Baby Emperor Penguin, Mini Praying Mantis, Mini Fox
 
Fractiles-7 Recommended magnetic symmetry tiles by Fractiles)
Make butterflies, snowflakes, optical illusions and more. Young minds will love learning about the different kinds of symmetry. Just start placing the tiles on the magnetic board.  Neat travel toy, too! o! Fractiles-7 Travel (or from Amazon) and
 
Gamepuzzles Recommended for the joy of thinking, by Kadon Enterprises
Wonderful acrylic (and some wood) puzzles for kids and adults  - my kids loved them since 2 and 3, my husband and I still love them!
Roundominoes, Super Roundominoes and Grand Roundominoes 
Rombix Jr. and Rombix
Deka-Star and Kite Mosaik
Hexnut and Hexnut II
Quintachex the most beguiling checkerboard ever!
Dezign-8
 
Hoberman Spheres
A fascinating sphere... Glow-in-the-Dark Sphere, Mini Rainbow Sphere or Mini Glow-in-the-Dark Sphere.  Also Brain Twist
 
Hugg-A-Planet
One of the "Best 25 Toys of the Past 25 Years."  Hugg the Earth, Moon, Mars, Stars, and now Hugg-America...
 
Human Body 4D Anatomy Puzzles (or from Amazon)
Human anatomy will no longer be a puzzle to anyone who solves these four challenges, each illustrating a crucial component of the human body. Incredibly detailed and realistic, the durable pieces snap and slide together securely, so that solved puzzles can be used for display and study...
 
Hyper Dash
Combine activity with colors, numbers, and simple addition and subtraction, and you've got Hyper Dash.  Radio Frequency ID tags in the targets are read by the unit, while players compete solo, up to 4 players head-to-head or 8 players in teams of 2, to figure out which targets to touch in which order.  Targets can be located close by, or far apart, making this a great physical activity, too!
 
iCoaster from Magnetix by MEGA Blocks
Magnetic balls follow the path, suspended against gravity, jumping looping, even climbing the tower without support... as you watch the lights and listen to the music of the built in rhythms mixed on the provided Sound FX Music Studio, or that of your own MP3 player...
 
Jungle Smart by Fox Mind Games
Use the set of commands (smaller set for more advanced play) to rearrange the animals from the start to end position, drawn from cards.  Can you figure out the series of commands in your head, before your opponent?  Or play solitaire...
 
Kippit by Fox Mind Games (or from Amazon)
Two players compete to get rid of their cubes by balancing them on a seesaw.. but don't let it tip! 
 
Leather Stamping Kit (or from Amazon)
Get creative with metal stamps in three designs, then stain pieces to make a wallet, coin purse, bracelet, bookmark and key chain. Includes illustrated instructions, 10"-long wood mallet, pre-punched leather pieces, non-toxic leather dye, sponge applicator, buffer, lacing cord and needle
 
LiveCube
The never ending puzzle game... three-dimensional pentaminoes puzzle, with tons of puzzle cards to solve, plus games, puzzles, and playcard of the week on the website...
 
Magnetic Bumper Cars (or from Amazon)
Sounds simple - fit the cars into the track without any cars touching... but powerful magnets in the cars and guardrail foil your attempt!
 
Magnetic Mosaics (squares), Magnetic Dreamings (round) and Magnetic Design Set
More than 2000 (or 4000 in the combined Design Set) colorful magnets, to create mosaic drawings
 
Marble Run (ages 4-10)
Skyrail Suspension Marble Run with Elevator (or from Amazon) or Space Odyssey Marble Run (or from Amazon) (ages 9+)
or the Super Marble Run Vortex or Marble Run Vortex or Marble Run with Motorized Elevator (ages 5+)
Marble Run is 105 pieces, Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run is 45 pieces, both include spinners, vortex, and more...
Skyrail marble run is over 5 feet wide and 3 feet tall, with adjustable suspension cables to easily raise or lower the tracks; Space Odyssey marble run is more compact, but just as wild!  Check them all!
 
Math Art Fun Creative combinations of math, art & fun!
Tessellations, Polyhedra, Fractals, M.C. Escher, Tangrams & dissections, Kaleidoscopes & symmetry, Paper folding and more... Buy your Tessellations products here, or visit the Gallery of mathematical arts!
 
MegaChopper
Perfect for first-time pilots, this no-assembly-required chopper uses precision-balanced twin rotors for maximum stability. Dual function transmitter provides turbo and hover control functions up to 100 feet overhead, with navigational lights for flights day or night...
 
Meta-Forms Logic in Shapes (ages 4-adult) by Fox Mind Games
An introduction to logic.  Follow the clues to place the 9 wooden shapes on the grid.  Clues start simple, becoming more complex as you move through the challenges, until the highest levels, which often challenge adults!  Also available in travel form in Logix I.  When you get through Meta-Forms or Logix I, try Logix II - these start at a challenging adult level!
 
Music Blocks by Neurosmith
Great musical and sequencing fun for the youngest children (and some of the older ones, too!).  Includes Mozart, but don't miss the additional tunes, including Bach, Sounds of the Orchestra and Jumping Jive Jazz.  For the youngest child, Together Tunes and Jumbo Music Block.  Both use the same cartridges, plus some of it's own, and does even more...
 
Oops Recommended
Simple but complex logic game; move the hats to reassemble Simon, the scattered magician.  Dozens of challanges, tons of fun...
 
Oops Again Puzzle
A family favorite forever... can you stack the balls to create a pyramid, so that no identical colors touch?
 
Origami to Astonish and Amuse
If you were an original origami model which would you rather be, a sad stationary model that has to sit idle on a display shelf getting dusty and neglected, or a happy action model that frequently gets to frolic in the hands of a folder and give moving performances that astonish and amuse?
 
Pieceless Puzzles
This one has to be seen to be believed - watch the Video at YouTube... it's a one-piece jigsaw puzzle?!  Seaside Pieceless Puzzle, Thomas Kinkade Pieceless Puzzle, The Simpsons Pieceless Puzzle, Pieceless Puzzle - Roger Nannini, Pieceless Dinosaur 2-Sided Puzzle, and Animal Life Pieceless Puzzle
 
Photomosaics by Buffalo Gameses
Jigsaw puzzles, made up entirely of tiny scenes. Gifted kids (of all ages) often love jigsaw puzzles, and these puzzles add another dimension to the picture
Starry Night, Dolphin, Grey Wolf, Peanuts: Literary Ace, Eagle & Stripes, NASCAR II, Pig
Rockwell: Soda Jerk, Rockwell: The Runaway
Disney's Tigger, Disney's The Lion Kingng, Mickey Mouse, Disney Fine Art: Off to Home We Go (each about 1000 pieces)
American Flag (each 500 pieces)
Starry Night, The Last Supper, Neuschwanstein Castle (each about 2000 pieces)
3D Spherical Puzzle, also by Buffalo Games
3D Spherical Puzzle - Antique Globe, 3D Spherical Puzzle - World Globe
All About Puzzles, also by Buffalo Games
All About Puzzles are divided into scenes, each an illustrated part of a story. As you complete one scene, the puzzle tells you what pieces to look for next. Takes you on a fascinating journey into the history and legend of...
All About Coffee
World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzles, also by Buffalo Games
What makes them so hard?  The same artwork is on both sides, but rotated 90°.  And they're even die cut once from each side, to make the front and back virtually indistinguishable!
World's Most Difficult: Balloons, World's Most Difficult: Cats, World's Most Difficult: ClownFish, World's Most Difficult: Dalmatians, World's Most Difficult: Goalkeeper's Nightmare
 
Physics Workshop
It's just like a chemistry set, except instead of using vials and solutions, kids get a hands-on demonstration of physics principles using pulleys, gears, levels, wheels and axels. This thorough physics kit includes everything needed to build 36 models including a windmill and a robot, plus offers 73 experiments that teach the fundamental laws of mechanical action...
 
Playfoam
Squish it, shape it, save it or smoosh it and start all over again, colorful foam sculpting material won't crumble, and it won't stick to skin or surfaces and it never dries out... Or try Creativity Kit, Giant Pack, 12-pack or Sparkle Playfoam 6-pack or 12-pack
 
Q-Ba-Maze 50-pack in Hot or Cool colors (or from MindWare)
Modern marble run is "visibly cool."  Transparent blue and green cubes interlock for amazing cascades of marbles... also smaller Q-Ba-Maze 20-pack in Hot or Cool...
 
Quadrilla Marble Railways
or from Amazon, Quadrilla Marble Railway, Basic Set, Quadrilla Twist and Rail or Quadrilla Twist
Wooden marble runs, with track pieces, accelerators, and fancy pieces, for tons of fun.  I remember these from my childhood!  And don't miss the Twist set - curved track, and a funnel!
 
Quercetti Marble Run
Build grand and complex structures, including the double-entry Funnels and Spirals, double-length bridges, Multiple marble launchers, paddle-wheels, short bridges and rails, and bell-shaped bases to make the structures steadier...
 
Ravensburger Puzzles
Beautiful, high quality jigsaw puzzles for all ages from the smallest to largest puzzler, all pieces unique shaped, hand-carved cutting tools, shaped puzzles, 3D globe puzzleballs, and more...
My First Mouse Puzzle, My First Duck Puzzle, My First Bunny Puzzle puzzle pieces attached by ribbons
Fire Engine, Fairy Princess, Bob the Builder, Sodor Friends, Traveling Around Sodor, Calling all Engines Thomas, Off to Work Thomas, Best Friends Thomas 24 piece shaped and shaped-box floor puzzles
Life At The Castle See Inside, African Animals 34-35 piece puzzle
The Magical Unicorn, Under the Sea, Lion Family, Cool Cats, In The Galaxy, Thomas The Tank Tells The Time 60 piece puzzles
Christmas 60 piece puzzleball
Building Site, Dream Land, Safari Look & Find 84 piece puzzle
Ravensburger The Solar System Puzzleball Special Set 8 globe puzzleballs from 24-144 pieces
Unicorns, Junior World Map, Dinosaurs 96 piece globe puzzleballs
Thomas' Midnight Ride (glow in the dark), Thomas at the Carnival (glow in the dark), Enchanted Forest, Outer Space, Building Site, Land of the Giants, Pirates' Treasure, Harley Davidson (shaped), Tropical Lizards, Dragon's Lair 100 piece puzzles
A Gecko Party, Pirate Ship, Soccer Action, Ballet Class, Amazing Unicorns, Thunder Horses 200 piece puzzles
Globe, Penguins, Ocean, Wildlife 240 piece puzzleballs
Room with a View, Rainforest, Formula 1 Racing, Cat Lover, Motherly Love (giraffes), The World Of The Dinosaurs, German Castles, One Autumn Afternoon, Boy's Best Friend, A Day for Brougham Ride 300 piece puzzles
Rush Hour (fish!), The Perfect Place (beach & lighthouse), Bears at Play, Neuwchwanstein Castle, Harley - Davidson 500 piece puzzles
Historical Globe, Celestial Map Glow in the dark 540 piece globe puzzleballs
Skyline, New York, Glow in the Dark - Times Square 1000 piece panoramic puzzle
Space Shuttle Fire Dragon, Sunsout Dragon Dreams, Earth Dragon, Ice Dragon 1000 piece shaped art puzzles
Santa's Christmas List, Christmas Market, White Christmas, Tropical, Family Time (dogs), Harley Davidson Classic '41, The Journey Glow-in-the-Dark, Toucans Can!, Harley-Davidson Freedom Riders 1943, Winner Takes All 1000 piece puzzles
Neuschwanstein Castle, Sunflower Bouquet 1500 piece puzzles
NYC - Brooklyn Bridge 2000 piece puzzle
Oceanic Wonders, 1665 World Map, Bombardment of Algiers Jigsaw, Horses In The Canyon 3000 piece puzzles
Views of Modern Rome 5000 piece puzzle
Astrology 9000! piece puzzle
4 Historical World Maps, Tropical Impressions 18,000!! piece puzzles
Puzzle Accessories - Stow and Go
 
Rubik's Cube, Rubik's Twist, Rubik's UFO, Rubik's 4x4 and Rubik's 5x5
The classic puzzle, and modern variations...  Try Rubik's Revolution!  Or from MindWare
 
Screen Painting Kit
Learn paper stencil, block-out, photographic emulsion and screen filler methods.  Includes three colors of screen ink, screen filler, drawing fluid, diazo photo emulsion and sensitizer, plus paint brush, mixing sticks and squeegee...
 
Simon Tricksterter Challenge your recall!
The next generation of the classic electronic sequencing game.  Play the traditional Simon challenges against the machine or turn the unit over for head-to-head play with a human opponent. All seven games are variations on the ingenious original: an ever-increasing sequence of signals, denoted by the flashing and beeping colored buttons, must be repeated... Or try Simon Handheld
 
Skeletons in the Closet by Learning Resources (age 4-8)
Learn the names, location and relationships of the major bones in the human body (skull, pelvis, tibia, rib cage and more). The first player to assemble their skeleton in the closet wins. Bones are labeled to help identify each one by name...
 
Snafooz Recommended the foam puzzle that forms a cube! (or from Amazon<)
Snafooz 6-packs contain 6 different colors and 6 challenge levels. Build all 6 cubes, or combine different colors to form lots of interesting shapes...
 
Speed Stacks Glow-in-the-Dark StackPack Green (with stack mat and timer)
Contains everything you need to be "competition ready" in this competitive sport of coordination, action, and speed.  Also in Speed Stacks Glow-in-the-Dark StackPack Blue, Speed Stacks Stackpack Assortment, Speed Stacks StackPack - Green (all with stack mat and timer) or Speed Stacks Competition Cups Purple with Black Bag
 
Tangoes Jr. (ages 3+) (or from Amazon)
Tanagram puzzles, plus extra decks of puzzles.  Play solitaire or head-to-head. Big pieces and neat storage container built right in...
 
Tangramino by Fox Mind Games
Construct pictures from 18 shapes; each new picture contains additional challenge...
 
Tantrix Colorful game of strategy and luck! (or from Amazonzon)
The object is to play all your tiles to form the longest line of your color. The challenge is to block your opponents at the same time. Or try building one of 25 solitaire puzzles. With nylon bag and zipper, Tantrix is perfect for school or travel.  I used to love this when I was young...
 
Tarata Balancing Animals
From kiwis to jungle animals, koalas to whales, kids and adults alike can spend hours balancing these intricate wooden creatures......
 
Tavern Puzzles 
Great manipulative puzzles made from iron, originally used in olden days taverns... from easy to impossible, lots of levels, lots of fun.  Check out the latest and most difficult: Freedom's Ring!  Or from Amazon:
bullet(easy) Iron Heart, Conestoga Playmate, Painted Lady,
bullet(medium) Wise Guy
bullet(hard) U-turn<, Big Kahuna, Tri Again, Big Shot
bullet(extreme) Sneaky Pete, Matched Set, Freedoms Ring, Patience, Doozie
bulletDon't forget a Display Stand - Tavern Puzzles are works of art!
For smaller hands, try out Finger Twist Puzzles
 
Tessellations Creative combinations of math, art & fun!
Inexpensive foam puzzles the fit together, from Colorful Connectables for the youngest kids, Tanagrams for all ages (and in large set!) to the Penrose Kites and Darts for older children (showing the Golden ratio) and lots of mathematical history and information... Check out In the Garden from MindWare or Busy Beetles from Amazon
 
TetraTrax
A cross between Collect Four and Tetris.  Drop your tiles in, trying to touch as many of your opponent's tiles as you can.  But be careful not to leave holes!
 
ThinkFun (was Binary Arts) great logic puzzles and games for all ages (mostly labeled 8 years and up, but great for gifted kids much younger)
River Crossinging Recommended Use tree stumps and planks, and try to cross the river
River Crossing 2 - more puzzles for your River Crossing
River Crossing Jr. larger, easier to handle pieces, easier to solve challenges
36 Cube How many towers can you place?
Pete's Pike Conquer the mountain! Help the magic goats help Pete safely conquer the mountain by finding the right sequence of moves...
FlipSide line up the numbered tiles from 0 to 9. Sound simple? Think again!
Chocolate Fix How many towers can you place?
Charoodles fast-acting game where players act out a person, place or thing using just four simple props...
Hot Spot Hop your Red Rover over obstacles to reach the Red Hot Spot on the game board...
What's Gnu? Smart Mouth for the younger set, ages 4-8, how many words can be crafted when you only know two out of three letters?
Zingo fast-paced picture-version of Bingo, for our younger kids
Sudoku 5x5 and Sudoku Jr. 4x4 hands-on Sudoku puzzles for the younger set...
GRIDWorks place the pieces by visual logic clues...
TipOver Recommended Topple a path from here to there... (or from MindWare)
Spiderman TipOver if you prefer a web-swinging theme
Subtrax a new twist on classic peg solitaire... (or from MindWare)
Marvel City Crossing help Spiderman escape danger by positioning skyscrapers, buildings and magnetic webs...
Smart Mouth Stretch your vocabulary and quick thinking skills - great new addition! (or from Amazon)
Izzi use all 64 black & white tiles to build a pattern... not as easy as it sounds.  Also Izzi 2 in 4 colors...
Gordian's Knot just 6 interlocking pieces, but takes a whopping 69 moves to take the knot apart!
Treasure Quest Move aside all obstacles and push the gold masks out of the temple...
Brick by Brick, Block by Block, Shape by Shape, Square by Square 2D and 3D construction challenges
Cover Your Tracks cover your tracks on a journey through mud, sand, snow and cement... (or from MindWare)
Raging Rapids Fit the interlocking paddlers back into their raft, all facing in the same direction. It looks easy, but...
Charoodles players act out a person, place or thing using just four simple prop
Visual Brainstorms puzzle card with rich illustrations, teaches logic, deductive reasoning, and abstract thinking
Amaze Game a hand held maze that changes as you play, with 16 different challenges... (or from MindWare)
City Puzzle Classic metal puzzle blocks, fit back into the weighted metal frame...
Rush Hour (or from Amazon)
Rush Hour Card Set 2, Set 3, Set 4 (or from Amazon, Set 2, Set 3, Set 4)
Rush Hour Jr. 40 junior challenges
Safari Rush Hour with animals - all new puzzles
Railroad Rush Hour Recommended 2 exit choices, and blocks that move in two directions!
Treasure Chest a new Rush Hour variation...
Toot and Otto two players each take on the personality of Toot or Otto... (ages 4-8)
Ducks in a Row a wacky version of checkers.... (ages 4-8)
Serpentiles combine selected tiles to form a continuous snake-like path...
Top This Players create identical shapes using different game pieces. Seemingly simple game is not only loads of fun, but can also be surprisingly tricky!
Word Sense take turns flipping letter tiles and racing to think up words that contain those letters. Be the first to correctly call out a word, and keep the tiles. Tiles and dice fit neatly into the travel case...
Tangram seven-piece Tangram puzzle is the world's oldest and most well known silhouette puzzle, pieces crafted in metal and filled with vivid blue enamel
Clever Castle follow the clues to seat the castle guests... (ages 5-7)
Scrambled Eg classic has been mystifying puzzle-lovers for over a century, nine colorful metal and enamel pieces carefully crafted to fit into a black frame...
SpinOut can you spin and slide the pieces, to release the slide?
Hoppers a new look for classic peg solitaire...
Hoppers Jr. junior version of classic peg solitaire... (ages 5-7)
Fifteen Puzzle Traditional metal sliding puzzle in case...
Aha Brainteaser Classics
 
Timberkits build musicians that really rock!
Cranks, gears, levers and more are precision-cut from finished wood, so all you need do is peg and glue each piece together to create functioning mechanical marvels... or from Amazon, Drummer Timberkit, Woody Blues Timberkit, Guitarist Timberkit, T-Rex Timberkit, Rower Timberkit, Ocean Motion Timberkit, Snappy Croc Timberkit
 
Toss Up!s Up! (ages 8 and up, or as soon the child can sum to 100)
A pocket- or purse-size game of chance in it's own case, great for those unexpected delays... toss the dice, try to get as many greens as you can... but don't get stopped by a red!
 
Triazzles deceptively simple...
Vivid sea life, sparkling dragonflies, arresting arachnids, and swirling salamanders adorn these triangular puzzles.  Also on Amazon, Toy Story and Beyond! Triazzle, Mountain Butterflies Triazzle Jigsaw Puzzle, Triazzle Adventures in Neverland, and Triazzle Pond Life plus Travel Triazzles Sky Pilot Planeslanes, Under the Sea and Rain Forest - fewer pieces, but just as challenging - on a magnetic board, so pieces don't get lost!
 
Tricky Two-Way Puzzles
Turn a square into a triangle?  How about a square into a pentagram?  Each of these tricky two-way puzzles...  Or try Tricky Two-Way Star Puzzles each square becomes a different star, or Tricky Tangrams four different traditional, or not-so-traditional tangrams.  All Tricky Puzzles are magnetic backed, for lots of frig fun...
 
Tumble Jumble Puzzles more deceptively simple puzzles, from the makers of Triazzles
Each glossy block has 4 images, each puzzle has 4 solutions, but each set has only 1 visual theme...  Also on Amazon, Tumble Jumble Pond Life
 
Tunnelz by Educational Insights
2-player tunnel maze game - tilt the cube, and plan your route...
 
Window Mosaic Butterfly and Window Mosaic Dolphin
Self-adhesive (cling) transparent tiles, turn your window into brilliant artwork!
 
Whole Brain Teasers
Five great teasers for your left and right brains! Can you remove the brass ring from the rope on the puzzle... without using an ax?
 
X7 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Car build musicians that really rock!
Assemble a working fuel cell car that runs on the ultimate fuel – hydrogen and oxygen gas! Discover how fuel cells work.  Learn about the potential alternative energies for automobiles.  Watch in amazement as water separates into hydrogen and oxygen, then use the stored gases to power your vehicle across the floor...
 
Yomega Yo Yo by Yomega
The old fashioned yo yo has undergone a miraculous rebirth!  Try more than one... Power Brain XP Yo-Yo, X-Brain, Fireball, Xodus II Peg Pack, >, Saber Raider, and more.  Don't forget the Klutz Yo-Yo Boo!
 
Zenbenders RaceTrack Puzzle by Out of the Box Publishing (ages 8+, 5+ gifted)
Also Zenbenders Quilt Puzzle, Zenbenders Dragon Puzzle and Zenbenders Dachshund Puzzle
Flip and slide the cubes to solve each challenge; 36 challenges in three levels per puzzle
 
Zookeeper's Nightmare by Educational Insights (ages 6+, 5+ gifted)
Slide the runaway animals home, but watch out!  Don't let the leopards lunch on the rhino, or let the lion wave it's tail in front of the tigers, or...  A sliding puzzle with a twist!  18 challenges included, plus instructions to create your own
 
Zoo Logic (ages 4-adult) by Fox Mind Games
An animal gridlock of cats, dogs, mice and their favorite foods: fish, bones and cheese lies before you. Can you arrange them while keeping each animal away from its rival and away from its favorite food? If that was too easy, hungry ants, angry bulls and fierce dogs are also introduced as the puzzle difficulty gradually progresses in this captivating and amusing logic puzzle. ZooLogic allows children from 4 to adult challenge their logical thinking skills!
 

Last updated ed June 22, 2009
 

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