Bloomington Leader

The holidays are approaching quickly, and parents should consider adding educational toys to the mix when shopping for children.

When people buy items at Gingerbread House Toys this year, they can also help Special Olympics Illinois. Gingerbread House Toys bills itself as "your local Bloomington-Normal educational toy store." It offers products that family and friends can buy for children to encourage them to "keep going so they keep growing!"

The store's staff devised a list of its top 10 products for under $25 that parents and others can consider. More importantly, though, as the store celebrates 50 years in business, it is part of the 2022 Wink Alliance. Gingerbread House partnered with Crazy Aaron's to offer a custom-designed tin of Thinking Putty; proceeds go to the Special Olympics. 

People who need ideas for what to buy youngsters can take the advice of the staff and consider the following educational toys.

The Tugl Cube ($17.99) provides children over the age of two with a way to learn colors and shapes while honing their sensory skills. It's a cube with rounded-off edges. Each side features a different-colored silicone bubble with a pull tab so children can pull out the insert. While it is advertised for children from age two to teens, this toy is geared toward the younger set.

The Barnyard Shape Sorter ($24.99) is a take on an old box that parents might remember. The carrying case is designed to resemble a barn. Rather than being limited to squares and other simple geometric shapes that are inserted into the box through a corresponding cut-out, this toy offers pieces in the shape of animals. It adds a new dimension to the concept of shape sorting. It is recommended for children aged two to five.

The Spinz Pull Back Race Car Two Pack Set ($22.99) is a pull-back car with the added feature of a spinning propeller. Children drag the car backward on the floor to rev it up, then let go, and the car zips across the room. When it crashes into a wall or other target, a propeller detaches from the hood and soars through the air. Children can host one-on-one competitions with friends or siblings because there are two cars in the pack. This toy is targeted at children aged three to 10. But, parents should supervise younger children to keep them out of the way of the flying propeller so there are no unintended eye injuries.

The Spy X Recon Watch ($24.99) offers elementary school-aged children the chance to pretend they are James Bond. The watch offers a time display and stopwatch function and also includes an LED spotlight, motion alarm, and decoder lens. Children can use the message paper and message drop capsules to pass information along to other pretend spies. This toy is one of several Spy X products and is geared toward children above the age of six.

The Tongues Out Memory Game ($19.99) is a memory-building game that is fun for the whole family. The parts include an array of squishy toys in the shape of pug dogs, each with a tongue of a different color. Players roll lollipop-themed dice, then squeeze the dogs to find the one that ate a lollipop of the appropriate color. This toy is designed for children over the age of four.

The Good Banana Voice Changer ($19.99) comes in two designs – a unicorn or a dinosaur. With one click, kids can speak into the microphone and change their voice to sound wacky in four different ways. This toy requires three AAA batteries. Children aged six to 12 are the targeted age group.

The iHeartArt Paint by Numbers Moonlit Unicorn ($22.99) lets children paint a picture of a unicorn roaming through the forest. This toy is best for children over the age of eight.

The Botempi Instruments Trumpet and Saxophone ($24.99) offer a way to introduce children to simplified versions of the instruments. The trumpet features four keys, each resulting in a different note. The box includes a few simple, color-coded tunes. Children can press more than one key at a time to go off-grid and create their own melodies. The saxophone also offers four keys. There is no need for reeds or embouchure; these toys will introduce children to the world of music and offer them a way to express their creativity. They are suitable for children aged three to seven.

Crazy Aaron's Mixed by Me Hide Inside Kit ($19.99) allows children to create custom putties with hidden surprises inside. The package includes three tins of clear silicone putty and five mix sets. This toy offers children the chance to create an array of designs that suit them. It is geared toward children aged three to 12 years old. 

Crazy Aaron's Wink Thinking Putty ($16.99) is a glittery version of putty that is being marketed to help Special Olympics Illinois and celebrate Gingerbread House Toys' 50th anniversary. Crazy Aaron's is a high-quality, silicone-based putty that is safe and non-toxic and will never dry out.

You can shop at the Gingerbread House Toys online store or stop by the brick-and-mortar store, where a staff member can help you find the toys that best suit your needs. The store offers complimentary gift wrapping.