Parental Eye Magazine - Current Issue

Under 8s Have a very educational Christmas! Our guide to the best educational toys
Bubble DVD Games Console. Key learning features include language and mathematical development, understanding of the world and personal, social and emotional development. Age range: 2-7. Price: £60 for console; £17 for additional games. Available from most toys stores. Further info: www.worldofbubble.com
Amazing Animal Alphabet Puzzle. Keep little minds entertained while they learn the alphabet with this colourful wooden mural of animals that fit together in a snug spiral. Comes complete with an alphabetical animal poem to help recall. Age range: preschool upwards. Further info: www.johncranetoys.co.uk
	Fisher-Price InteracTV. The DVD based learning system uses a chunky remote control handset and well-known character friends (such as Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants and residents from Sesame Street) to invite children to take part in educational games and activities. Age range: 3 upwards. Rec. price: £14.99. Further info: www.mattel.com
Find My Food. But who eats what? 10 animals and 10 different food items to develop children’s cognitive and associate skills. Age range: 3 upwards. Further info: www.johncranetoys.co.uk
Origami Sea Life. Create your own ocean world with this kit of more than 30 sheets of 11 different coloured patterned paper and background pop-up scene. Age range: 5 upwards. Further info: www.greatgizmos.co.uk	no pic
Doll Making Kit. The easy-to-assemble ballerina kit that allows you to create a loveable doll, name her and then present her with her own birth certificate. Age range: 5 upwards. Further info: www.greatgizmos.co.uk
Travel Triazzle. Scramble the magnetic puzzle pieces and then replace them to make sure the pictures match the board. Think it sounds simple? Good luck. Choose from Rain Forest or Jurassic and take on long journeys. Age range: 6 upwards. Rec. price: £5.99. Further info: www.everythingdinosaur.com
Weather Window. This colourful and smart felt chart uses Velcro-backed words and images to teach kids how to talk about the weather. No pun intended. Age range: pre school plus. Further info: sales@activedesigns.co.uk
Dino Making Kit. Money bank? Cool mobile? What will you create with your own paper mache dinosaur kit? Age range: 5 upwards. Rec. price: £6.99. www.everythingdinosaur.com	no pic

Spell & Learn. Kids will have fun learning to spell with this interlocking word game. 120 brightly coloured letter and picture pieces with the correct spelling beneath each picture to aid learning. Age range: 4 upwards. Rec. price: £5. Further info: www.elc.co.uk

	Latches Board. This sturdy handcrafted board is just right for satisfying inquisitive minds that like to touch, open, close and discover what’s hiding behind closed doors and windows. Age range: preschool upwards. Further info: www.flairplc.co.uk
Jungle Foam Creativity Kit. Follow the colours in the pictures to create textured collages of little people. And no need for glue – simply scrunch up the tissue paper and stick to self adhesive sections. Age range: 3 upwards. Further info: www.flairplc.co.uk
	Tissue Paper Creativity Kit. Create a range of arts and craft projects from fridge magnets to coasters, picture frames to note pad holders. Age range: 3 upwards. Further info: www.flairplc.co.uk
Responsibility Chart. Reward good behaviour and encourage children to take responsibility for tasks such as taking care of pets and cleaning their room, brushing their teeth or simply saying sorry! A good idea from Melissa & Doug handcrafted toys. Age range: 4 upwards. Further info: www.flairplc.co.uk
	Geomag Magnetic World. A range of models that will teach kids the laws of physics, magnetism and geometry. Children will be kept busy with the thousands of possible combinations which glow in the dark. Age range: 6 to 99. Rec. price: varies. Further info: www.TheGeomagStore.com
Days of the Week. Be the first to reach the picnic with this puzzle and board game that teaches kids the days of the week and develops concepts such as yesterday, tomorrow and next week. Age range: 5 upwards. Rec. price: £5. Further info: www.elc.co.uk
	Magnetic Sentence Tiles. Make up your own stories using this bucket of 132 magnetic word tiles. Include game leaflet and word list. Age range: 4 upwards. Rec. price: £7. Further info: www.elc.co.uk
Travel the World. Become well travelled with this game for 2 to 4 players that teaches country names, capital cities, their landmarks and native animals. Age range: 5 upwards. Rec. price: £10. Further info: www.elc.co.uk
World Map. Where in the world is Israel? How far is it from Italy? And what are the colours of the map of China? Develop your geographical knowledge with this wooden puzzle map of the world and national flags. Age range: 3 to 8. Rec. price: £8. Further info: www.elc.co.uk	no pic
Interactive Story Book. A lively interactive talking book with 19 pages of 60 new words and colourful pictures. Builds a range of skills such a number and colour recognition and spelling. The Ready, Set, School series is designed to help children prepare for school. Age range: 3 to 5. Further info: www.vtechuk.com
V Smile Pocket. On the go or on television, this pocket video game develops reading comprehension, maths, problem solving and other essential skills that will help your child get ahead at school. Age range: 5 to 9. Further info: www.vtechuk.com

Have a very educational Christmas!