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Last year’s Christmas season, K-12 Directory of School’s blog hosted a Free Zhu Zhu Pet Giveaway for children in need. In addition to the latest and greatest toy hype, your children should also have an array of toys that will help drive educational and learning opportunities. These Ten Best Educational Toys to Prepare Your Child for College are equipped with both fun factor and educational potential!

1. Totally Gross Game of Science and other board games. This board game teaches your child about biology, chemistry, and other sciences that are in high demand on high school and college class lists. Give your child a love for science early and they will apply themselves towards the rigorous studies necessary to find the campus or online college of their dreams!
2. Lego Town Developers Kit and other Lego kits. Everyone loves Legos! This set gets children ready for exciting careers in engineering and construction. Help foster your child’s building skills with a fun and educational Lego set and they’ll be enrolling an engineering degree program before you know it.
3. Flower Presses. Flower pressing is unique in that it fosters a love for both science and art. Children learn more about biology and ecology by pressing not just flowers, but all kinds of different plants; introduce them to the vascular structure of a leaf through a creative project! Once the flower pressing is complete, use the results for more arts and crafts. The horticulture department at world-renown Colorado State University would applaud this early childhood learning.
4. Telescopes. I’ve personally loved telescopes my whole life. I received my first telescope for Christmas at ten years old, and found myself taking Astronomy for my general education in college to look through the “bigger and better” equipment. A telescope is attractive to almost any age and, best of all, can lead to a very fulfilling education and lucrative career. They even make nearly indestructible telescopes for little hands!
5. Binoculars. Like the telescope, this is a toy (or serious tool, depending on the monetary expenditure) that can be enjoyed by all ages. Telescopes open up a world of moons, planets, and stars, fostering a love for the solar system. Binoculars conversely focus on our ecosystems, letting children explore birds, trees, and bugs.
6. Musical Instruments. As early as rattles and as late as band in junior high and high school, music is an option for all ages. You can purchase wooden and plastic music toys such as drums, xylophones, and bells to encourage children’s love for musical learning. It’s a proven fact that students that participate in musical programs perform higher than other students.
7. Rubik’s Cube. Rubik’s cubes come in all shapes and sizes these days and can both entertain and educate children practically anywhere. Leave one in the back seat of the car and see what your child thinks about mathematics.
8. Abacus and other wooden counting toys. The abacus was man’s first calculator; why not let it be your child’s too? Teach children how to count at an exceptionally early age with an abacus or other toys that let them flip and turn pieces.
9. Transforming figurines. Transforming toy figurines of all kinds are on the markets these days. Not only do these foster a child’s imagination, they teach children about space and matter; find out just how many forms the same toy can take!
10. Stuffed Animals. For especially young children, stuffed animals act as an introduction to ecology and the animal kingdom. This could later foster into a love for biology and learning. Stuffed animals of exotic and extinct creatures are especially nurturing for inquiring minds!