As we guide our children through the world, we often look for ways to make learning as vibrant and meaningful as the world itself. Think about the way a story can spark a child’s curiosity, or how an adventure in a film can open their minds to new ideas.

When chosen thoughtfully, films can be more than mere entertainment; they can serve as open windows to learning, sparking wonder and cultivating growth in ways that feel natural, much like how they discover the world on their own terms.

Imagine settling down to watch a movie together—your child’s eyes widening as they dive into the story, the characters, the world unfolding on screen.

These moments aren’t just about following a plot; they’re moments of shared discovery, where your child learns about compassion, resilience, and curiosity. Through these stories, children encounter life’s little lessons, experiencing emotions they may not yet fully understand but can begin to feel and empathize with.

In curating this selection, we chose films that gently nurture the values of empathy, responsibility, and curiosity. Each one of these films aligns with an approach that respects a child’s innate need to explore and learn from real-world experiences.

They invite children into worlds that feel true to life, where learning emerges naturally, sparking their imagination and opening up rich conversations between you and them.

With these films, we’re not just providing moments of joy but also encouraging a kind of learning that honors each child’s unique journey—bringing to light themes and experiences that enrich their understanding of the world.

Through them, we aim to foster a sense of connection, wonder, and growth that will linger far beyond the screen.

The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

• Focus: Science Exploration
• Why It’s Great: With its imaginative journeys led by the lively Ms. Frizzle, this animated series takes kids on field trips that defy reality, diving deep into scientific concepts in a way that feels both thrilling and accessible. Each episode is a vibrant adventure, sparking children’s curiosity about the natural world in a playful and memorable way.

Inside Out (2015)

• Focus: Emotional Awareness
• Why It’s Great: This deeply touching film gives emotions a voice and a face, helping children understand and manage their feelings. Through Riley’s journey, young viewers learn that all emotions—joy, sadness, anger, and fear—are valuable, teaching them to navigate their own emotional landscapes with greater insight and compassion.

Finding Nemo (2003)

• Focus: Marine Biology and Adventure
• Why It’s Great: Beyond its delightful humor and adventure, this story introduces children to ocean life and its fascinating creatures. The journey of Marlin and Dory not only captivates but gently educates about the vast, beautiful, and sometimes challenging underwater world, encouraging respect and curiosity for the unknown.

A Bug’s Life (1998)

• Focus: Community and Nature
• Why It’s Great: This charming story of tiny, industrious insects teaches children about teamwork, resilience, and community roles. Through the lives of ants and other bugs, kids learn about cooperation, innovation, and the ecosystem, appreciating how even the smallest creatures contribute to a larger world.

Wall-E (2008)

• Focus: Environmental Responsibility
• Why It’s Great: Set in a future where Earth is buried in waste, Wall-E’s story gently urges young viewers to think about their relationship with the environment. This endearing robot’s mission to clean up Earth opens children’s eyes to the importance of sustainability and the impact humans have on our shared planet.

The Lion King (1994)

• Focus: Life Cycles and Responsibility
• Why It’s Great: The epic tale of Simba’s life journey offers children a beautiful lesson on the circle of life and the natural balance in our world. Through themes of loss, growth, and stewardship, young viewers gain an appreciation for life cycles, personal responsibility, and their role in nature.

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

• Focus: Cultural Insights and Humility
• Why It’s Great: Set in a richly imagined Incan-inspired empire, this humorous story contrasts power with kindness. The Emperor’s journey from vanity to humility teaches children about leadership, cultural heritage, and the importance of valuing others, reminding them that true strength lies in kindness and empathy.

The Princess Diaries (2001)

• Focus: Self-Discovery and Social Skills
• Why It’s Great: This coming-of-age tale of a young girl discovering her royal heritage is not just about fantasy and fun—it speaks to children about self-confidence, identity, and grace. The story encourages young viewers to carry themselves with kindness, resilience, and pride in who they are.

Matilda (1996)

• Focus: Love of Learning and Self-Advocacy
• Why It’s Great: Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, Matilda celebrates reading, knowledge, and the courage to stand up for oneself. This story not only fosters a love for literature but also shows the power of curiosity, teaching children to embrace their unique gifts and believe in their potential.

The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

• Focus: Environmental Awareness and Appreciation of Small Things
• Why It’s Great: Inspired by “The Borrowers,” this magical film introduces children to the beauty of the tiny, hidden world around us. Through Arrietty’s eyes, viewers learn about the importance of living in harmony with nature and valuing all life forms, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for even the smallest creatures.

Fostering Growth Through Film

As parents, we’re all looking for ways to give our children a richer understanding of life, ways to show them that learning isn’t something bound by four walls or textbooks alone. In many ways, the world is their classroom, and every story they encounter can be a stepping stone to a deeper curiosity, a gentler heart, and a mind eager to question and understand. These films, if shared with purpose and love, can be powerful allies on that journey, helping us raise children who are not only wise in their minds but also open and compassionate in their hearts.

Imagine sitting together, talking about a character’s choices or a scene’s meaning, and realizing that these conversations are planting seeds. These films encourage children to notice the world, to ask the questions that make sense to them, and to reflect on how their actions affect others and their environment. In these shared moments, we’re showing our children that learning is alive and ever-present, that it’s not limited to books but woven into the stories we love, the emotions we feel, and the conversations we cherish.

It’s a beautiful thought, isn’t it? To give our children the kind of education that aligns with their natural sense of wonder—a way of learning that invites them to explore, to grow in empathy, and to be mindful of the world they’re inheriting. These films open doors not only to knowledge but also to understanding, showing them that they’re part of something larger, something that deserves their care and curiosity.

In sharing these films, we’re nurturing a generation with the wisdom to see, the courage to ask, and the kindness to care. Together, we’re setting them on a path of lifelong discovery—one that, we hope, will inspire them to keep seeking, growing, and honoring the beauty of the world around them.

The best way for a child to learn is through hands-on experience and fun. Board games are capable of increasing a child’s brain power and skills while being able to spend much-needed quality time with the family.

There are several benefits to playing board games:

• Learn the concept of following the rules
• Deal with moral problems and what is right and wrong
• Learn to detect patterns
• Learn to plan ahead
• Enhance thinking skills
• Encourages logical reasoning
• Improve memory function
• Learn alternate outcomes
• Gain social skills
• Reasoning skills
• Teamwork
• Learn how to be a good sport

Cooperative Game Play

Cooperative gameplay encourages all the players to work together to achieve success in the game. It helps to develop social skills and teamwork while providing a fun and enjoyable experience while further developing other skills such as learning how to follow directions, help the other players, and develop relationships. Cooperative gameplay develops a strong sense of community among the players as they all reach for a common goal and outcome.

When choosing a good educational board game, you will want to find something that involves strategy, rather than just luck. You want to encourage your child to think through their options and weigh their decision before they make a move. It enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Different games can teach different skills. Monopoly, for example, teaches financial skills, while Chutes and Ladders can help teach about the number line.

Price Guide: 

                                                       $                                                                 Under $100 

                                    $$                                                          $100 – $200

                                    $$$                                    $200 or more 

Best Educational Board Games for Toddlers

1. ThinkFun Roll and Play Board Game

The Thinkfun Roll and Play Board game introduces your child to roll and play activity with the aid of a plush cube and 48 different game cards. It encourages creativity, active play, and motor skills. Along with the game cards and plush cube, you also receive a storage packet for the cards and a parent’s guide to help your child through their learning journey.

To Play

The child will start by tossing the plush cube and identifying the color that lands facing up. The child then has to choose a matching game card for the corresponding color and perform the activity. Activities include “Make a Happy Face,” “Moo like a cow,” and “find something blue.”

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Colors
• Counting
• Social interaction
• Emotions
• Image and word recognition

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2. HABA My Very First Games-First Orchard

The First Orchard game is designed for children two years old and up and encourages shape and color recognition, as well as teaching your child how to follow simple rules. It is suitable for one to four players and takes about ten minutes to play through. It doubles as a game and a pretend play set. All of the pieces are larger and safe for smaller hands, and it includes a basket to encourage cooperative play.

To Play

The children roll the die and collect the fruit and try to harvest all the fruit before the raven can reach the orchard. If the child rolls the raven, then the raven moves one step closer.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Social skills
• Color recognition
• Numbers and counting
• Shape recognition

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3. Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot! Cooperative Board Game

The Hoot Owl Hoot! Board Game is an award-winning color-coded cooperative matching game. It features two different play levels so that it will grow with your child. It teaches children to work together because they all have to be successful to win this game. It is designed for two to four players and requires simple strategy and encourages social development, positive self-esteem, playfulness, and cooperation.

To Play

The children will play a color card and then fly to the corresponding space on the board. If a sun card is drawn, then they are one step closer to daylight. The object of the game is to get all of the owls’home before the sun rises. This game encourages teamwork rather than competitive play, so the children cannot win unless they learn to work together.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Simple strategy
• Problem-solving
• How to follow directions
• Social development
• Cooperation
• Color recognition

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Best Educational Board Games for Preschoolers

4. Peaceable Kingdom Snug as a Bug in a Rug Preschool Skills Builder Game

Snug as a Bug in a Rug is a bug matching game that features three play levels so that the game grows with your child. All the players must work together to hide the matching bugs under the rug before the stink bugs come by. This game has won several awards including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and Dr. Toy 10 Best Educational Toys Award.

To Play

This game comes with a game board with built-in spinner, 24 colorful bugs, three stink bugs, one die, and instructions because there are three different ways to play. Ultimately, the child must use their matching skills to succeed while working together with their fellow players.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Color, number, and shape recognition
• Social interaction
• Counting
• Visual discrimination
• How to take turns and follow directions

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5. Elephant’s Trunk

Elephant’s Trunk is a fun and interactive game for preschoolers that uses wooden pieces and small tin suitcases. There are approximately 15 minutes of gameplay, and no reading is required. The game is designed for two to four players at a time. Emmet, the elephant, needs help packing before the sneaky mouse can come and dump everything out of his suitcase.

To Play

The children will take turns rolling the die, and with every roll, they will place a piece of clothing into the elephant’s suitcase while matching the colors up. Always be aware of the little mouse that is trying to sneak up and cause disaster for the elephant’s trip.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Color identification
• Motor skill development
• Pattern identification

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6. Pigs in Pants Board Game

The Pigs in Pants Board Game is a fun and colorful matching game that requires strategic thinking to win. The child will want to collect the most pairs of pants on the pig by matching the patterned pants to the four cards. The other players shout, “I’m going to pinch your pants!” This is an exciting game that encourages interaction and fun while being able to yell and be silly.

To Play

Match the patterned pants to the four cards located in the center of the board game and pinch pants from the other players to get the most. Just remember, that your cards can be easily pinched by another player so carefully anticipate all the moves that are made.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Matching and memory skills
• Observational skills
• Personal and social skills
• Color recognition
• Critical thinking skills
• Analytical skills

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7. Monkeys Up Educational Family Game

Monkeys Up is fun for the entire family. All the players compete to get the best score by flipping, switching, and stealing monkeys. It requires one to six players and is a game that involves memory and strategy. The game comes with eighteen plastic monkeys, one cube, and a simple instruction booklet for gameplay. The game is simple and easy to learn and fun for the entire family regardless of age.

To Play

Every monkey will have a value that is hidden under their feet, and you will only be able to see this value if the monkey is flipped. To win, the players must switch, steal, and flip the monkeys the best to reveal all the hidden values and get the best score.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Memory skills
• Strategy
• Critical thinking
• Social development

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Best Educational Board Games for Grade School Aged Children

8. Brain Freeze from Mighty Fun

Brain Freeze is an award-winning board game that is perfect for kids and families. It is a great way for your child to learn strategy, logic, deduction, and memory while combining elements of other popular strategy games. It requires two players, or you can split off into two teams with two players each. The players or teams must race to guess the secret sweet treat that the other player or team has chosen.

To Play

The game includes two brain freeze grid boards, two secrecy shields with stands, two dry erase pens, two dry erase wipe cloths, and a rulebook. You must use strategic thinking, logic, and deduction to guess what treat the other team has chosen. Players make their guesses, record their answers, and continue to eliminate variables until they feel that they can guess the treat correctly.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Social interaction
• Improved memory function
• Deductive reasoning
• Logical thinking

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9. Latice Board Game (Standard Edition)

Latice is a game of strategy and requires two to four players for game play. It involves simple rules that combine with strategy. It takes three minutes to learn the game, 20 minutes to play the game, and a lifetime to master the game! In the game, you must match tiles by color or shape and match on different sides to gain more moves.

To Play

Latice comes with 84 cardboard tiles, a 14” game board, four tile racks, 32 acrylic stones, the box and an 11-page instruction manual. The players must match their tiles by shape and color and use strategic thinking skills to move their tiles, wind them, or shift them around the board to get ahead of the other players. The first person to play all of their tiles is the winner.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Critical thinking skills
• Strategic thinking skills
• Cognitive skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Special recognition
• Planning

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10. Mattel Blokus Game

The Blokus Game by Mattel is a strategy game that is suitable for the entire family. It takes less than a minute to learn and features fun challenges for everyone. Game time for this game is approximately 30 minutes and is a very fast-paced game with endless possibilities. Blokus Game also won a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity and encourages friendly competition between all the players.

To Play

All the players take turns and place their 21 pieces on the board so that each piece touches another piece of the same color at the corners. You claim your territory by fitting as many of your pieces on the board while also blocking the other players. The player with the lowest number of pieces remaining wins the game.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Strategy
• Social development
• Follow directions and rules of game play
• Critical thinking

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Computer kits are an excellent way to begin building your child’s STEM skills. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These are all vital subject areas that play a critical role in your child’s development and future.

STEM is a curriculum that is designed to teach your children in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. You combine fun with learning, and it helps improve your child’s skills as well as memory functions. STEM lessons focus on real-world problems and teach children to come up with solutions to these problems. Children receive a hands-on learning experience while being given the opportunity to explore and think through problems to come to a solution.

STEM also encourages social development as well as teamwork.

STEM toys encourage:

• Innovation
• Creativity
• Learning
• Imagination
• Cause and effect thinking
• Observation
• Practical experience

Price Guide

For Toddler-Aged Children

1. Fisher Price Think and Learn Code-a-Pillar

The Fisher Price Think and Learn Code-a-Pillar will help your child learn letter identification, categorization, objects, and properties. The point of this toy is for the child to configure the segments so that the Code-a-Pillar can reach its targets. This toy is one of the bestsellers of robotics kits.

To Play

The child connects the segments to make the Code-a-Pillar move forward, left, or right, and as it does, each segment will begin to light up.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Problem-solving
• Planning
• Critical thinking skills
• Sequencing

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2. Lite Poppers STEM Learning 3 in 1 Helicopter Construction Toy Kit

The Lite Poppers Construction Toy Kit is a build-and-play activity kit that encourages imaginative play. It will help children improve in vocabulary, math, geography, and science while learning how to follow a manual. It can be combined with other kits to make larger play patterns.

To Play

The child will put the pieces together and build models based on their imagination. This toy influences an open-ended play pattern and is themed with relatable stories and characters. When they get a new kit, they can add right to the original kit for even more fun.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Math skills
• Reading and language skills
• Develop social relationships
• Improved motor skills
• Modular reasoning
• Building and perspective
• Logarithms
• Creative reasoning

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For Preschool-Aged Children

3. Learning Resources Code and Go Robot Mouse Activity Set

The Learning Resources Code and Go Robot Mouse Activity Set introduces children to coding and puzzle solving through this programmable mouse and maze. The mouse lights up and makes sounds and features two different speeds that are good for either floor or table play.

To Play

This toy will teach your child how to build a maze and program the mouse to go through the maze to reach its prized cheese. The set comes with maze grids, maze walls, tunnels, the robot mouse, and materials to help guide the child through play. They have the opportunity to make many different maze combinations which will provide endless hours of fun and learning.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Critical thinking skills
• Problem-solving
• Analytical thinking
• Spatial concepts
• Following multistep directions
• Cooperative play
• Visual tracking
• Sequential thought processes

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4. Snap Circuits Beginner Electronic Discovery Kit

The Snap Circuits Beginner Kit has 14 parts that can be used for over 20 different projects. It is engineered for smaller children and includes safety features for your youngest little engineer. This set is part of the award-winning Snap Circuit line of Electronics Discovery Kits.

To Play

The child can take all of the different pieces and learn the basics of how switches and circuits work. Your child should simply follow the easy instructions in the color manual to begin play.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Problem-solving
• Following directions
• Troubleshooting

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5. Kibo 10-Kit

The Kibo 10-Kit is an introductory kit that includes ten programming blocks, four parameter cards, two motors, and two wheels. Children can program a robot using a building blocks system and also customize their robot however they want. The Kibo system does not require the additional help of a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

To Play

The child begins by creating a sequence of instructions using the Kibo blocks and then the scan the blocks with the Kibo body to be able to tell the robot what to do. Once the robot is programmed, they can decorate it to look however they want.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Critical thinking skills
• Technical skills
• Problem-solving
• Improve cognitive skills
• Art expression
• Math
• Literacy
• Cultural explorations

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6. LightUp Edison Kit-Learn Electronics

The LightUp Edison Kit uses magnetic blocks to build circuits quickly and does not require any other wires or soldering. It teaches core STEM concepts about electricity, circuits, and engineering while also teaching your child the basics of coding. You can always update this kit so that your child can build and take part in many more projects later as they grow and learn.

To Play

Snap together the magnetic blocks, download the LightUp Learning app for additional guidance and several projects and then watch as the electricity flows with the LightUp Smart Lens. The blocks can be built on a table, whiteboard, or even refrigerator. The Edison Kit teaches your child about the basics of coding while they build flashlights and SOS beepers to learn about voltage, current, and resistance. Once they have mastered these concepts they can upgrade to the Tesla Kit which is compatible with the Edison Kit.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Engineering
• Basic coding
• Following directions

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For Grade School-Aged Children

7. Kano Computer Kit

The Kano Computer Kit is easy to use and requires no technical skills at all to use. It teaches your child how to code art, music, apps, and games and has won several different awards including the Family Choice Award and the Webby Award. The kit comes with everything your child will need including Raspberry Pi 3, case, speaker, wireless keyboard, memory, HDMI and power cables, coding challenges, stickers, and many apps.

To Play

The child can follow the simple story to learn how to build their own computer. They do not require any tools; they simply put all of the parts together. It teaches your child basic coding and programming skills like Python, JavaScript, and Linux commands.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Real coding skills
• Following directions
• Programming essentials
• Problem-solving

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8. Piper Computer Kit

The Piper Computer Kit is an educational computer that teaches your child STEM and coding skills. This kit is made with a handcrafted wooden computer case and comes with an LCD monitor. It is Wi-Fi enabled and is a self-contained computer that runs on a raspberry Pi 3 project board with 1 GB of ram and a 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU.

To Play

There are blueprint instructions included with the kit. The child will first start off by assembling the fifty plus puzzle-like pieces, and this will make the wooden case and power boxes. They will then have access to the Piper learning system and will teach your child about technology and engineering. The challenge levels increase in difficulty and teach them step-by-step as they play.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Critical thinking
• Building
• Electronics
• Coding
• Problem-solving

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9. Cubit Introduction to Computer Science Kit

The Cubit Introduction to Computer Science Kit is a great tool for your children to learn how to build and program. It also teaches them how to interact with real life hardware using visual programming and coding. This kit allows the child to program their own musical light show and design sound sequences that they can play.

To Play

This kit comes with ten full-color LEDs, musical buzzers, and light sensors. Your child can start programming in just seconds with the help of the visual programming aid, and they will learn to write basic code.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Basic programming skills
• Following directions
• Visual programming
• Coding skills
• Building skills
• Fundamental concepts of science and engineering

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10. LittleBits Electronics Arduino Coding Kit

The LittleBits Electronics kit has everything that your child will need to get started. The electronic modules connect with magnets, and the modules are marked with colors, so the child knows what they are for. For example, blue is for power, pink is for inputs, orange is for wire, and green is for outputs. The kit includes the Arduino module plus other prototyping modules: servo, button, two dimmers, fork, power, and mounting boards to keep all the circuits in place.

To Play

Your child has the option of creating an etch-a-sketch or even their own analog pong game. They walk your child through the basics of programming. The kit communicates with the software and the modules easily snap to three inputs and three outputs on the Arduino module. Just plug in your computer, snap the modules together and program all you want.

Skills the Child Can Learn

• Basic programming skills
• Basic electronic skills
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Following directions

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Bonus

There are many different toys and kits available for children to learn hands-on about different aspects of technology, science, and engineering. All the reviewed toys focus on fundamental learning concepts including critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and basic coding and electronics skills. As the child grows and learns, they can move up in challenges and gain tons of real world experience.

The Raspberry Pi is also a great tool, but it does require a bit more knowledge and skill to master compared to the last kits. Some of the kits included Raspberry Pi, but it was already built. The following kit has everything your child will need to start and graduate to the next level of coding and electronics.

11. Vilros Raspberry Pi 3 Basic Starter Kit

The Vilros Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kit includes the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, the enclosure case with mounting slot and screws, a 2500 mA Micro USB power supply that is five feet long, and a set of two heatsinks. This model is up to ten times faster than the previous model. It is the perfect starter kit for beginners and even professionals that are interested in the field of electronics. It allows you to build projects with programming such as Scratch, XMBC media center, Minecraft, retro gaming console, and more.

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