14 amazing construction and building toys to add to your holiday list
The holiday season is around the corner, and we want to make sure you have the perfect gift for the children in your life! We have taken the guesswork out of gift giving by letting our team of play experts choose the perfect gifts for children of every age.
The toys on this list are more than just a great gift. They all were hand-picked by our in-house play expert who picked them with the intent to inspire your children’s imaginations, help develop early learning skills, and discover their passions because at Scholar’s Choice we believe children deserve the opportunity to achieve their hopes & dreams through play!
Kinderfeet Pikler Triangle
Meet the Pikler Triangle climing frame! this wooden frame is designed to help children build early gross motor skills as they play. Children will explore risky play as they learn their boundaries, build their confidence climb.
The MEDIUM Pikler Triple Climber Triangle features 2 sides with climbing dowels and is collapsible for easy storing. Crafted using responsibly-sourced birch plywood and beech wood, it's a wonderful sustainable option for mobile little ones exploring their adventurous side. Through physical developmental play with the Pikler system, children gain muscular and cardiovascular strength, build self-esteem, improve gross motor skills and explore their imagination simultaneously.
Each of the Pikler accessories is compatible with the others, and secure locks connect the system's pieces safely and effectively while holding them in place. By connecting them together, your children have an entire playground to explore! They are also finished with a water-based varnish for smooth, comfortable play and easy cleaning.
Recommended Age: 12 months +
See the entire Pikler Play System collection here
The Kidnetic Car uses kid power! To get things rolling steer left and right and let the laws of physics take care of the rest. Easy to operate, this car is made of high-quality materials to ensure many hours of kidnetic fun. Safe for indoor floors and perfect for outdoors.
Recommended Age: 2+
Excellerations Primary River Stones Set of 9
Set of 9 primary-colored river stones for active play, balance, and coordination. Lightweight stepping stones in four graduated heights allow for kids to lead their own stepping adventure and choose more challenging routes when they're ready. Pieces are made of tough, molded plastic with non-slip strips for added safety and stability. For children ages 3 years and older. STEP AND BALANCE FUN: Set of 9 colorful stepping stones in four graduated heights are perfect for kids to practice balance, coordination, and gross motor skills CREATIVE ACTIVE PLAY: Lightweight stones make it simple for kids to create their own stepping path adventures, from low to high and everything in between SAFE AND DURABLE: Each stepping stone is made of heavy-duty plastic with a non-slip rubber strip around the entire bottom perimeter to reinforce stability and safety BRIGHT COLORS AND GRADUATED HEIGHTS: Set includes three 2 inch high blue stones, three 3.25 inch high green stones, two 6.25 inch high yellow stones, and one 8 inch high orange stone. Each stone has multiple tiers that resemble a mountain and a cute paw print design molded on top COMPACT STORAGE: Stones neatly nest for convenient, stackable storage. Easily wipe clean after use
Recommended Age: 3 +
Strike! Encourage children to get up and move with this fun bowling set. This set includes 10 bowling pins, each measuring 12” tall, along with 2 bowling balls, each 4.5” in diameter, and one carry/storage case with handle for easy transport. Children will love rolling the ball to knock over the pins. Components are made of thick plastic, are easy to wipe clean, and made to last. For children ages 3 years and older.
WHAT YOU GET: 10 bowling pins, each measuring 12” tall, along with 2 bowling balls, each 4.5” in diameter, and one carry/storage case.
GROSS MOTOR FUN: Encourage children to get up and move with this fun bowling set. Children will love rolling the ball to knock over the pins. A great activity for parties, physical education class, recess, movement breaks, physical therapy, or anytime!
MADE WITH QUALITY: This bowling set is made to last. Components are made of thick plastic and are easy to wipe clean.
STORAGE CASE INCLUDED: A sturdy carry/storage case is included for your convenience. The storage case holds all 10 pins and 2 balls and has a handle for easy transport.
SAFE: All Excellerations® products are quality tested and safe for children. All product is made from safe materials.
Recommended Age: 3+
Rocken Croc
Very stable seesaw for 3 persons. The child that is seesawing alone is sitting safely in the middle of the seesaw. There must be 2 children in each opposite end of the seesaw. Helps strengthening the sense of balance and the physical development.
Recommended Age: 3+
Kinderfeets Balance Board Natural
This multi-use toy piece was originally used by many children as well as our Kinderfeets creator in Waldorf early childhood classrooms. It was created to help children develop a sense of balance, stimulate their vestibular system, and gain a deep sense of awareness of their body and body parts.
Our German beechwood Kinderboard is Dutch designed and it’s excellent for stimulating child development—both physical and mental—and offers open-ended play opportunities for toddlers, children, teens, and even adults. It can hold up to 220kg/485lbs! The Kinderboard has water-based lacquer and can be used both indoors and out, perfect for rainy and sunny days at home or in a school environment.
Watch the child’s imagination take over once their Kinderboard arrives. It becomes a seesaw, a balance board, a slide, a step stool, a boat, a resting place, a doll bed, a puppet stage, a tunnel and many more opportunities for them to explore. The possibilities are endless—and truly up to them!
Recommended Age: 3+
JUMP2IT Adjustable Trampoline
Energetic kids will love bouncing on the Jump2It® Indoor Trampoline with Adjustable Handle. This padded trampoline is the perfect size for a playroom and provides hours of active indoor play (for one or two kids) while improving balance, coordination, and core strength. The central handlebar provides safety and stability, and adjusts from 24½-35"H to grow with your child and accommodate different heights. Snow or rain may fall outside, but with an indoor trampoline on hand, active play for the kids is always just a hop, skip, or a bounce away.
Recommended Age: 3+
Get ready for high flying adventures with the Jump Rocket. Launch these colourful foam rockets into the atmosphere by stepping on the hemisphere-shaped pump. Once leaving the launch pad, Jump Rockets can soar up to 150 feet in the air! Set includes air pump, launch pad and three junior-size soft foam rockets. Perfect for the back yard or the park.
Recommended Age 6+
Two Bros Bows
The pugs ate all the lollipops! Luckily their tongues are dyed the color of the lollipop they had! Each turn, try to match two lollipops on the dice with two squishy pugs that you think licked them! When you gently squeeze the little pups, their tongue comes out! No matter how cute these chubby pugs are, they will not get away with this... The first player to match 6 pugs with lollipops’ colors wins the game!
Recommended Age 6+
Easy to learn. After 10 minutes you'll be hitting MONSTER spikes and playing amazing points. Play anywhere. All you need is 4 people and some open space. People play on the beach, in their backyard, the basement, gym class, you name it. Active. There's a 100% chance this game gets you moving and a 75% chance you’ll break a sweat (99% chance if you really want to win). As competitive as you want to be. Play casually or for keeps. Your call :) Foldable legs mean easy storage, quicker set-up time, and tougher product. Errant falls happen, these legs can take the abuse. Spikeball is fantastic for active recovery, staying loose during down time, and training hand eye. 36" net circumference 3.5" ball diameter 3 balls
Recommended Age: 8+
Five Crowns is a kid-style rummy card game that the whole family will enjoy! Match your hand by color or number to earn treasure chips! It’s educational and fun, teaching critical thinking and math skills while also building self-esteem! It’s an addictive family game that provides great interaction for kids and adults!
For 2 to 6 players.
Recommended Age: 5+
Penguins Rock! Board Game
Race to complete your nest as you discover: Penguins Rock! This simple, fast-moving board game brings hands-on joy to practicing patience and strengthening counting skills. Ideal for ages 5+. Artwork by Linda Bleck.
This beautifully illustrated and glossy game is based on the actual behavior of Gentoo penguins who cooperatively build rock nests with their mates. The aim of the game? Gather your penguins, build up your pebble piles and be the first to waddle them home to build a nest. The twist? Watch out for your competitors, rocks may also be taken from neighbors’ nests!
Skills: Counting, fine motor skills, strategic thinking & patience.
Age: 5+
Recommended Ages: 5+
Ghost in the Attic Cooperative Game
It’s lights out for this unique board game that you play in the dark! Featuring a glow-in-the-dark game board and light-up ghost mover, players work together in this cooperative game to escape the haunted manor and lock the ghost inside. This one-of-a-kind game is sure to become a family game night favorite! For 2 - 6 players ages 5 and up. • Great for home or classroom use• Players learn strategy, shared decision-making and cooperation• Kids develop social and emotional skills through cooperative play• Includes 1 game board, 1 light-up ghost, 3 haunted manor explorers, 4 camera flash tokens, 1 spinner and instructions
Recommended Ages: 5+
Presto Go Pop Game
Race to pop the bubbles! Complete the challenges on the presto Cards and be the first to tap Bubblo to win the round! Players with quick reflexes, excellent eye-hand coordination and a good sense of observation will prevail in this fun party game for the whole family.
Includes 1 Bubblo anti stress squishy
A party & learning game for the whole family
Play the original Go PoP! Game with 4 exclusive Go PoPs!
Ages 6 and up.
Recommended Ages: 6+
Watch a game play through of Presto Go POP with our team here
Astro Trash Game
Astro Trash is a game in which each player must get rid of all the Trash on their play mat at the expense of the players to their left and right. Players simultaneously roll three dice and rapidly move the “trash” according to the direction, quantity, and color indicated on the dice.
Recommended Ages: 6+
Uno Flip Card Game
Brace yourself for the next iteration of classic UNO™: UNO FLIP!™ It's the matching game you know, plus exciting new twists -- like a double sided deck and special FLIP card -- that give classic gameplay a competitive edge. Players take turns matching a card in their hand with the current card shown on top of the deck either by color or number. In a race to deplete their hands, players can play special cards to slow their opponents down, like Skips, Reverses and color-changing Wild cards. UNO FLIP!™ also includes new Action cards that really shake things up, like Draw Five and Skip Everyone cards. Play the special FLIP card and all cards in your hand, the draw pile and draw deck are flipped over to reveal an entirely new set of numbers and colors on the opposite side! The holder of the FLIP card determines whether or not you play on the "light" side or "dark" side of the deck -- and when you switch it back around. Strategize to rattle your competition and be the first to get rid of your cards to win. When you're down to one card, don't forget to shout "UNO!" Colors and decorations may vary.
UNO FLIP!™ is the classic card game you know, now with an exciting new twist!
A double-sided deck and special FLIP card give classic gameplay a competitive edge.
Play the special FLIP card and all cards are turned over, including the draw pile, to reveal an entirely new set of numbers and colors on the opposite side.
UNO FLIP!™ also includes fun new Action cards, like Draw Five and Skip Everyone.
When you’re down to one card, don’t forget to shout “UNO!”
Recommended Ages: 7+
See the original UNO here
In a labyrinth of soaring towers and deep vaults, witches and wizards scramble to find coveted treasures. They cast powerful spells to teleport and shift the maze in their favor.
Whoever collects their treasure first wins in this contest of minds and magic!
Recommended Ages: 7+
Think the child in your life would love Labyrinth? Check out the other sets in the collection here
Create a path and jump to the finish! Create a path from start to finish so you can canter over the jumps in the right sequence! Are you on course to solve the 80 challenges? Get on your horse for some puzzling fun! Age: 7+ # of Challenges: 80 # of Players: 1 Inside the Box 1 game board, 1 exit gate, 10 puzzle pieces with obstacles and paths, 1 horse with rider, booklet with 80 challenges
Recommended Ages: 7+
Venture into a land of fantasy and legend! In this cooperative family role-playing game, each player chooses one of four powerful heroes: the magician, the warrior, the archer, or the dwarf. Your heroic journey begins with a mission to rescue some wolf cubs that are lost in a dangerous mine. But, before embarking on your search, your party must get past Mart, the bridge guard, by completing all of his tasks. Only then will he let your party cross his bridge and enter the mine. However, danger still lurks on the horizon, as a dragon encroaches on the castle Rietburg just as you approach the mine. Should he arrive at the castle before your heroes rescue the wolf cubs, your party will lose the mission — and the game. If your party rescues the cubs first, you win! Andor: The Family Fantasy Game features gameplay that is similar to the popular Legends of Andor, but more approachable to younger players, making it a great introduction to the entire Legends of Andor series of games.
Recommended Ages: 7+
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is back with new characters and new rules!
As in Snap and Dobble, each player places a card from their hand face up into a community pile while saying taco/puck/maple/syrup/canoe in player sequence. When the card matches the mantra — boom! — everyone slaps their hand on the deck, with the last one to slap picking up the cards. Whoever rids themselves of cards first wins!
The entire deck is split between 2-8 players, who then place their individual stack of cards face-down in front of them. Each person takes a turn flipping a card face-up on a pile in the middle while saying the words “Taco,” “Puck,” “Maple,” “Syrup,” “Canoe” — in that order. If the card in the middle matches the word being spoken, the players race to slap their hands down on top of all the cards. Whoever is last must add the entire stack to their own set of cards. The winner is the person who gets rid of all their cards first.
For extra fun, special action cards force players to make certain gestures before racing to slap the deck!
Recommended Ages: 7+
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway. 1 Board map of North American train routes 225 Colored Train Cars 144 Illustrated cards 5 Wooden Scoring Markers 1 Rules booklet Ages 8 and up.
Recommended Ages: 7+
The Pancake Queen, the Ladybug Queen, and a cast of courtly characters, return with a new mission: save the kings! Play queens to rescue kings from a parade of perilous predicaments. Find a magical companion to aid your quest, but watch out for Wild Gnomes, Sleeping Willows, and the ever-sneaky Switch Witch! Save the most kings and crown yourself the royal hero!
Recommended Ages 8+
See the original Sleep Queen's Card game here
