Educational Toys

When I first saw the commercial for the Fly Fusion Pentop, I thought "Wow, why didn't they have this when I was a kid?"

Kids write with then pen using the special FLY paper which is included. The computer recognizes what was written and it will read it back. Then, the pen will scan it, digitize it, and make it available for upload to your personal computer. (Sorry, it doesn't work with Mac)

Then kids can email it, transfer it to a paper, print it out, etc. It stores about 80-100 pages.

There are also other programs that you can download separately to use with the pen.

Why do I like this toy so much?

The pen comes with an application to help your kid with math problems. As a child I struggled with math so I can see how this would come in handy. Also it can help your child get ready for tests in any subject by using the pen to create interactive flashcards which can give your child customized pop quizzes and will even keep score.

This is best for ages 8-14

For the younger crowd (ages 5-7) I like the iQuest Learning system.

It has more than a thousand math, social studies and science questions. You can also download questions and get instant answers and feedback.

For the preschoolers I recommend the Fisher Price Spark Art Easel This toy is loaded with fun sounds and other electronics that help spark creativity. For example if you touch the letter "S" on the board and it will say, "S, sandwich, draw a big sandwich."

Another cool thing about this toy is the magnets. Kids can add special magnets to parts of the picture and it tells you it's name or it makes a sound. For example, the car magnet makes the sound of an engine revving, tires squealing and horn honking.

The easel adjusts to three heights and it should take around 20 minutes to assemble.

Some parents have complained that there are not clear instructions on how to use the toy.