Instilling a love for learning begins at home. Providing children with educational toys at an early age allows children to develop skills they need for school. Learning Resources offers a wide range of learn through play toys and activities for parents and teachers. Check out some of our favorite Learning Resources toys below! Don’t just take our word for it, tune into the Busby family on their hit show Outdaughtered on TLC – they’re also fans of the educational toy line.
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Learn Through Play with Learning Resources
With my husband working in the education space for over a decade, education plays a big role in our lives. We made a concerted effort to introduce the boys to technology based learning programs, educational toys, and books at young ages. Both of our boys are outstanding students who’ve skipped grade levels and are still excelling!
Learning Resources Top Picks:
- Alphabet Acorns Activity Set
- Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set
- Smart Market
- Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
- Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set
- Gears! Gears! Gears! Cycle Gears
L is currently in second grade at age 6. He’s learning skills like decimals and money, so the Smart Market and Cash Register were perfect toys to practice with at home. They allow him to add, subtract, and count money, all while playing. The Smart Market and Cash Register toys include dollar bills and coins. What I really like about these two toys are the multiple math skills he’s learning, problem solving, and imaginative play they inspire. He’s so eager to play with them every day after school! All of the family members enjoy grocery shopping at L’s shop. 😉
We gave the additional Learning Resources toys to teachers at my husband’s school, so they could use them in their classrooms. Here’s what a Pre-K teacher said about the Alphabet Acorns:
“The acorn letter game I was given is a great new tool for my Pre-K students. My students are all at very different letters and this activity can be used in many different ways to accommodate each student’s level. It is intended to be used to work on upper and lowercase letter name recognition, letter sound identification and matching upper and lowercase letters, which are things my higher students are working on and had fun practicing. In addition, I also was able to use this activity for my lower students by working on color matching (objects to their color matched acorns), and identifying basic objects (the objects in each acorn). Anytime I have an activity that seems like a toy or a game and less like work, my students are much more likely to enjoy it and voluntarily engage in it.”
And here’s what an ESE 3rd-5th grade teacher said about the Dino Sorters and Cycle Gears:
“This year my classroom is more diverse than ever before. I have 3 students working on the participatory level at emerging skills, 4 students at the supported level with emerging reading and math skills and one student at the supported level reading at the 1st grade level. Students with autism require continued maintenance once they have gained a skill to not only retain that skill but to build on it. It can become more of a chore at times and easy to forget how fun learning can be, so with the addition on the Dino-Sorters my emerging learners are having fun and staying engaged for longer periods of time. This math activity set helps me work on specific math goals (covering basic numeration, creating sets, sorting), as well as Independent functioning skills (staying on task) listed on my student’s Individual Education Plans. The Cycle Gears set challenges my students to create, manipulate and utilize more critical thinking skills. These items will be well used and well loved!”
You can find all of these fun toys at Learning Resources and amazon.com
Busby Family Learn Through Play Tips
Despite having their hands full with America’s only all-female quintuplets (age 2), plus big sister Blayke (age 6), Danielle & Adam Busby of TLC’s OutDaughtered are dedicated to helping their kids Learn Through Play Every Day.
- Once a month they brainstorm simple daily questions and challenges to keep their kids’ brains sharp. They call it Busby Daily Buzz and it has quickly become a favorite. Learning Resources has a fantastic calendar you can use to start your own, and even earn points toward free educational toys by following along.
- They introduce the ABCs in a way the girls can touch and feel. Danielle holds up a paper with an ‘A’ on it and then passes around an apple. She’ll blow up a balloon and write a ‘B’ on it with marker. They also like playthings that feature the alphabet, like magnetic letters, blocks, puzzles, and other fun toys that take the ABCs off the page and put them into their girls’ hands.
- They love seeing the kids’ mental gears turn as they have ‘aha’ moments learning new things. One of their favorite toys for sparking interest in STEM is the Learning Resources’ Gears! Gears! Gears! Sets! Blayke loves the Castle Gears in particular. The sets are perfect for mixing, matching, and designing!
- They teach by example and encourage the girls to imitate what they see Mom and Dad doing around the house. Cooking, tidying up, and household repairs are all simple tasks that offer real life lessons that add up. Learning Resources New Sprouts Bake It! set, Clean It! set, and Fix It! set offer fun props that give their girls’ imaginative role plays an extra boost.
There are so many wonderful benefits to learn through play activities and toys. Head to Learning Resources for additional ideas, tips and more!
Giveaway Time!
Enter below for your chance to win a Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register!
Not sure how to enter my giveaways?
You Are Also Going to Love:
Darcy L Koch says
I really like toys that are educational. I know my grandson’s have learned so much by playing with educational toys.
Stephanie Liske says
I like the Learning Resources Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game.
Jacquelyn Cannon says
My grandson would love the Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set!
Amy Smeltzer says
I’d love to win the cash register for my nephews.
Christian Alejandro says
She would definitely love the cash register.
Sand says
He would love the pretend grocery store. He’s obsessed with food and eating and shopping!
Sandra Davis says
Learning calculator cash register
Colette says
I like most the Learning Resources Alphabet Acorns Activity Set, 78 Pieces
Maria Beas says
My daughter would love the cash register. Thanks for the chance to win such an amazing giveaway.
Laurie Emerson says
The Cash Register is most appealing to me. My son would have so much fun with it.
Donna L says
I like the Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register.
Heidi says
The cycle gears look cool and fun.
Jessica Whitehouse says
My son needs help recognizing letters- I think that the alphabet acorns would be fun for him to learn with.
John H. says
I think that my nephews would like the Learning Resources Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game.
kat says
my 3 year old would probably like alphabet acorns and gears gears gears motorcycle
Jennifer H. says
I would say the Learning Resources Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game, 90 Pieces.
Anita Jude says
cycle gears
Calen Treat says
The cash register is the best!
SHAYNA BROOKMAN says
MY KIDS WOULD LOVE THE Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register, they love to pretend to go shopping at the store 🙂
Samantha Plotkin says
The Smart Market pretend grocery would be a hit with my LO
Leah Shumack says
My daughter loves playing store and would love the cash register!
Amy Deeter says
Learning Resources Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game, 90 Pieces
Philip Lawrence says
Learning Resources Cycle Gears would be the one my grandchild would most like.
paula peterson says
I’m home schooling and i think The cycle gears, is a great learning toy.
Jennifer Oppel says
I really like the cash register or the cycle gears.
Heidi M. says
My nephew has been wanting a cash register so I think he would love this calculator cash register!
Shane A says
The Cycle Gears toy looks fun. It would make a good gift for my nephew.
Aaron B. says
They would like the cash register.
Eileen Boyce says
Smart market pretend game.
Katie Bellamy says
My daughter loves to play store, she would love the cash register!
Jenette says
I think our twins would like the Alphabet Acorns.
Kathy Pease says
My granddaughter would love the Learning Resources Alphabet Acorns Activity Set
elizabeth miller says
i love them all. My granddaughters favorite would unquestionably be the Pretend calculator/cash register.
Ed says
Alphabet Acorns Activity Set!
Lesley F says
She would love the cash register
Erica B. says
My daughter would love the register.
Matthew Scott Roren says
Cash Register they love playing ice cream shop
Angela Thorpe says
The Smart Market Pretend Grocery Store
EMMA L HORTON says
I THINK THE ACORN ACTIVITY GAME.
BusyWorkingMama says
I like the counting dino sorters.
Nicole C says
My niece would love the Smart Market.
Lisa V. says
She is really in to money now, so the cash register would be her favorite.
Jade W says
My younger one would love the cash register, but my older one would love the Cycle Gears!
Brandy Schwartz says
Counting Dino-sorters
Natalie yeoman says
The cash register is our favorite it’s so cute
Carly Daring says
My son would love the pretend grocery set! He loves playing with stuff like that!
susan smoaks says
my daughter would love the cash register. she loves playing store.
Jammie says
My niece would love the Learning Resources Alphabet Acorns Activity Set the most.
Cynthia says
My daughter would love the cash register
Marilyn Nawara says
The Cycle Gears looks like it would be really fun. Think my granddaughter would LOVE it.
Jennifer Rote says
My grandson would like the Cycle Gears.
Robin Abrams says
The Smart Market is the most appealing to my granddaughter
courtney b says
I think the pretend grocery cart would be the best option for my kids.
thanks!
Linda G. says
He would love the cycle gears with 30 pieces.
Heather Dawn says
My son would love the Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game!
Ashley turicik says
My son would love the cash register
Paula Michele Hafner says
My son would love the Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game.
Lauryn R says
My son would definitely flip out over the Learning Resources Cycle Gears, 30 Pieces! This would be such a fun set to get him that I am sure would bring hours of entertainment. 🙂
Ashley Redford says
My 6 year old would love the cash register! He is learning to count money.
Rochel S says
The Cash Register to go with his toy grocery store!
Klydra Pugh says
The Cycle Gears
Thanks for the chance
Abigail says
My son would love the Code & Go Mouse
Janet W. says
I think the Learning Resources Smart Market Pretend Grocery Game would be most appealing to my grandsons!
Natalie S says
Definitely the cash register or the pretend grocery game!
Cassie Eastman says
My daughter would love the cash register the most and I think my boys would love the dino-sorters! Learning resources has so many fun learning toys!
Anna Pry says
I think she would enjoy playing with the alphabet acorns
Brittney House says
My kids would love the grocery store game.
sandra says
I like the counting dino sorters.
sylvia says
My kids would have a blast with all of them, but they seemed to be more interested in the cycle gears.
Trasina McGahey says
The cash register!! All of my kids love playing “store” and I love how this will make learning fun!
Wendy Caddy says
My granddaughter would really like the Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register.
Mallory Roberts says
I think my kiddo would love the pretend grocery store. Thanks for the giveaway!
Lori Walker says
The dino sorters.
Nicole Lancaster says
The Smart Market is the most appealing to my child out of all the Learning Resources toys featured.
Heather D says
My kids would love the cash register. They like to set up little stores so it would be perfect.
Sarah Butler says
My little guy would love the Dino Sorters!
Jessica W. says
My daughter would like the Pretend and Play Cash Register.
Mary West says
The cash register definitely! My son loves to play store so this is right up his alley!
Barbara Fox says
My granddaughter would love the cash register calculator!
Tara Darity says
My daughter would love to have the cash register. She has been asking for one.
Robert Marra says
My grandchildren would love this!
Joseph Z says
Cycle Gears!!
Jennifer Cervantes says
I think that my daughter would love the cash register.
Meghan says
The gears would be awesome
CHar says
Thank you so much for the great offer. I love your blog!!
jeremy mclaughlin says
The grocery game.
Stacie Humphrey says
The Smart Market Pretend Grocery Store game looks fun!
McKim says
My grandson would like the Cycle Gears
Maria H says
My daughter would love the cash register. Learning resources have such great learning toys!
Becky Kinard says
I love them all but I guess that alphabet acorns.
Margaret Wojnar says
My grand-daughter would enjoy the Grocery Game.
Kelly D says
My daughter would love the Smart Market pretend grocery game.
brittany marie thompson says
The learning resources cash register is most appealing to my children!
Margaret S Porter says
I think he would love the learning gears. He loves to build
Richard Hicks says
Our son would like the cycle gears
Tari Lawson says
I think my son would like •Gears! Gears! Gears! Cycle Gears best.
Ashley C says
I think my son would love the Learning Resources Cycle Gears!
Jack B says
My son likes the Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register best.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
My niece would love the grocery game!
Amy Z. says
My daughter would like the Code & Go Robot Mouse!
Lauren says
I cash register would be the most fun for my kids.
Ellie Wright says
My granddaughter would love the cash register most.
Sara Floyd says
My daughter would love the cash register
Ellen LaFleche-Christian says
Cycle Gears sounds really neat
latanya says
cycle gears
colleenmarie says
My daughter would love the cash register.
Shannon Baas says
They would like the gears.
Patricia says
The cycle gears.
Anne Higgins says
Our little ones LOVE to go to the grocery store to help with the shopping. So I know that the Smart Market and Cash Register would be a great addition to our home. We set up real cans and boxes, other items that will “ring out”. The table becomes the conveyor belt and they bag the groceries and have a box as the scanner. Imaginations are GREAT! Thanks for this chance to win!
Lisa Weidknecht says
Alphabet Acorns!