Kids may leave the classroom mid-afternoon, but the learning doesn’t have to stop there. Lifestyle expert and self-described “Chief Fun Officer” Lee Parkhurst appeared on Live in the D to showcase a handful of toys designed to keep children ages 4 to 10 sharp, active and expressive long after the school bell rings.
For brain power, Parkhurst pointed to Smart Toys and Games’ IQ Flow, a sliding-puzzle board with more than 60 challenges that grows harder as kids progress. “It really gets your brain working. I love this one,” Parkhurst said. The set is aimed at kids 8 and up and runs $14.99 on Amazon.
To burn off after-school energy, Parkhurst recommended Golden Bear’s B-Ball Bounce, which uses interactive floor tiles to guide dribbling drills indoors. “You literally level up your skills in the house, which is awesome to do as a kid. Every kid wants to play ball in the house, and now you can,” Parkhurst said. It’s priced at $99 and available at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart. For imaginative, screen-free play, Parkhurst suggested Playmobil’s City Life Bus, which retails for about $50.
Rounding out the list is Sticky Rolls’ Sticky Mates, tiny collectible dispensers that let kids show off their personal style through tradable stickers. “These are cute little collectibles, but wait, they are actually sticker dispensers,” Parkhurst said, noting they’re sold at Target and come in blind bags for surprise reveals.
To watch the segment, click on the video above.