2 Exciting Board Games to Spice Up Your Valentine's Day
Elevate your Valentine's Day with two thrilling board games that promise fun and connection, perfect for a memorable evening with your loved one.
Published: June 09, 2025
Keeping your kids engaged during the summer can be a challenge, especially when you want them to have fun while learning. Choosing the right educational toys can make a big difference in helping your child develop important skills like vocabulary, problem-solving, and critical thinking. This guide highlights some of the best educational toys for summer 2025 that will keep your kids entertained and learning at the same time, making your parenting journey a little easier and more rewarding.
Best for Toddlers: LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book - $12.99
Best for Older Kids: Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle - $9.99
We focused on toys that combine fun with learning, ensuring they are age-appropriate and encourage skill development. Durability, ease of use, and positive customer feedback were also key factors. We looked for products that support language skills, critical thinking, and creativity, so you can feel confident that your child is gaining valuable knowledge while playing.
If you're looking for a fun way to introduce your little one to new words, this interactive book is a solid pick. You get more than 100 toddler-friendly words brought to life by cute animal friends like Turtle, Tiger, and Monkey. The pages are colorful and sturdy, perfect for little hands to flip through daily or to bring along on trips. What’s neat is that when your child touches a picture, they hear the word, fun facts, or animal sounds, which keeps things engaging without overwhelming you with screen time. Plus, it’s bilingual, so you can slide a switch to hear everything in Spanish, making it a great tool if you want to sneak in some language learning. Whether it’s quiet time at home or a way to keep your kiddo entertained on the go, this book fits right in.
Pros |
Cons |
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✓ Engaging and educational with interactive features |
✗ Some users find the phrases repetitive after multiple readings |
✓ Bilingual for English and Spanish learning |
✗ A few animal sounds are cartoonish rather than realistic |
✓ Sturdy pages designed for toddlers |
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✓ Compact and travel-friendly |
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✓ Clear and pleasant sound quality |
Parents love how this book keeps toddlers engaged with bright pictures and clear sounds. Many mention that the bilingual feature is a bonus, and the interactive animal sounds bring lots of giggles. It's praised for being easy to use and durable enough for little hands.
🗣️ Krista S.
Great for toddlers! Pros: thick pages for toddlers, great for learning, fun bright pictures, love that there is English and Spanish, excellent colors, perfect size, love the two volume options, clear sound. Cons: none! This thing is great!
🗣️ Misshatlady4
If you have a child that struggles with speech this was a great book for them. It makes the sounds of the animals that you press. When my son pressed it for the first time he gave the most infectious laugh that I had ever heard. It's a good size easy for him to use. I would definitely purchase this again it was totally worth the money. The colors are bright and it's definitely a fun choice. Easy to use. I foresee this toy to last for a long time providing hours and hours of fun.
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Quiet time at home |
Keeps your child entertained and learning without screens, perfect for calm moments. |
Travel or car rides |
Compact size and interactive sounds make it a great distraction on the go. |
Early speech development |
Encourages word recognition and speech through fun animal sounds and clear pronunciation. |
Bilingual households |
Switch between English and Spanish to support language learning naturally. |
Designed specifically for toddlers 18 months and up, this book is easy to handle, with thick pages and simple touch controls that little fingers can manage without frustration.
Interactive learning with touch-activated words and sounds
Bilingual English and Spanish options for language exposure
Durable, toddler-friendly pages that stand up to rough handling
Engaging animal characters that make learning feel like play
Compact size perfect for travel or everyday use
Current Price: $12.99
Rating: 4.8 (total: 90,976+)
If you’re looking for a clever way to keep your kids thinking and entertained this summer, Kanoodle 3D is a solid choice. It’s a brain teaser puzzle game that challenges you to solve 200 different puzzles in both 2D and 3D formats, so it’s never boring. The pieces are colorful and compact, making it easy to take along on trips or just pull out for some quiet time at home. Whether your kid is just starting out or already a puzzle pro, the varying difficulty levels mean they’ll stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in some screen-free fun that actually exercises their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. It’s one of those games that’s just as fun for adults, so you can join in or let the kids challenge each other.
Pros |
Cons |
|---|---|
✓ Engaging puzzles that challenge different skill levels |
✗ You might find the easiest puzzles too simple if you’re an adult |
✓ Compact size makes it easy to take anywhere |
✗ Some younger kids may find the 3D puzzles tricky without help |
✓ Durable pieces and sturdy carrying case |
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✓ Great for solo play or family game time |
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✓ Helps develop important cognitive skills |
Parents and kids alike appreciate how Kanoodle keeps little minds busy without screens. Many mention how the variety of puzzles and difficulty levels make it a game that grows with your child. The portability and colorful pieces get a lot of praise, making it a go-to for travel or quiet moments at home.
🗣️ amanda
I got Kanoodle for my daughter, and it has quickly become one of her favorite games! She loves the challenge of figuring out different puzzles, and it keeps her engaged for long stretches of time. It’s the perfect mix of fun and brain exercise, helping her develop problem-solving and spatial reasoning skills without feeling like work. I also love that it’s compact and portable—great for travel, waiting rooms, or quiet play at home. The different difficulty levels mean she won’t outgrow it anytime soon. If you’re looking for a screen-free, educational game that kids actually enjoy, I highly recommend Kanoodle!
🗣️ Brittney Scott
My kids (10 and 12) love it, and it’s great for long car rides or just when we’re waiting around. We find the game really fun and I think it helps them solve problems. It’s easy to take with us because it’s small, and we can all play together as a family. The colorful pieces make it exciting for the kids, and we enjoy seeing who can finish the puzzles first. It’s a fun way for us to spend time together and use our brains – I totally recommend it!
Situation |
How It Helps |
|---|---|
Long car rides or travel |
Keeps kids entertained and mentally active without needing batteries or screens. |
Quiet time at home |
Offers a focused, calming activity that encourages problem-solving and patience. |
Family game nights |
Brings everyone together with puzzles that can be tackled solo or cooperatively. |
Developing spatial skills |
Challenges kids to think in 3D and improve their visual and logical reasoning. |
Designed for kids 7 and up, Kanoodle’s pieces are easy to handle and the puzzle book guides them through challenges that build confidence without frustration.
200 puzzles ranging from easy to challenging in 2D and 3D formats
Compact and portable design perfect for travel or quick play sessions
Encourages critical thinking, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills
Suitable for kids 7 and up, but fun for adults too
Includes a handy carrying case and illustrated puzzle book
Current Price: $9.99
Rating: 4.7 (total: 30,447+)
You want to consider your child's age, interests, and learning goals when picking an educational toy. For toddlers, something interactive like the LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book, priced at $12.99, is perfect because it combines fun sounds with bilingual vocabulary learning. If your child is older, say 7 years and up, a brain teaser like the Kanoodle 3D Puzzle for $9.99 can challenge their problem-solving and spatial skills. Also, think about durability and ease of use—especially for younger kids, toys with sturdy materials and simple controls will keep them engaged longer without frustration.
Absolutely! Many of the best educational toys for summer are designed with portability in mind. For example, the Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle comes with a compact carrying case, making it easy to bring along on road trips or visits. The LeapFrog Learning Friends Book is lightweight and easy to handle, so your toddler can enjoy it anywhere. When choosing toys for travel, look for ones that don’t require constant supervision or complicated setups, so your child can stay entertained independently while you’re on the move.
To maximize the benefits, you should actively engage with your child during playtime. For instance, with the LeapFrog book, try switching between English and Spanish modes to encourage bilingual learning, and ask your child questions about the animals or words they hear. With puzzles like Kanoodle, challenge your child to try different difficulty levels and even solve puzzles together to boost their confidence and critical thinking. Also, vary the way you use the toy to keep it fresh—mix up the order of pages or puzzle challenges so your child stays curious and motivated.
Choosing the right educational toys can transform your child's summer into a season full of discovery and growth. Whether your child is just starting to explore new words with the LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book or challenging their mind with the Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle, these toys offer engaging ways to learn without screens. By investing in quality educational toys, you’re supporting your child's development and making playtime both fun and meaningful.
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book |
Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle |
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Rating |
4.8/5 (90,976 reviews) |
4.7/5 (30,447 reviews) |
Highlights |
Interactive book with bilingual play, sound effects, and light-up star button. |
3D brain teaser puzzle with 200 challenges, portable design. |
Pros |
Engaging, educational, durable, and bilingual. |
Fun, challenging, great for travel, and promotes problem-solving. |
Cons |
Repetitive phrases and sounds. |
Initial levels may be too easy for adults. |
Price |
$12.99 |
$9.99 |
Elevate your Valentine's Day with two thrilling board games that promise fun and connection, perfect for a memorable evening with your loved one.
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