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Top 10 educational toys
Over 3 billion toys are sold in the United States annually. We'll refrain from guessing how many end up in the back of the closet for years on end and instead recommend a few we think stand a decent chance of grabbing your child's attention. Needless to say, this list isn't the be-all, end-all. Instead, think of these picks as representative of the kind of toy we're especially fond of: educational, fun, and inventive. When new toys make a beeline for the back for the closet, we believe it's because they lack that trio of qualities. So here's to 10 that strive for, and deliver, something more.
By Chris Colin
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Ages 3 to 8, $40
If the recent Wall Street crash/housing bust/debt bomb offers any indication, it’s not too risky to conclude that the world could use more financial literacy. So why not start at a young age? This realistic cash register goes a few steps beyond its predecessors of yore, featuring a solar-powered calculator with oversize buttons as well as imaginary currency and credit. The result? A math lesson, a mimic-the-grownups device, and an intro to currency all in one. And like any good toy, it's also fun to just mash the buttons and make it ding.
The bottom line: Learn about finance with this multifaceted toy.
