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Best Kindergarten Learning Kits

Updated January 2023
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Brickyard Building Blocks 163-Piece STEM Toy Kit
Brickyard Building Blocks
163-Piece STEM Toy Kit
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Builds STEM Skills
Bottom Line

These building tools are great for teaching kids how to follow directions, but also let their imaginations run free.

Pros

The set comes with 160 construction pieces that can be used to build towers, vehicles, animals, and more. Real tools help your child build fine motor skills. Includes instructions for 42 projects.

Cons

May not have enough bricks to build every item on the instruction sheet if your child doesn't want to disassemble what they already built.

Best Bang for the Buck
Learning Resources Swat a Sight Word Game
Learning Resources
Swat a Sight Word Game
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Fun Word Game
Bottom Line

Kids love honing their sight word skills with this fast-moving game.

Pros

In this game, kids swat at fly-shaped cards decorated with common sight words. The goal is to swat the same word that the teacher says out loud. Comes with 110 two-sided fly cards based on the top 220 Dolch sight words. The words are also sorted by difficulty level.

Cons

Reading levels and cards could be organized better.

edxeducation Set of 100 - Linking Cubes For Early Math
edxeducation
Set of 100 - Linking Cubes For Early Math
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Best for Small Hands
Bottom Line

A tried and true tool for teaching children the basics of colors, mathematics, and shapes.

Pros

These BPA-free cubes come in 10 different colors. The cubes have five different shapes on five of their sides. The included activity guide provides instructions for games that can help kids learn the basics of counting, addition, subtraction, and more. Can also be used in conjunction with educational videos.

Cons

Some reviewers say they didn't receive the activity guide.

Gametone Classroom Magnetic Alphabet Letters Kit 234 Pcs with Double - Side Magnet Board
Gametone
Classroom Magnetic Alphabet Letters Kit 234 Pcs with Double - Side Magnet Board
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Best for Kids
Bottom Line

These magnetic letters can help kids learn the alphabet, read, and begin to spell words.

Pros

The kit comes with every letter of the alphabet in several colors in a handy carrying case. It also includes a dry-erase board to use with the magnets. Every letter comes in six colors in lowercase and two colors in uppercase. This means several children can work with the tools at once and not get their letters mixed up.

Cons

Some might find the letters a bit clumsy.

Insect Lore Butterfly Garden: Original Habitat and Two Live Cups of Caterpillars
Insect Lore
Butterfly Garden: Original Habitat and Two Live Cups of Caterpillars
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Science in Action
Bottom Line

Your child gets a front-row seat to the entire process of metamorphosis when you grow your own butterflies.

Pros

You get 10 Painted Lady caterpillars in self-contained cups with all the food they need. Includes mesh butterfly habitat and butterfly feeder. Process takes roughly 3 weeks.

Cons

Takes planning to time your butterfly release for warmer weather. Caterpillars sometimes die.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
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Buying guide for Best kindergarten learning kits

For young people, Kindergarten is a milestone. It’s the traditional time in life when formal schooling begins. As they prepare their children for this rite of passage, many parents recall their own carefree Kindergarten days. Things are different today, as we have much higher expectations of today’s Kindergarteners. 

The human brain grows more during the first eight years of life than at any other time. As a result, the modern Kindergarten curriculum focuses intently on learning. Success in Kindergarten is largely predictive of educational achievement in the years that follow. Kids who struggle in the early grades often end up playing catch-up for years if learning problems go unaddressed. 

With so much at stake, it’s not surprising that many parents choose to take charge of their child’s Kindergarten education at home. Kindergarten kits can give your child a great foundation — and great memories, too.

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By the end of Kindergarten, kids should have an attention span of 15 to 20 minutes.

Key considerations

Reading, writing, and arithmetic remain the staples of Kindergarten, but they’re not the only areas of learning for today’s students. Before we delve into the features of Kindergarten learning kits, let’s take a look at what’s important for kids to learn during the Kindergarten year.

Reading

By the time kids complete Kindergarten, they are expected to know all 26 letters of the alphabet. This includes capital and lowercase letters as well as the sounds they make. Most are expected to be able to read a handful of beginning words, like the sight words that appear in kids’ books and other three-letter words with short vowel sounds.

Writing

In Kindergarten, children practice printing capital and lowercase letters. They should also attempt to write words and simple sentences. Keep your expectations realistic, however, and be sure to encourage any efforts. Verbal storytelling is a great pre-literacy exercise at this age because it gets kids to think creatively and practice organizing their thoughts. 

Math

Kindergarten math is all about numbers. By the end of the year, they should be able to count and recognize most numbers up to 100. Additional math concepts to cover this year include greater and less than, ordinal number counting, and patterns. Tools like clocks and calendars should be introduced. At the end of the year, some children will be able to complete simple addition and subtraction problems. 

Science

Children are naturally interested in the world around them, and many Kindergarten science learning kits teach concepts such as weather, the five senses, plants, animals, and health. Science at this level won’t be extremely deep or thorough, but it will introduce them to basic concepts and spark their interest and curiosity. Hands-on activities capture attention best. 

Social studies

Basic social studies lessons can help children make sense of their community and world. Kids need to know where they live, their country’s traditions, and a basic sense of national history. They should also be aware of other countries, cultures, and traditions. These kinds of lessons can overlap with basic geography and reinforce understanding of different regional climates and natural resources. 

Social skills like sharing, turn-taking, conflict resolution, waiting to speak, and other emotional regulation exercises are important in Kindergarten. If you’re homeschooling a class of one, it may be difficult to find teachable moments that reinforce social skills. Finding community sports, art classes, and homeschooling fellowships is a practical way to fill this void. 

Art and music

Art is an important part of Kindergarten study. Painting teaches about primary colors and blending. Modeling with clay gives kids an opportunity to express creativity while strengthening their fine motor skills. Creating textured pieces of art improves sensory awareness.

Music is another important component of Kindergarten. Singing and rhyming wordplay can help boost literacy, while rhythm can bolster math skills. It’s also important to note that kids’ musical aptitude is mostly developed by age seven. Kids can definitely learn music skills after that age, but Kindergarten year is an important time to lay down a foundation for future musical success.

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Did you know?
The average Kindergartener has a working vocabulary of more than 2,000 words.
STAFF
BestReviews

Features

You are unlikely to find a kit that embodies all of the academic areas we’ve mentioned. Think of a learning kit as a learning toy; the focus of the item may be math, STEM, sight words, fine motor coordination, or another skill. A learning kit is not a curriculum, but it can serve as an important part of a curriculum.

Keep the following features in mind when you’re shopping.

Developmentally appropriate

Make sure any learning kit you select is developmentally appropriate. Kids will quickly tire of materials that are too easy, and they’ll get frustrated by concepts that are too hard. Look at the recommended age range of any product you’re considering. The “average” Kindergarten product is geared toward kids around age five. However, there are children who would enjoy something slightly higher or lower than this recommended age range. You know your child best.

In that same vein, note that paper, dry erase boards, or other writing materials should be larger than standard wide-ruled paper. A dotted center line will also help with letter formation.

Color

Colorful toys tend to attract the attention of Kindergarteners. Look for kits that incorporate bright primary colors rather than bland, neutral colors. 

Safety

Some children may absentmindedly chew or suck learning tools, so make sure any paint or coatings are nontoxic. Art supplies should be washable and non-toxic. Make sure objects are free from splinters, jagged edges, and other hazards, too. 

Accessories

Kindergarten is all about learning, but it needs to be fun, too. The following materials can help you with both.

Comprehensive workbook: BrainQuest Workbook: Kindergarten
Filled with letters, numbers, vocabulary, and more, this workbook presents the basics in a refreshing manner. Make sure you’re ready to help your child with instructions if necessary. 

Build basic sentences: DK Games: Silly Sentences 
Most kids know that letters are building blocks for words, but what comes next? This fun game lets your child take the natural next step in a fun, educational way.

Math toys: These can help kids visualize abstract math ideas, which makes learning math concepts less frustrating and more fun.

Hand position correctors: The Pencil Grip Original Universal Ergonomic Writing Aid
Proper hand position is important, but it’s hard for parents to observe. This tool slips onto your child’s pencil and corrects bad pencil technique. It’s perfect for righties and lefties.

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Did you know?
Children should be familiar with 7 to 10 basic colors by the end of Kindergarten.
STAFF
BestReviews

Kindergarten learning kit prices

Inexpensive

The most budget-friendly learning kits cost between $5 and $15. At this price, you’ll find fun learning games made from paper and plastic components.

Mid-range

Middle-of-the-road Kindergarten kits cost $15 to $25. In this range, you’ll find learning games made from higher-quality materials as well as smaller science kits. 

Expensive

The priciest Kindergarten learning kits cost $30 or more. You’ll pay this much for comprehensive boxed school kits and in-depth science kits. At this price, kits should include sturdy pieces that can be used again and again or one-of-a-kind experiences that justify the cost. 

Tips

  • Know what your child knows. If your child attended a brick-and-mortar preschool, assess their skills before picking a Kindergarten kit. They may already be familiar with much of the material. 

  • Keep it short and sweet. Most Kindergarten lessons should last 15 minutes or less. 

  • Don’t forget the social skills. Turn-taking may be a Kindergarten skill where homeschooled children need extra opportunities. Practice taking turns with parents, siblings, or others if necessary. 

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Around age five, children should be able to follow instructions with two or three steps.

FAQ

Q. Do Kindergarteners need physical education?

A. Yes! Children spend their preschool years building their muscles through fine and gross motor activities. They shouldn’t lose this progress now that they have to sit for longer lessons. Kids should get 60 or more minutes of physical activity every day. That doesn’t mean your kid needs to do jumping jacks and push-ups, although they can if you like. Bike and scooter rides, tree climbing, and games of tag qualify. If you find it difficult to meet this challenge, consider enrolling your child in a community sports program. 

Q. Is pretend play still important in Kindergarten?

A. Yes! Unstructured, make-believe, and role-playing games are important for encouraging creative thought, problem solving, social interaction, and other critical skills. This type of play remains important from toddlerhood until at least age six. Encourage pretend play by providing dress-up clothes, toy food and tools, play tents, building blocks, and other open-ended props. 

Q. Why has Kindergarten changed so much?

A. Recommendations have changed as researchers have learned more about childhood brain development. Creating educational expectations and a love for learning early on can have a lasting effect. What’s more, the earlier a child’s learning challenges are identified, the easier it is for adults to help them catch up. 

Some experts do have concerns about the academic pressure placed on Kindergarteners today. They emphasize that young kids still need lots of time for physical and imaginative play.

Q. I plan to homeschool my child indefinitely. Do I need to be concerned about standard Kindergarten requirements?

A. State laws vary, and some have stricter standards than others. Even in states with relaxed standards, we recommend being mindful of the expectations. After second grade, it’s hard for students to make up lost ground. Homeschoolers can take a more relaxed approach, but parents still need to be on the lookout for potential developmental delays and learning challenges, since there’s no classroom teacher to spot them. Another reason for rigor: if homeschooling doesn’t end up working out for your family, or if a situation requires a child to eventually return to school, the student won’t be behind if you’ve done your due diligence.