Being Yourself

Toys and activities that are explicitly intended to teach specific skills can still be fun! Pretend cash registers and money-exchange games strengthen counting and math skills while offering opportunities for imaginative play; activity books come in a variety of themes that allow children to explore a favorite topic while practicing the ABCs, handwriting or pen control; and Mad Libs and joke books are ideal for family bonding and laughter while stealthily teaching kids about parts of speech and the rhythms of language.