Copyright BuzzFeed
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. 27 Products Parents Are Bound To Love Because They Come Highly Recommended By Teachers If teachers love them, you know they'll work for you, too. 1. A scissor skills practice book for your kiddo just starting out with scissors. The book starts with basic shapes and moves up in complexity, but all shapes are fun and engaging! My own kids loved cutting them out, then taping them up or using them for pretend play. 2. A set of MathLink cubes that are the gold standard in helping kids learn basic math (learning win!), but also make the most fun creative play blocks. With that ever-satisfying *pop* we've been chasing since childhood, these learning toys are going to be your kid's favorite real-life Minecraft. 3. A dry-erase activity book for practicing those letters over and over without using tons of paper or buying several workbooks. My youngest LOVED her dry-erase letter practice when she was in preschool — it kept her busy for stretches, and it was something she would choose herself for a little self-motivated learning. 4. A guided reading tool to help young readers focus word by word. If helping your emerging reader focus on carefully reading each word makes you want to pull out your hair — because learning to read is SUCH a taxing process — it's time to enlist a little help. No advice on the "s....se...see...HAT?" dilemma. 5. A set of beginning readers for your — well — beginning reader. These cleverly use only four letter sounds for the first book and gradually build in difficulty, allowing your child to gain confidence as they move along. Reading is such a fun milestone, and these books make the process that much easier. 6. A fan-favorite Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game that brings tons of laughs and family bonding. The game is easy to pick up and only takes 10–15 minutes to play, meaning you won't get locked into a never-ending loop of climbing a certain ladder and then falling down a certain shoot for 45 minutes. 💀 This is a family favorite of ours, but teachers love it, too! 7. A pack of glue sticks by the only brand worth buying. If your kids are going to be gluing craft after craft and homework activity after homework activity, it might as well ~stick~ the first time. 8. A sight-word bingo game for covertly encouraging those early-reading skills. Almost all kids love a good game of Bingo, and if we just happen to slip in some sight words? Well, isn't that just an interesting coincidence? 😎 9. A perfectly massive caddy of Crayola crayons because literally every teacher I know will only buy Crayola and every kid I know loves crayons. A huge variety of colors, a sharpener, and instant organization? No wonder it's a teacher must-have. 10. A beginner microscope for littles so they can flex that science muscle without the added frustration of figuring out how to actually see something on a microscope. Nothing like seeing what's actually *in* a sprinkle. 11. A set of paint sticks, because teachers have literally no time to deal with spilled paint mess, and neither do you. With paint that can be held like markers, your little Picasso is going to love feeling like a true artist. 12. A wooden sight word puzzle to help them with early reading skills — or just give them a fun puzzle to do. As they grow, they can also start putting together their own words for a toy that grows with them. Just don't be surprised if you see a rainbow-colored "snack please" in strategic locations around the house. 13. A cash register toy for pretend play, learning about money, or practicing those customer service skills in their make-believe restaurant. There are so many learning opportunities wrapped up in this toy that they're going to be playing with for years. 14. A weighted stuffed animal to give them an extra cute way to feel a little bit of calm. The benefits of weight work for everyone (read: me, staring longingly at my weighted blanket) and this weighted stuffy can help with regulation, whether or not now's a good time for a nap. 15. A set of flash cards for helping your elementary-aged kid get a little faster with math. Historically, I was never a fan of flash cards, but now that my kids are older, I see how just knowing them by memory helps my oldest zoom through her math homework with significantly less stress. These can slip easily into a bag for something to do to pass a little time, and the learning benefit is amazing. 16. An LED drawing pad to create fun pictures without the need for crayons and paper. My kids bring these along on car rides and love drawing and practicing writing. I love how little space they take up. They're also great for restaurants and doctor's appointments since they store easily in a backpack or diaper bag, AND they're popular with all ages. Such an easy win. 17. A selection of letter stamps for helping little kids become familiar with letters and helping big kids have a little fun creating sentences with the ever-popular stamp pad. Does it look a little like a ransom note? Sure. But at least it's just filled with block-lettered potty humor. 18. A wobble cushion to help them get those wiggles out during mealtimes, quiet times, or really any time they need to sit in a chair for more than a few minutes. I will sing the praises of the wobble cushion until the end of time. My ADHD child uses one at school, and putting it on her chair as we worked on staying seated during meals was SUCH a game changer. This baby comes out during movies, meals, or rainy afternoons to save me from the extra energy my kids expend. 19. A painting smock for when you have to appease them with a little paint. This way, you can focus on their perfectly adorable brush stroke and not how much it costs to replace that Gabby's Dollhouse T-shirt they refuse to take off. 20. A shoe-lacing practice sneaker because learning to tie shoes is SUCH an unnecessarily stressful experience. With this practice toy, you're less likely to find dirty shoes all over the house, but they're still getting plenty of practice in. And just think — the sooner they learn, the less you'll hear "tie my shoooooooe" from across the park. 21. A set of emotional regulation tubes to help overwhelmed kids have a calm few minutes. All of the benefits of a lava lamp without needing to be near a plug. Breathe in, breathe out. 22. A visual timer that can help make transitions easier for everyone. Since kids can't tell time yet, "five more minutes" doesn't mean much. When time is visual, kids can watch the colored portion get smaller and be less shocked when time is up. If you have a kid who struggles with transitions or doesn't want any time but NOW, this timer is for you. 23. A set of magnetic blocks for building without the extra stress of tipping at the slightest sneeze. If your kid loves magnetic tiles and is ready for a brand-new dimension, they're going to love these. 24. A set of counting bears — those ever-helpful math aids that are just so much fun to play with, too. This set comes with cups and tongs for some extra motor skill practice, too. 25. A set of fidget spinners to keep your littles occupied on the go, while potty training, or really any time where they need a little distraction. These fidgets have many functions, keeping them interesting far longer than your average spinner. 26. A TikTok-famous Kanoodle brain teaser puzzle that allows them to solve 200 puzzles in one small package. This is a great boredom buster for long trips, a fun challenge for puzzle-lovers, and an activity that'll get those strategy skills flowing without beeps, buzzes, or crashes. 27. A menagerie of animals to hopefully inspire a little quiet play — or at least play that doesn't need a screen. There's something that's so simply satisfying about toy animals — which is why they've been popular for generations. So get a set and giddy-up! The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity. Why Trust BuzzFeed Shopping? BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Raylyn Paquin is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for two years, with a focus on products that make parenting just a bit easier — and hopefully more fun — home decor, kitchen gadgets, and whatever deals she can scope out. When not writing, teaching, or chauffeuring her kids, she spends the wisps of her weekend watching baking shows or exploring sunny Southern California.
