Rearing children is complicated business, but gifted children pose even more challenges. Those who are advanced in their development are often more emotional than the average child and also grow easily bored with toys and games which they have outgrown.

Some parents make the mistake of treating their smart kids like tiny adults. Children are not adults, of course, and even the gifted ones need to play every day. Playtime is how children learn about themselves and the world around them. For more on this topic, I highly recommend the book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathy-Hirsh Pasek.

If you need some toy ideas for your little brainiac, try the following:

Imaginative Play

• Playhouses - Both Step 2 and Playskool design affordable playhouses that will capture your bright child’s active imagination. From just a simple play kitchen to a full-fledged outdoor structure, this type of toy offers open-ended playtime for children whose mind has no limits.
• Puppets - Puppetry offers many benefits, as the art form is both fun and helps to develop social skills. Advanced children can really harness the full potential of puppetry because they will understand the process of acting through the puppets. Melissa & Doug produce high-quality puppets and puppet theaters at an affordable price
• Art Supplies - A gifted child is a creative child and you should definitely be encouraging expression through art. From crayons to more advanced media, artwork should keep your smart one busy for a long time.

Construction Toys

• LEGOs - This classic toy from Denmark is as popular as ever, offering open-ended fun for children of all ages. From early building with Duplo blocks to the more advanced LEGO robotics, playing with these toys will foster a bright child’s imagination and eye-hand coordination.
• Rokenbok - If you have a particularly gifted builder who is growing tired of his or her LEGOs, you might want to give Rokenbok a try. This educational system of construction toys combines remote control technology with the open-ended fun of a classic building toy. Every set is compatible with the next, allowing you to expand your Rokenbok community over time.
• Capsela - Capsela toys are motorized building kits that will teach your children all about physics and how machines really operate inside. The body of these kits are mainly comprised of clear capsules which reveal engines and servos, demonstrating how and why the toys move a certain way.
• K’NEX - Known as “the world’s most creative construction toy,” K’NEX combines the creativity of LEGOs with the challenging aspects of Rokenbok or Erector sets. From working vehicles to giant roller coasters, the possibilities are endless with K’NEX. The company even offers lesson plans that you can integrate with your building, which should be perfect for your advanced child.

Brainteasers

• Rubik’s Cube - Yes, you can still find this 1980’s sensation in stores. It is also just as challenging as you remember and could be a great way to keep your gifted child occupied on long car trips. There is a whole community of Rubik’s cube enthusiasts who are dedicated to learning more about this mind-bending puzzle.
• Jigsaw Puzzles - There are jigsaw puzzles suited for children of all ages and skill levels, so all you need to do is find the right niche for your brainy child. Whether it is fun, oversized puzzles of licensed characters or intricate landscapes, this toy should appeal to advanced children everywhere.
• Wooden Labyrinth - Since 1947, the movable wooden labyrinth has entertained children of all ages. A marble is placed in the labyrinth and it is up to you to control where the marble rolls by moving the board with knobs. Find the toy at any major toy retailer and your child will be both entertained and challenged.

School is almost over for the year, which means you may have some very bored kids on your hands soon. Yes, summer break is exciting at first, but your freewheeling children can become couch potatoes in no time if you aren’t careful.

While your kids certainly deserve a break from strict schedules and waking up at the crack of dawn, you also don’t want their bodies and their minds to grow too idle for the next three months. Below are 25 ideas for keeping your kids active on summer break.

• Enroll them in summer camp.
• Regularly take them to the park.
• Consider some fun summer courses, such as an art or music class.
• Take an extended family vacation if you can.
• Schedule regular family camping trips.
• Take the family fishing on the weekends.
• Sign them up for a summer sports league.
• Send them to their grandparents’ house for a week.
• Buy them some outdoor toys to encourage outside playtime.
• Take them to the neighborhood pool.
• Suggest a summer job for your older teenagers.
• Assign summer chores, such as mowing the lawn.
• Take them to the library once a week to load up on books.
• Get season tickets to a local playhouse or amusement park.
• Throw regular slumber parties for your tweens.
• Sign them up for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
• Take a family bike ride every day.
• Teach them how to bake.
• Sign them up for a martial arts class.
• Encourage free play with open-ended toys.
• Limit their TV or video game time.
• Start a family game night once a week.
• Take an after-dinner walk with the family every day.
• Plan regular day trips, such as to the zoo or a museum.
• Lead by example and stay active yourself.

It is said that play is the child’s work. Imaginative play, in particular, is an extremely important part of childhood. Not only is it a fun way to pass the time, but it is also a crucial part of learning and development.

Children learn about the world, themselves and social interaction when they play imaginatively. Unfortunately, some of us forget to put enough emphasis on this sort of play. Below are 10 easy ways to light your child’s imaginative spark.

1. Read Every Day – Fun stories, particularly fairy tales, really broaden your child’s perspective on things. By reading, children stretch their imagination to hidden corners of the world, which in turn will manifest in their play.
2. Make Some Space for Creating – Does your child have his or her own area to build and create? Even a small desk or his or her own corner of the living room will do.
3. Set Aside Time for Creating – Many well-meaning parents will over-schedule their children. From soccer practice to Scouts, you need to also fit in some free time for letting your child’s imagination run wild.
4. Collect “Dress Up” Props and Costumes – Whether it’s an old dress or suit jacket from your own closet or an actual Halloween costume, you should have a trunk of fun props for your child to play “dress up.”
5. Buy “True” Toys – The toys that are known as “true” toys let your child do all the playing and creating. In other words, they don’t light up and walk across the room without assistance. Blocks, dolls and Play-Doh are great examples of basic toys that encourage imagination.
6. Make Arts and Crafts – We recently compiled a list of sites that offer ideas for arts and crafts. This is something the whole family can do and it doesn’t have to involve a lot of preparation. Sometimes, just a box of crayons and a few sheets of paper is all you need for an imaginative art session.
7. Encourage Freestyle Dancing – In other words, turn on some music and let your child go nuts. Formal lessons are great, but your child will really stretch his or her imagination by interpreting the music without instruction.
8. Explore the Outdoors – Take your child on a wild safari through the backyard. Bring some binoculars, a butterfly net and pretend you are exploring a jungle. An early appreciation of the outdoors is healthy for so many reasons.
9. Encourage an Interest in Puppetry – Whether you purchase the puppets or make them with your child, there is no better way to foster imagination than putting on a puppet show.
10. Turn Off the Television / Computer – Barney may have been singing about imagination all morning, but your child will never put those suggestions to the test if the television is always on. Likewise, you need to pull your little gamer away from the computer once in a while for some real imaginative playtime.

After hitting the market in 1913, Erector sets were amongst the most popular toys of the 20th century. Sadly, these construction model kits are getting harder to find.

Occasionally, Erector will release a special edition kit for a high price. There are also modern versions that are similar to Meccano, which are far less detailed and (in my opinion) not as fun.

If you’re like me, then you took Erector sets for granted when you were a child and now that you have children of your own, you can’t find the toys anywhere.

The good news is, there are still Erector set enthusiasts who are selling classic kits on the Web. You can find specific parts, second-hand kits and sometimes even unopened sets if you are lucky.

If you’d like to purchase an old-fashioned Erector set for your little builder, check the following sites:

1. eBay - Is there anything you can’t find on eBay? I have seen classic, unopened Erector sets listed on eBay that cost less than a modern day LEGO kit. This is one of the first places you should look.
2. Fat Brain Toys - Here, you can find new, special edition reissues for a discount price. It is getting harder and harder to spot these anniversary sets for less than $100, so these close-out sales are much appreciated.
3. Amazon - Occasionally, you can find great deals on classic sets here from second-hand resellers.
4. Yahoo! Shopping - Compare prices of sets both new and old on Yahoo! Shopping. This will canvas any smaller online stores that offer Erector sets.

If you’re tired of building with the same old construction kits, then you may want to check out LaQ. This quirky brand of building sets comes from Japan.

I wouldn’t be so quick as to dismiss LaQ as the “Japanese LEGO,” which some people have been doing. This is a very versatile invention, which uses triangles and squares to make some very interesting creations.

Yes, there are specific LaQ model kits like the one you see above. However, you can also buy generic sets of LaQ pieces and create something original. Unfortunately, these kits are hard to come by in the US. The official LaQ site is quite difficult to navigate, as well.

If you are interested in building with LaQ (and I highly recommend it), then you can order kits from The Construction Site. The fine people over there have already imported the product for us, which cuts down on costs considerably.

I would be delighted to see LaQ become popular with children in North America. I think these sets offer something a little different from the other mainstream construction toys.

Spring has sprung and your children are probably welcoming the change of weather. The dawning of spring means more playtime outside, as well as inspiring new indoor projects.

Although it isn’t quite warm enough to jump into the pool just yet, there are plenty of activities that synonymous with springtime. Below are 21 ideas to keep your kids busy this time of year.

Rainy Day Fun

1. Fingerprint Flowers - Recommended for ages 4 and up, fingerprint flowers are made from construction paper, acrylic paint and pipe cleaners. This is a fun way to celebrate the new blooms popping up outside. Find instructions for this adorable craft here.

2. Ladybug Rocks - Children as young as 3 can enjoy making ladybug rocks. Both boys and girls will appreciate the dirty side of this craft (digging around for rocks!), as well as beautifying the rocks with rich colors. Find more on this painting craft here.

3. Spring Coloring Pages - There are many sites that are currently featuring free, printable coloring pages with a spring theme. You can find some great ones at Kaboose, Coloring.ws and FamilyFun.

4. Paper Bag Frog Puppet - Turn an ordinary paper bag into a hand puppet of a frog with these clever instructions. Not only is it fun to make puppets, kids can get creative with a puppet show when they are finished.

5. Rabbit Windsock - Nothing says springtime like a windsock blowing around on the porch. Now, your kids can make their own with an adorable rabbit face. These instructions couldn’t be simpler.

6. Hasbro’s Elefun - This game has become an instant classic and is available from most toy retailers. The game features a plastic elephant that blows “butterflies” out of its 4-foot trunk. The object is to catch the butterflies with accompanying nets. Kids should get a giggle out of this game and it definitely resonates springtime to me.

7. Cotton Ball Lambs - Let your kids create a flock of cotton ball lambs with this fun craft. Kids of all ages love getting messy with the Elmer’s Glue.

8. Bee Bouquet - Your busy little bees will love making a flower holder shaped like a bumblebee. After they are finished, they will need to pick some wildflowers to put inside. Instructions can be found here.

9. Spring Word Search - Allow your young readers to find some springtime words with this free word search from Primary Games.

Outdoor Fun

10. Flying Kites - This activity is synonymous with breezy spring days. Luckily, affordable kites can be found anywhere during this time of year. Alternatively, you could make your own.

11. Gardening - Most kids have quite a green thumb and love to get in on the gardening. Find some fun family gardening tips here, courtesy of the Children’s Education Coordinator at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

12. Baseball - It’s still America’s favorite pastime and kids will probably always want to go out back and play ball in the springtime.

13. Catch Butterflies - This is a sneaky way to convince your kids to get some exercise. Hand them a big butterfly net and a mason jar with holes in the top, then watch them take off.

14. Sidewalk Chalk Art - Let your kids express their creativity while getting some fresh air. If you’re a bit apprehensive about having doodles all over your driveway, rest assured that April showers will take care of them very soon.

15. Butterfly Rearing - Since your kids love chasing butterflies so much, why not take the opportunity to teach a lesson about the insect’s metamorphosis? Butterfly rearing kits are available here, which allow you to maintain your own butterfly habitat. From caterpillar to beautiful butterfly, the family can see the change up close and personal now!

16. Build a Teepee - Camping in the backyard is even more fun when you pitch your own teepee! Find fun, simple instructions here so you can plan your own family pow wow.

17. Backyard Astronomy - Having outdoor fun during the spring isn’t just about the daytime, you know. When the skies are clear of clouds, you should prop up a telescope and teach your kids about astronomy. Learn all about “backyard astronomy” (i.e., stargazing for amateurs) on this informative site.

18. Jump Rope - Here is another way to con your kids into getting some vigorous exercise. A jump rope is a very inexpensive way to keep the little ones entertained. Better yet, get two extra-long ropes and participate with some Double Dutch.

19. Fishing - This is the perfect time of year to go out on the lake without blistering from the sun. Your kids may still be at an impatient age, so don’t plan for a long day on a boat. Instead, grab a few Snoopy poles and fish for perch off the bank.

20. Frisbee - Playing with a Frisbee can be fun for kids of all ages and it’s an inexpensive toy that will entertain for a long time. Just try to keep it from going on the roof!

21. “Free Play” at the Playground - This is possibly the cheapest way to make your kids happy on a nice day. Find a good playground in a public park and let them go nuts while you relax on a nearby bench. (Although, having a go on the swings and slide wouldn’t hurt you, either.)

If you have a little builder in the family with a talent for design, then you should check out LEGO Factory. There, you can download a free design program that allows you to build an original LEGO creation. This program lets you choose any kind of virtual LEGO piece and create a 3D model.

If you are pleased with your virtual model and would like to build a version with real LEGO pieces, you can go to the site’s Pick a Brick section. There, you can buy only the specific bricks you need for your design. LEGO even boxes the pieces with customized directions for your original model kit!

Below are some examples of LEGO Factory creations, all of which were built by children.

“Castle Attack” Builder’s Age: 9
“Mini Sub” Builder’s Age: 10
“Frosty” Builder’s Age: 12
“Robot Invader” Builder’s Age: 13“Scorpion” Builder’s Age: 13

Papercrafts can be a lot of fun, but can your kids fit inside any of your creations? Thanks to Mr. McGroovy’s Box Rivets, you can turn plain cardboard boxes into something like this:

In case you’re wondering, yes that spaceship is big enough for your child to climb inside and “fly.” That is just the tip of the iceberg, too. With the plans and rivets from Mr. McGroovy’s, people are creating giant castles, pirate ships and trains.

Even more amazing is how easy and cheap it is to build these projects! If you don’t believe me, check out the customer gallery. Obviously, both the princess castles and pirate ships are big hits at birthday parties.

Mr. McGroovy’s even offers tips on how to obtain free cardboard boxes. While the creations obviously won’t last forever, they are sturdy enough to endure some serious playtime. This is all thanks to the specially patented box rivets, which are so sturdy that they need their own removal tool for dismantling the projects.

I highly recommend this advanced version of ordinary papercrafts. Here are a few more examples that were made by first-timers. Yes, they’re that easy:

A lot of parents inadvertently adopt a gender divide when it comes to interaction with the kids. For instance, it may be “mom’s job” to put the kids down for bed and “dad’s job” to drive the kids to school (or vice versa).

Luckily, both mom and dad usually get in on playtime. Again, however, there seems to be a difference between mom play and dad play. I know firsthand that my husband will cooperatewith a tea party, but he’d much rather be doing something else with the kids.

Here are 10 activities that both dad and the kids will love:

1. Build a Model Kit –

A trip to the hobby shop is sure to get your kids excited. There, they will see anything from model trains to model castles. Likewise, dads often have an affinity for model building. If your kids are a bit too young (i.e., impatient) for a scale model kit, then LEGO kits are just as fun!

2. Go Camping –

This is an event for the whole family and it’s usually a rite of passage for dad to lead the adventure. Whether you’re roughing it in a tent or sleeping in a trailer, camping can be a memorable weekend activity.

3. Go Fishing –

You don’t necessarily have to take a camping trip to enjoy a little fishing. If you live in the right area, it could be a fun after-school activity for dad and the kids. Sometimes, just fishing for perch off the bank can be a blast when the kids are enjoying themselves.

4. Visit a Science Museum –

Getting up close and personal with some giant dinosaur bones make for a fun afternoon. The planetarium is sure to entertain dad and the kids, as well.

5. Make and Fly a Kite –

Flying a kite is always fun, but it’s even better when you build the kite together. You can find directions for a basic diamond kite here and plans for larger, Victorian-inspired kites here.

6. Play Sports –

From a simple game of catch to a round of golf, sports are a tried and tested way to bond with dad.

7. Play Board Games –

It’s a great idea to establish a family game night, allowing the kids to take turns picking the board game.

8. Go Swimming –

If you don’t have a pool of your own, there may be a community one in the neighborhood or at your gym. Alternatively, you could forego a pool for the lake or ocean. The latter is just as fun and, more importantly, free.

9. Race RC Vehicles –

What dad or child doesn’t love to play with remote control vehicles? You don’t have to spend a fortune on them, as the kids won’t care if they’re gas powered or battery powered.

10. Watch a Live Event –

A professional sporting event, a music concert or some other kind of live entertainment can be a lot of fun for the family. You can see if something fun is coming to your town by searching GoCityKids.

Hopefully, the list above will assist dads who feel like they’re running out of things to do with the kids. There are only so many tea parties one man can handle! And, with the weather warming up, there are even more dad-centric activities opening up for families.

Easter weekend is here, which is a great time to bond as a family. If you celebrate Easter in your house, then you are no doubt preparing for egg hunts and overeating. You don’t have to reserve the fun just for Sunday, though. Here are five activities to enjoy with the kids this Easter weekend:

1. Floral Easter Eggs -

Dyeing eggs is a mainstay for families this weekend, but you might want to try something a little different.
This activity calls for small, pressed flowers and results in a very different kind of Easter egg. Challenging and fun!
2. DIY Rabbit Ears -

This is a very simple craft for younger kids and may be a great way to keep all the little ones busy when large groups gather.

Safety scissors are recommended, naturally.
3. Origami Bunny -

This origami bunny isn’t just fun to make and cute to look at — it can really hop!

(The hopping works best if you use a 3X5 note card.)

4. Chicks in a Basket -

This is both fun and functional, as you can use the finished project as a centerpiece on Sunday.

Baskets are easy to come by this time of year, too.
5. Lamb Paper Plate Craft -

Younger children can join in on this craft and they will have a blast getting messy with the Elmer’s glue and cotton balls!