Best for kids – big and small
Picked by VICTORIA LAMBERT, education and careers editor. Even during the holidays there is still plenty of room for a bit of learning... and who says home learning can’t be fun?
GUITAR GOD
You are never too young or old to learn to play an instrument and this particularly lovely one merges the ukulele with classic Fender electric shapes. Choose from iconic Stratocaster, Telecaster or Jazzmaster styles with the option to play plugged or unplugged. You can find support and lessons via the Fender Play app.
Fullerton ukulele, £149, Fender, andertons.co.uk
PERFECT VIEW
A gadget that keeps your screen in view while you’re streaming your favourite show, making a Tiktok, or learning a new recipe. The mount rotates in both portrait and landscape mode and attaches to any flat surface using adhesive strips. Also charges wirelessly. Moshi Snapto Magnetic Wall Mount, £54.95, Moshi, moshi.com
CREATIVE JUICES
Chunky and colourful, Stabilo woody 3-in-1 pencils are a combined colouring pencil, crayon and watercolour. They can be used to draw on all sorts of surfaces, even windows, and wipe clean afterwards – perfect for art sessions of all kinds. Stabilo woody 3-in-1 pencils, £10.37 for a pack of six and a sharpener, stabilo.co.uk
MINDFUL MATHS
Invented by a Japanese mathematics teacher who wanted to make geometry more practical and rewarding to learn, Magna-tiles are ideal for inspiring creativity and surprisingly satisfying. In translucent colours – like stained glass – the tiles can be used to create buildings, rockets and even sharp-edged animals. For ages three to five.
Magna-tiles, from £19.99 to £99.99, Smyths, smythstoys.com
FAST AND FURIOUS
Nothing beats Meccano for petrol heads of all ages and this car construction challenge sneaks in lessons from science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The Erector by Meccano even has a variable speed motor and LED piping.
Meccano 25 Model Supercar, £35, Argos, argos.co.uk
GAME FOR ANYTHING
Gamers will love the Oculus Quest 2 – an all-in-one wireless Virtual Reality headset, packed with content including Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Jurassic World Aftermath and Population: One –a multiplayer battle built especially for VR. The headset can also take you out into space with Nasa images streamed from the Spacex shuttle launch. Perfect for the next Helen Sharman or Tim Peake. Oculus Quest 2 (64GB), £299, Amazon, amazon.co.uk
VIRTUAL BOOKWORM
For bookworms everywhere, the latest Kindle is a great way to get stuck into the classics. The Oasis has an adjustable warm light and is waterproof (IPX8) so you can read in the bath or by the pool. Reads like printed paper with the latest E Ink technology for fast page turns.
Kindle Oasis, £229.99, Amazon, amazon.co.uk
ROCKETOCKET FUEL
This handsome wooden rocket combines construction and role play. The Ship opens to reveal 12 different themed rooms ranging from bedrooms and operation rooms to laboratories and more. Comes complete with accessories and characters. For ages three and above.
The Ship, £99.95, Hippychick, hippychick.com