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Smart Gift Ideas to Get Kids Thinking and Playing

November 21, 2015 by Susan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Want to inspire your kids to have fun with less screen-time? We’ve got four great games that are perfect for Christmas gifts and get kids thinking and playing. This post is sponsored by ThinkFun and contains affiliate links.

Gift Ideas to Get Kids Thinking

The best gifts for kids are those that get them having fun while learning and engaging their brains.

Here are four smart games from ThinkFun that kids will love to find under the tree on Christmas.

Laser Maze™ Jr.

Laser Maze JrYounger players can now experience the fun of the award-winning game Laser Maze with an age-appropriate design and challenge for grade school children with real lasers.

The mission is to use science and logic to reflect the laser beam to the rockets. Strategically place satellites throughout the maze game to guide the laser’s path, but watch out for space rocks that might get in the way. With 40 out-of-this-world challenges, this fun logic maze game gives little scientists a boost of 21st century thinking.
(Age 6+)

Rush Hour® Shift

Rush Hour ShiftThe best-selling sliding block logic game is now available for two players.

Every move counts in this race as you strategically plot to move your car and cross grid-lock traffic before your opponent.

The potential moves are endless and the shifting Traffic Grid and Instruction Cards add a whole new dimension to play. (Ages 8+)

Compose Yourself

Compose YourselfCreated by maestro cellist and composer Philip Sheppard.

Compose Yourself is a set of musical “building bricks” that encourages anyone with any musical ability to “play with” music just as they would with a construction kit.

The digital music game features a deck of transparent cards and access to an exclusive website to compose, share with friends and family, or download/print your own custom sheet music – featuring more than a billion melody combinations. Available exclusively at Amazon. (Ages 6+)

Code Master

Code MasterCode Master is a new puzzle board game that takes kids on the ultimate coding adventure.

The big brother to Robot Turtles, Code Master is easy enough for any kid to play, but challenging to master.

Albeit a single-player game, friends can collaborate to solve the puzzles while learning coding logic and computer programming. Available at Amazon. (Ages 8+)

 

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4 Gift Ideas to Get Kids Thinking

 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored so extra thanks for reading and sharing.
Written by the team at 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with us: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with us at http://pinterest.com/5minutesformom/

Find More Gift Ideas

Be sure to check out each of our gift guides…

  • Gift Ideas for Women
  • Gift Ideas for Men
  • Gift Ideas for Kids and Teens
  • Small Gifts for Everyone

Also, here are some more of the best gifts for mom, gifts for dad, teacher gifts as well as gifts for dogs and cats.
 

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Holiday Gift Guide – for Grandparents
Around the Blogosphere – Add YOUR Giveaway Link #Giveaways

About Susan

Susan Carraretto and her identical twin, Janice Croze, created 5 Minutes for Mom in 2006. Susan loves all social media, but her top addiction these days is Pinterest.

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91 Comments

  1. Francine Anchondo says

    December 5, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    They would like Code Master

    Reply
  2. Nicole C. says

    December 5, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    My kids would love Code Master.

    Reply
  3. Tina Reynolds says

    December 5, 2015 at 9:32 am

    I think my oldest would have a blast with the Code Master Game

    Reply
  4. amber cheras says

    December 5, 2015 at 9:30 am

    my family would love code master

    Reply
  5. kelli says

    December 5, 2015 at 9:27 am

    probably codemaster because it kind of reminds me of minecraft.

    Reply
  6. Charity L. says

    December 5, 2015 at 7:36 am

    I would say laser maze jr or compose yourself.

    Reply
  7. Candace says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:43 pm

    I think my sons fav would be the laser maze jr.

    Reply
  8. Amy Z. says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    My kids would love Rush Hour Shift.

    Reply
  9. Richard Hicks says

    December 4, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    instagram id is gmrich22

    Reply
  10. kim keithline says

    December 4, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    I think my kids would love the code master game

    Reply
  11. susan smoaks says

    December 4, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    lazer maze jr would be a hit around our house

    Reply
  12. susan smoaks says

    December 4, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    the compose yourself book wuld be nice we love music

    Reply
  13. Pat Drouillard says

    December 4, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    My grandsons would like Rush Hour Shift.

    Reply
  14. Erica B. says

    December 4, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Compose Yourself

    Reply
  15. Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard says

    December 3, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    I think my kids would like rush hour shift

    Reply
  16. Jennifer Beckett (@jennpup) says

    December 3, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Both kids are musical so “Compose Yourself” looks like great fun (and education)!

    Reply
  17. Staci A says

    December 3, 2015 at 9:32 am

    My kids would love Code Master!

    Reply
  18. Nate Baustad says

    December 3, 2015 at 8:53 am

    Lazer Maze Jr looks like the most fun!

    Reply
  19. Lisa V. says

    December 2, 2015 at 10:11 am

    I think Laser Maze would be her favorite.

    Reply
  20. Hargow Wong says

    December 2, 2015 at 12:16 am

    I think they will like Compose Yourself.

    Reply
  21. Renee Simmons says

    December 1, 2015 at 12:11 am

    Laser maze would be a blast with the grands! TY for the chance! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  22. icefairy says

    November 29, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    Code Master

    Reply
  23. Charles-Linda Bradshaw says

    November 29, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    My grandkids would love to have Laser Maze™ Jr. because it seems to be so fun and they love things like this.

    Reply
  24. Robyn Bellefleur says

    November 29, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    My kids would like the Laser Maze .

    Reply
  25. Stephanie Liske says

    November 29, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    I think they would like the Rush Hour® Shift game best.

    Reply
  26. Stephanie says

    November 29, 2015 at 10:14 am

    We would love to play Rush Hour® Shift!!

    Reply
  27. Heather Williams says

    November 28, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    My kid would LOVE the Laser Maze Jr! He’d be able to get really creative with that.

    Reply
  28. Emily Morelli says

    November 28, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    I think my daughter would like Laser Maze™ Jr. the best.

    Reply
  29. Constantine says

    November 27, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    I think my son would love the Rush Shift game. A great game to help with problem solving too! Following on IG: constantinechenier

    Reply
  30. Heather says

    November 27, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    I think my kid would love Compose Yourself. She just got a real harmonica and is trying to learn to read music.

    Reply
  31. LaVonne says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    The Rush Hour game is one that my almost 8 year old would love to own. We’ve played it at a friend’s house and we loved it.

    Reply
  32. Sandra Watts says

    November 27, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    I think the kids would like Rush Hour® Shift. I looks like something the boys would like.

    Reply
  33. lissa crane says

    November 27, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    All the games are great, but the one I think my sons would be most exited about is definitely Code Master! I try to encourage them to get into coding, being that is is such an important skill for the future, and they really like it! This would be perfect for them to play together!

    Reply
  34. Jennifer P. says

    November 27, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    I think Code Master would be the favourite game.

    Reply
  35. Dorothy Boucher says

    November 27, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    following on instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/tisonlyme143/
    tisonlyme143@hotmail dot com
    @tisonlyme143

    Reply
  36. Dorothy Boucher says

    November 27, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    I think my older grandboy would love these, and I am going to guess that the Code Master is probably going to be his favorite,, now I am only guessing loll
    @tisonlyme143

    Reply
  37. Mary Gardner says

    November 27, 2015 at 9:49 am

    My son would like Lazer Maze Jr.and my daughter would like Compose Yoursel.f

    Reply
  38. June S. says

    November 27, 2015 at 8:56 am

    We would want to play this game first; Laser Maze™ Jr.

    Reply
  39. sandra says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:57 am

    i think they would be into the laser maze jr game

    Reply
  40. Darlene Schuller says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:42 am

    I follow you on instagram as mistygrl70

    Reply
  41. Darlene Schuller says

    November 27, 2015 at 7:41 am

    My daughter would LOVE ‘Compose Yourself”.. she is very musically inclined. Self teaching herself on the piano and currently in guitar and violin lessons…. and asking to take more lol

    Reply
  42. Brittney House says

    November 27, 2015 at 1:24 am

    My kids would like code master.

    Reply
  43. Wanda Bergman says

    November 26, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    The “Compose Yourself” game would definitely be the favourite.

    Reply
  44. beth shepherd says

    November 26, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    My son would love the compose yourself. He plays guitar and loves music Thank you

    Reply
  45. Hanna says

    November 26, 2015 at 10:56 am

    Both my kids would like Laser Maze. I am such a fan of games that promote imagination and puzzle solving!

    Reply
  46. Richard Hicks says

    November 26, 2015 at 7:16 am

    I think the kids would have a lot of fun with Lazer Maze

    Reply
  47. Amy Mallams says

    November 25, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    I think CodeMaster would be the favorite pick.

    Reply
  48. nickie says

    November 25, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Code Master looks like fun.

    Reply
  49. Nannypanpan says

    November 24, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    My son would like laser maze jr

    Reply
  50. Heather B says

    November 24, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    I think Laser Maze would probably be the favorite in my house.

    Reply
  51. Jennifer Hayden says

    November 24, 2015 at 9:03 pm

    My son would love laser maze!

    Reply
  52. Ann Fantom says

    November 24, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    My daughter would like the Laser Maze Jr. the most

    Reply
  53. Taryn T. says

    November 24, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    I think my son would love Laser Maze Jr.

    Reply
  54. mrsshukra says

    November 24, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Code Master will intrigue them!

    Reply
  55. Lisa says

    November 24, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    I think the Compose Yourself game would be a hit. It really sounds like it encourages creativity.

    Reply
  56. stacie says

    November 24, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    Code master for sure!!

    Reply
  57. Angela Mitchell says

    November 24, 2015 at 2:03 am

    I think my daughter would like the Compose Yourself game the most.

    Reply
  58. Jessica T says

    November 24, 2015 at 12:17 am

    Compose yourself

    Reply
  59. Austin Baroudi says

    November 23, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    I think my daughter would like the Compose Yourself game best.

    Reply
  60. BusyWorkingMama says

    November 23, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    We would like to play Rush Hour Shift. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  61. meagan bs says

    November 23, 2015 at 9:21 am

    I think my daughter would like the laser maze jr.

    Reply
  62. jasa pembuatan booth says

    November 22, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Nice Article, !! thank for sharing.

    Reply
  63. maria says

    November 22, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    I think they would like code master.

    Reply
  64. mycraftingworld says

    November 22, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    I thing they would like the Laser Maze game

    Reply
  65. Wendy hutton says

    November 22, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    I think the kids would enjoy Code master

    Reply
  66. Erin Ellis says

    November 22, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    My kids would love Code Master! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin

    Reply
  67. Kimberly Rampersad says

    November 22, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    She would love the Laser Maze best.

    Reply
  68. Erika Letson says

    November 22, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    I think that Laser Maze Jr. would be their favourite! They all look great!

    Reply
  69. Shari Long says

    November 22, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    My son would be all over the Laser Maze Jr. game!

    Reply
  70. Jeannie says

    November 22, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    I think my son would like rush hour shift.

    Reply
  71. Stacy Renee says

    November 22, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I thinnk the ‘Compose Yourself’ game would be great for teaching my daughter music!

    Reply
  72. vickie coutrurier says

    November 22, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    Code Master game,my older grandsons are so into stuff like this they would love it

    Reply
  73. Anne says

    November 22, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Compose Yourself would be ideal for my grandchildren who would love this. Thanks.

    Reply
  74. Katherine says

    November 22, 2015 at 8:57 am

    The Laser Maze Jr

    Reply
  75. SueSueper says

    November 22, 2015 at 7:20 am

    I think Rush Hour® Shift would be well played with around here.

    Reply
  76. Terra Heck says

    November 22, 2015 at 4:26 am

    I think my kids would most like Compose Yourself. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)Hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  77. Denise M says

    November 22, 2015 at 12:15 am

    My daughter would love Lazer Maze

    Reply
  78. janetfaye says

    November 21, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    My grandson would like Rush Hour Shift.

    Reply
  79. Jen F says

    November 21, 2015 at 11:09 pm

    I think my daughter would love the “Compose Yourself,” game!

    Reply
  80. Rochel S says

    November 21, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    I think my son would enjoy Rush Hour® Shift

    Reply
  81. Julie L says

    November 21, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    I think my family would enjoy Compose Yourself. They all look fun but we’ve been exploring and playing around with music more lately so it seems like a likely winner.

    Reply
  82. Silvia D says

    November 21, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Code Master would be hit with my kids

    Reply
  83. Mimi says

    November 21, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    Wow, hard to choose. Probably Laser Maze Jr.

    Reply
  84. Caroline B says

    November 21, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    Code Master, definitely!

    Reply
  85. Seyma Shabbir says

    November 21, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    My sons would love rush hour shift!

    Reply
  86. lana says

    November 21, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    I think compass yourself

    Reply
  87. Jenny Q. says

    November 21, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    I like Code Master. I think it would be a favorite here!

    Reply
  88. Anne Taylor says

    November 21, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Rush Hour Shift would be a huge hit with some of my grandkids!

    Reply
    • Anne Taylor says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:15 pm

      follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/greeeneyedwhwom/

      Reply
  89. natasha lamoreux says

    November 21, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    I think my kids would enjoy rush hour.

    Reply
  90. Jenny says

    November 21, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    My kids would have a great time with the Laser Maze, but all sound fun!

    Reply

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