Magnetic books

Pre-school children will have fun matching the magnets with the text in these magnetic books.
The bright colours of the pictures and magnets will help children develop their recognition skills as they match and learn.

The Magnetic Play and Learn series includes topics such as colours, counting, shapes, first words, things that go, ABC and time. For older children, the Magnetic Play Scene titles like Under The Sea, On The Farm and Wild Animals encourage them to read simple sentences before using their imagination to recreate their own scenes in the three-page, fold-out storyboard at the end of the book.

Who: Aged 3 to 7
Where: Kinokuniya bookstores
How much: $15.75

Sleeping bag

Ideal for tropical climates, this silk/cotton-mix sleeping bag is gentle on the skin of babies. The light, breathable material ensures that babies or toddlers stay warm but do not get uncomfortably hot.

The stretchable fabric allows the baby to move and kick freely while the two-way zipper enables the easy changing of nappies.

Since the sleeping bag is worn by the baby, it does not slip off and is perfect for parents on the move as it doubles as a versatile travel blanket. Each sleeping bag is packaged in a drawstring bag and comes in two sizes: 0-6 months, and 6-36 months.

Who: Birth to 3 years
Where: www.flozliving.com and Pharmaplus at Camden Medical Centre
How much: $90 for 0-6 month size, $100 for 6-36 months

Fossil-hunting kit

DigItUp is a palaeontologist excavation kit which gives kids an excavation experience, just like a real palaeontologist in the field. There are many models in the stimulating and addictive series.

The 3D Excavation Kit contains a set of dinosaur fossils embedded in a plaster block and a set of child-safe excavation tools. After excavation, the whole dinosaur skeleton can be reconstructed. In the Megix series, the younger child can paint the dinosaurs with non-toxic marker pens.

Who: Aged 6 to adult
Where: www.netcetera.com.sg, Project Place at #01-08 Yew Tee MRT station and Kinokuniya bookstore, Ngee Ann City
How much: $12.90

Fabric books

These handmade fabric books are great for journeys or banishing boredom on a rainy day. Pre-school children will love the hands-on approach to learning first words.

Each brightly illustrated picture and word is made from felt with a Velcro backing, and can be removed from the pages of the book.

Kids will enjoy working out which marine/safari/farm-themed animals go with which word. They can also create scenes of their own.

Learning the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colours, how zippers work and how to tie shoes are but a few of the many fun-filled themes available. The soft and plush books zip up into a handy satchel that can be carried everywhere.

Who: Aged 2 to 8
Where: To order, contact Ms Wendy Heng on 9451-8236 or e-mail sweetventure@pacific.net.sg
How much: From $42.90 to $259

Block puzzles

Six times the fun! Mudpuppy Block Puzzles challenge kids to think in multiple dimensions.

Each puzzle contains nine 5cm-square cubes that create six different puzzle pictures.

It's great for building and stacking, and knocking down too. The sturdy storage box with a sliding drawer makes this a great portable toy.

Who: Aged 3+
Where: The Better Toy Store at #04-20F Ngee Ann City and Gurgles at #01-11/12 Tanglin Mall
How much: $ 29.90