The Smart Fit Playground is an all-in-one plug and play activity pad that encourages children to stay physically active while they learn. Kids can walk, run, jump and stomp while play up to 8 different learning , games and races. The Smart Playground teaches letters, numbers, shapes, colors and more through active play. Children can interact with their on-screen friend Leo also Learn how to and learn the mats features in the Warm Up activity.

Pros: This toy plugs easily into the t.v. There are no cartridges or DVDs to keep track of, just the mat. The toy has plenty of games on it to keep kids busy. All of the games are active by having the kids run or walk in place, jump, stomp the correct shape, tiptoe, etc.

Cons: The graphics on this toy are not the best on a 40 inch high-def television. Because the pad is flat, kids sometimes accidentally step on the shape buttons when playing. This will send them back to the main menu.

Under $40 @ Amazon.com

The object is simple: be the first player to get all of your colored pieces onto the board. But it’s just how you’re able to place those pieces (adjacent placement is a no-no), as well as how you and your opponents can block one another in the process, that makes Blokus so challenging. Two to four players can take part in the fun, and there’s even a solitaire version — one of several rule-flipping twists on the game — for those times when the kiddoes just need to play alone.

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The different ‘training’ games that you play are very simple and based on how long it takes you to complete, together with how many you get correct. Simple arithmetic calculations in sets of twenty or one hundred, reading aloud, some memory type games among others are included.

Dr. Ryuta Kawashima of Japan is the prominent neuroscientist whose work the game is based on. His animated head ‘talks’ to you, explaining as you go. Don’t expect great graphics or anything like that. This is pretty straight forward. A stylus comes with the DS and this is how you answer your math problems. You just write in your answers. Some of the games allow you to speak your answers.

Nintendo’s Zenses Ocean Game

Nintendo DS is for more than playing games! You can use Nintendo’s Zenses gamesicon to relax. Available in either Rainforest or Ocean themes, you can solve Tetris-like puzzles to ambient music and soothing images

It’s the perfect way to relax and exercise your mind! Don’t go overbard though, the games can be quite addictive!

You can find this at Toys R Us for about $29.99